New-York tribune., 1919-08-12
Senate Measure Framed
by Kellogg Is Aimed
at Corporations Having
$lO,OOO,O0O or More
Myers Sees Danger
OF Riots TO Come
Says in Speech That U. S.
Should Declare Embar-
go on Food for Europe
Netc York Tribune
WashingtOn Bureau

Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Aug. 11.-The high
cost of living was attacked from many
angles when Congress opened its cam
paign to-day to reduce prevailing
prices for the necessities of life.
Among the activities of the day we're:
Senator Cummins, of Iowa, chair
man of the Senate Interstate Com
merce Committee, appointed special
committee to consider the recon-
mendations of President Wilson for
legislation to deal with the present
situation and to formulate other
remedies on behalf Of the Senate.
The House Committee on Agricult-
ure began hearings on legislation to
limit the length of time that various
food commodities may be held in cold
storage
Senator Kellogg, of Minnesota, in
troduced and argued for bill to
license all corporations with capital
or assets aggree-.ing more than
$1o,o0o,000 under the Federal Trade
Commission.
Debate on the floor of the Senate
brought out opinions by several Sena-
tors that tho corporations are in large
part responsible for the high cost of
living. Senator Borah pointed out that
compilation of the earnings Of
eighty-two American corporations
showed they earned 1925, 100000 in
1915 and $736,oOO,, ZOO in 1918. He
believed their earnings were, in fact,
we'll over 1;0oo,oOo,0oO, but that GER
tain earnings had been concealed and
that the remainder had gone in the
payment of heavy state and Federal
taxes.
Falling OFF in Production
Senator Hitchcock asserted that the
high cost Of living was due to falling
off in production and to imitation of the
currency No permanent cure was
possible, he said, until conditions got
back to normal, following the ratifca-
ton of the peace treaty.
Il don't agree with the Senator. /"
said Senator Brandegee, of Connecti-
cut, apparently voicing the opinion of
majority Of the Senate, and this
angle Of the discussion was not re1
Vived.
Senator Myers, of Montana. arpned
TOR clamping down an embargo on the
exportatlon of the necessities of life
u--tll Such time as the Dre> # emor-
gency had passed. He believed it was
all very we'll to exercise humane i'm.
pulses but not at the expense of hun
ger, leading to rioting and bloodshed ID
among the American people
senator King disagreed With Sena-
t-r Myers. He thought an embargo on
exports would lead to WIDESPREAD nm.
employment, the bankruptcy of many
manufacturers, and in the end would
| create situation worse than that IL
sought to cure.
Senator Walsh, of Montana. told tn,
Senate the entire grain CROP of his
state had been wiped out by drought
ne presented memorial from the
Montana State Legislature urging the
appropriation of $5000O,OO0 to carry
through Federal irrigation projects in
the West. Another memorial from the
Montana Legislature favored the enact
ment of the Kenyon-Anderson bill for
the regulation of the packers.
The Cummins Committee
The committee appointed by Senator
Cummlns to take up President Will
soE's suggestions for legislation to re.
duce the high cost OF living was made
up of Senator'S Townsend, of Michi-
gan; La Toilette, of Wisconsin. and
Watson, of Indiana. Republicans, and
Underwood, Of Alabama, and Smith, OF
n:.ttee was instructed to re o.amend tc
the Senate any suggestions it may for.
mulate for dealing with the problem
Meetings will be begun Immediately.
Senator Brandegee had read in the
Senate two letters from constituents
in Connecticut urging that the govern
ment buy all wheat in the country at
the guaranteed price on September /
a..d resell it at 81 bushel.
The farmer is affected by the high
cost of living, just like everybody
else Senator Brandegce said. "The
Of Insurance and o. labor all have ,.'sei zone
way up. One OF the greatest causes
contributing 20 the present !. sh prices
in my opinion. is the high wages dc.
manded by farm LABOR. Great areas
have had to be abandoned, and are mol
now under cultivation, because Of the
high wages.
tThe present inclination OF every
producer is to regard his prices as fair
but the prices of every other produce,
as exorbtant. Every man is looking
out for himself.
In this great crush of conflicting
influences it is the duty of the Ameri.
can Congress to work out a solution
that will secure the greatest good TO,
the greatest number. 1t is impossible
Continual On, nnne s,r