The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-09-27
mo PROFITEERING FOUND"
Federal Grand Jury Says
Public Is Much to Blame

There were complaints Of
profiiecring within the City Of
Seattle. but upon careful con-
sisieration 81 all evidence nd
dueed on this subject we find
mo spsSdfie en~cs nor general
prs~tb~c~ Of prof,teering In seat
tie"
This In the conclusion OF the fed
eral grand jury investigating living
costs In It's special report presented
Friday afternoon before Judge Jere-
mlah Neterer In tho u. 8. district
court. The grand jury. under the
direction OF District Attorney H. c.
Saunders. has been conducting a
probe into the high cost Of living
In Western Washington since
"wednesday.
Besides the special report absolv.
Ing local merchants from charges
Of proflteerings. the grand jury re-
turned two secret indictments. In
view OF the Wholesale whitswashing
Of profiiecra and hoarders Of neces.
stiles. AH set forth In the special
report of the inaulsitoriai body. II ls
not believed that these two indict.
rnents are against food profi,eera.
rent hogs or hoarders.
Blame the Public
One reason found by the grand
jury for the present high altitude
OF life commodities II tn. reckless.
and extravasant buying habits OF
the public. which demands and Will
accept only the best on tho mar.
ket"
Another reason assigned by the
investigators IL the increasing de
mand for commodities together with
the decreasing production. Dccrcas-
Ing production. the grand jury be
lleves. Is accounted for by indus
trial instability. constantly higher
wages. lehs hours OF work. and less
persons employed In work.
The jury iaaded Robert G. saun-
ders. ". n. district attorneysand his
deputies for procuring expert testi-
mony" In the report.
The federal jury's report says:
There were complaints OF profit.
eering within the city OF Seattle. but
upon careful consideration Of all csi.
denoa adducsd on this subjoc; we
ind no specific eases nor general
practices OF profltsering in Seattle.
There were complaints Of food
boarding brought 10 the attention OF
this grand jury. but after consldcra.
ton OF an exhaustive survey OF all
foodstuffs In storage In the various
cold storage warehouses OF the city
We are unable to find unjus;iflabie.
Illegal or unusual stores OF food
stuffs withheld from tho market.
AS n matter Of fact from the EVIL.
dence adduced we canno; find sum.
Client eggs or butter 20 supply tho
market Demands and In storage only
such quantities as are reasonably re
auifed 20 meet the market during
the unproductivo winter months Of
these supplies.
This grand jury did not invest.
gate the subj.ct OF meats. feeling
that tho whols packing industry IL
being thoroughly investigated else
where. This grand jury did invest.
safe the matter OF the atoraE. Of
canned. fresh. frozen and smoked
fish because Seattle is a primary
market of production OF these food
supplies. and reports that II found
no excessive quantities OF fish foods
kept In storage.
AS an inevitable result Of the in.
vestlgation conducted by this grand
Jury upon the complaints brought
before II OF profif~.ring and hoard.
Ing. the whole question OF high prices
was brought sharply 10 the attention
Of this grand jury. especially IN con
neeiion with the charges OF prifi;.
eering.
Under the evidence submitted, Is
peciaily with reference TO such ne.
cessities OF life as bread. milk, cloth.
ing and shoes. the production prices.
speaking generally Of these and like
articles. are so high that the retail
prices carno, at this time be reduced
until the production prices have
first undergone a reduction.
This grand jury believes and re
ports that the STEADY pressure Of In.