The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-07-31
PRESIDENT MAY ACT
TO CUT FOOD PRICES.

Deep and careful consideration" is
being given BY President Wilson TO
the request of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers that he take
immediate action toward reducing
the cost of living, This was stated
authoritatively at the White House
today.
One Of the first steps to be taken
by the President will probably be to
lay the whole vital matter before his
Cabinet for consideration. The next
regular meeting of the Cabinet is
not until next Tuesday, but it was be-
leyed . special meeting might be
called The President, 1t was stated
a. the White House, has not yet de-
eided on any definite action,
The President. it is known, is also
tremendously interested in the reports
by the Federal Trade Commission on
its investigation of the packers.
Friends of the Kenyon bill to regu-
late the packers, drawn after publ
cation Of these reports, will have the
support of the President, advocates
Of the measure declare.
More Flour Substitutes.
The War Department today put on
the market an additional $50, 600
pounds of hour substitutes Bids
VIE be opened at the st. Louis Zone
supply oftice August 3.
The substitutes are stored at
Fort Stills, Okla, and include IS. 900
pounds of white cornmeal; $4,000 of
yellow cornmeal; 10000 pounds Of
issue heur; 10000 pounds of rye -four;
10000 pounds of cornstarch flour;
5000 pounds Of oatmeal -four and
5000 pounds of white contour
Bids must be for entire lots of the
aouF and cornmeal with the excep-
ton of the issue -four which be sold
in lots of $4,000 pounds or more.
Congressman Igoe today conferred
with House leaders in an effort to
get immediate action on his resolu-
lions to have the Federal Trade Com
mission investigate the prices of
shoes, clothing, sugar, and coffee, and
to have the Ways and Means Commit
tee investigate high rents.
WOuId Tax PFOfIteers.
MY idea is that the effective way
TO stop prohtesring is 10 tax the ex-
toFtions of the pFofiteer into the
Treasury" Igoe said. "This business
Of prosecuting violations Of the anti
trust laws is good, but ii is a slow,
tedious process Let the prosecutions
go on, but II a profiteer finds his
profits taken away by a law that iS
certain and immediate in its opera
ton, venture the prediction it will
stop profiteering"
lgoe stated today that Republican
leaders, Speaker Gillett and Floor
Leader MondeIl. had refused to allow
the resolutions for Investigations to
be called up before they were consid-
cred by committee.
Sale TO the public OF the army's
surplus food stores. now in progress,
VIII result in only a temporary drop
In living costs, according to economic
experts here today. Therefore, the
placing Of these tons Of food on the
market will not check the campaign,
rapidly gathering momentum in the
Capital, to permanently reduce prices,
it was indicated.
The various Investigations and in
euiries here are attracting wide
spread attention, judging from the
number Of letters from all parts OF
the country received by chairmen OF
the committees.
The scope of investigation ap-
peaFed broadened today by introduce
tion of two resolutions by Congress
man IEoe Of Missouri, directing the
Federal Trade Commission to took
into an alleged scheme TO Immediately
increase the price of shoes. and also
directing the Ways and Means Com
mittee to ascertain whether corpora
tions are making money TO pay their
taxes under the war revenue bill by
raising prices of their products.
BurIesOn TO Cooperate.
II has been stated that the cost OF
postage under the plan would be in
cluded in the price Of the food.
Burleson said he would be glad to
cooperate I'm the "direct-to-table"
sale Of the millions OF dollars worth
of edibles.
Under the scheme. orders for food
may be placed with any one Of the
$4,000 postmasters in the country.
They will send the orders to the
proper distributing station. and the
provisions will be brought around to
the house by the postmRn. Price lists
Will be supplied. The postmasters will
also advertise that the army food Is
for sale so the news may be carried |
into the most spsrseIy settled COM
munities.
Secretary Frank Morrison, of tn
American Federation Of Labor, in a |
formal statement today, made clear
that the federation will back the night |
TO better living conditions initiated by |
the Brotherhood Of Locomotive En-
Gineers.
As outlined by MorrisO.., tue feder-
atoms aim will be:
Wages that will permit workers to |
live in reasonable comfort.
support of every effort made by
AContinued - 49, IL, NUiu.4.. i.y '