The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-09
Army of Operatives VIII Hunt
for Food HOarders.
Government VIII Sell Seized
Stocks to Public.
WILL SPEED LEGISLATION
Republican House Leader Says
Congress VIII Act.
G. o. p. Object Wilson Is Using
Treaty as Club.

Washington. Aug. 9.-America's
army of secret service agents was
turned loose on the food hoarders to-
day.
Orders were flashed from Washing
ton TO hundreds of special operatives
of the bureau of investigation of the
department of justice all over the
United States, instructing them to CO.
operate with federal district attorneys
in the profiteer hunt.
Promises Quick Legislation.
Republican Lealer MondelI declared
in the house today that congress was
ready to act promptly on such legis-
lation as was needed to carry out the
suggestions made yesterday by Presi-
dent Wilson for reducing the high
cost of living.
Attorney General Palmers instruc-
tions were that the special agents
should drop everything but the most
pressing cases now pending and de-
vote their entire attention to assist
ing in the campaign to reduce the cost
of living. The result will be to put
hundreds of trained investigators in
the search for men who have inflated
prices exorbitantly.
While 1t was not so stated, the i'm
preston was gained that nothing but
the investigation of radical propa-
ganda which resulted in recent bomb
outrages would be allowed to interfere
with the efforts to punish profiteers.
Takes First Action
At conference OF the senate inter-
state commerce committee, Chairman
Cummins was authorized to name a
efll NIT 70 IN. .T-
the lines outlined in the presidential
message The subcommittee per-
sonnel will be announced Monday
The subcommittee is TO study not
only the presidents recommendations
but the whole situation, with view
to deciding how much additional leg
islation is needed, and how much can
be accomplished by administrative and
executive departments under present
laws.
Public Sale OF Seized Food.
Hoarded food stocks will be taken
over by the government and placed
Upon the market to help re-establish
demand, the department of justice
made known today.
Preparations for this work now are
well under way as part of Attorney
! General Palmer's countrywide COM
paign against profiteers.
Hourly Expecting Arrests.
Palmer today was hourly expecting
I news of arrests from district attorneys
who have been flooding him with tele-
grs mss concerning evidence they are
collecting.
I Several government departments
are understood to he working together
/ in checking the stores of boarded
foods The belief exists here that it
will not be difficult to get these sup
. shIfa rlr af a af he ia
| partment of justice, by legal process.
has opened a number OF warehouses,
with full publicity, owners of other
boards will probably hasten TO sell TO
avoid prosecution and exposure.
While evidence is being put in shape
F.. for presentation to the Chicago fed
( eral granu jury in support of the
charge that big packers have violated
anti-trust laws, government experts
| are preparing cases TO be submitted
to other grand juries. The result is
expected to be institution of a num-
7 ber of actions in various parts of the
county.
The postoffice department has made
I public a list OF prices at which more
than 10 articles of surplus army food
: will be disposed of via the parcel post
These lists are now available, or soon
I will be. at all postoffices, II was stated.
Congress Studies Address.
Congress got down today to anaiyz-
ing and digesting President Wilson .
recommendation for reduction of the
increased cost of living. Members of
the senate and house interstate coml
merce and agricultural committees
which would have in hand framing Of
legislation to extend the food control
act and to regulate storage of food
stuffs paid particular attention TO the
presidents address, delivered late yes
terday before a joint session of the
two houses.
Altho neither branch of congress
: was in session today, leaders prepared
4 TO take action by an early date on the
living problem. While some members
disagreed with the specific recom-
lmendation Of the president IL was be-
lieved that the prospective legislation
generally would follow the proposals
he made.
Invite Opposition.
Suggestion by the president for fed
eral licensing OF all corporations en-
gagged in interstate commerce and for
extension Of the food control law met
with the greatest opposition in con-
gressional circles. Many of the OPP
CONTINUED on Page Two.)