The sun., 1919-08-19

to-oay, Dut Mr.. MondeIl feared A uuof1nr,
could not be obtained before tomorrow.
Leaders Of both parties insisted more
could be accomplished through the in
vesugation by combining IL 70 shoes. in
stead OF extending Il TO other commodi-
ties thus delaying the time before price
reduction action Of any kind could be
TAKEN Other necessaries will be reached
IN other ways. II was promised
The spirit OF the House indicated that
Congress was determined to take real
action TO reduce the cost OF living. Re-
puohcans believe the fault lies with the
PRESIDENT and his departments for not
having acted before, but Mr.. Monden and
Other Republicans declared there would
De no effort on the part of the majority
party to obstruct any feasible plan to
bring down prices
Country Is Roused.
The country IL tremendously inter-
ested In bringing down the high cost of
living" said Mr.. Mondell, and Il Is the
duty OF Congress to help the Government
departments IN every possible way. There
can be no objection TO securing all the
Information possible In regard to the
price OF shoes and leather. One OF the
most trying Of the increases In the cost
OF living has related to shoes and other
footwear. These have shown a greater
Increase than almost all other COM
modities. The preliminary report OF the
Federal Trade Commission on the ques-
ton would indicate there Is no justifca-
ton for the prices, and the Government
ought TO get busy and punish those who
are responsible unlswfully for these IN
creases In the cost all along the line"
Mr.. Ieo explained that the report OF
submitted recently was not UP TO date,
as 1t dealt with conditions previous 10
1918.
II feel sure" he said, shat prices
can be brought down through Govern
mental publicity as to what lie a fair
price. 1 also plan TO ask the Ways and
Means Committee to investigate the
high prices. as they relate to taxes In
formation have received shows that
high taxes on real estate owners and
landlords particularly has been passed
down TO the people in the form Of in
creased rents. and these men are maxi
ing larger profits than ever"
The resolution caused q spirited de-
bate on high prices in general.
Export Embargo Urged.
Representative Good DAD insisted the
Government should place an embargo on
the export OF all commodities that are
being sold at sky high prices He pointed
out the foreign shipments OF many COM
modities that are selling at unreAson-
able figures are all the way from four
to twelve times larger than In 1914.
"All that il necessary to bring down
prices" he said. lis for the President to
place an embargo on shoes, leather.
meats, dairy products, corn, wheat and
other products for a short time As
long as we are engaged in feeding the
world and bidding against ourselves by
loaning money TO foreign nations to buy
our products, fan 10 see lower prices
for our own people. Since March we
loaned $1,000. 900. 900 to foreign nations
to buy our products The result is they
come in our markets and bid against
the people OF this country. II is a policy
that must soon be changed"
Representative Madden (Ill) declared
the whole financial system OF the coun-
try was on a paper basis, for which he
placed the blAms on the large issuance
of Federal Reserve notep during the
war.
Dollar worth as Cents.
The purchasing power OF the dollar
is now DOWN to about IS cents and the
Federal Reserve notes are on the same
basis as the greenbacks in the days
after the civil war" he said.
This change was vigorously denied
by former Speaker Clark (Mo.) and
Representative Wingo tArk). both
Democrats.
The paper dollar is just as good as
the gold dollar in this country to-day
Mr.. Clark said, "and that certainly was
not the case OF the civil war greenback :"
This nation and Spain are the coun-
tries that are on a gold basis" Mr..
Wingo said. land there is no better COM
mercial paper in the world than the
Federal reserve note. II has back OF II
all the assets OF the Federal reserve
baks 90 per cent gold reserve, and
the pledge OF the Government TO redeem
them In gold.
The Federal reserve banks have is
sued two billion IN notes, and am just
informed that they have more gold IN
their vaults than all the notes issued.
The uneasiness Of some people about
these notes is unjustihed."
Representative Sanders (La), as
serted that the Sugar Trust" has been
responsible for she nigh sugar prices.
The present sugar shortage is artI-
ficAl." he declared, and has been Gre
Rted by the American sugar trust The
price to the producer has been fixed at
$3.50 a hundred. and there is no justi-
fication for the price the people have
been paying.
"On the prices Of clothing last Satur-
day. the manufacturers could pay so
cents pound for their cotton and still
be making Profits. And there IL 10 re-
lation whatever between the prices of
leather and hides and the price the peo-
pie must pay for shoes. When the
American people see the difference be-
tween the price the producer receives
anc the price they must pay for articles.
they VIII force prices down"
Large Increases in clothing are immi-
neDt. Representative Siegel IN. ".
said. because Of the shortage Of tailors
and increased wages they are demand
ing. Restriction of immigration, ne
claimed, has decreased the number of
tailors.
The net cost OF making overcoats. ne
said, has increased from Sl6S5 in 1917 70
S22.62 in 1913. Allowing q 80 per cent.
gross profit the average selling price
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