The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-09
TURN LOOSE U. S.


ponents of the league of nations in
the senate criticised the stress laid on
the early ratification of the peace
treaty. Some of them, including
Chairman Lodge and Senator Harding,
Ohio, of the foreign relations commit
tee, declared there was no connection
between ratification of the peace
treaty and the cost OF living.
VIII Grant Money Needed.
Representative Monden, majority
leader of the house. said that any re-
quest for money to make effective the
campaign against profiteers would
speedily be complied with
Congress will grant all the money
that is needed" said Mondell. I'm
addition, have no opposition to ex-
tending the Lever food control act il
that is believed essential"
Senator Lodge. majority. leader of
the senate, said;a
Il think the president made some
good and practical suggestions in res
gard TO the artificial and extortionate
prices for the necessaries Of life, and
am sure that congress will deal with
them at once" He disagreed with the
president that the H. c. L. solution
hinged on immediate treaty ratifica-
ton.
number of the presidents sugges-
tons have been covered in bills now
pending. Committee action on these
will be urged next week. They include
measures for regulation of storage
plapts and for stamping Of prices on
food products.
Favor Strike Stand.
Comment from men of both parties
today showed that some of the presi-
dents suggestions regarding legisla-
tion met with general approval and
that his stand against labor strikes as
means of enforcing demands was
endorsed. His appeal for ratification
OF the treaty apparently caused some
resentment
The president is taking an unfair
advantage by using the high cost of
living issue as a club to force ratifica-
ton of the league of nations" said
Senator Brandegee. He can have
peace in two days If he will agree to
a reservation excluding the United
States from the league of nations"
Gronna Opposes Lever Act.
Monden's willingness to re-enact
the Lever food control law as peace
Ntime measure is not shared by all
members of the house. A number of
senators also expressed opposition to
this proposal.
81 am against further extension of
autocracy,' said Senator Gronna,
North Dakota, chairman of the agri-
culture committee, before which>a bill
to re-enact the Lever measure would
thority he needs, and 1 think he has
all he will get, so far as the agricul-
ture committee is concerned"
Cappcr for Federal Licensing.
Recommendation for federal licens-
ing of all corporations in interstate
business did not appear to be gener-
; ally approved. There is pending in the
senate, however, n bill which would
create such a licensing system.
those who supported this feature of
the presidents message.
Beyond suggesting extension of the
powers OF the food control act regu-
lation of the storage of foodstuffs and
carly ratification of the peace treaty
SO as TO allow the law of supply and
demand to operate, the president
urged legislation for the control of
security issues and additional appro-
priationS for government agencies to
supply the public with information as
70 prices paid by retailers for goods.
The food control act, he told congress,
should be extended to peace times
with its application covering clothing.
fuel and other necessaries of life as
well as food, and a penalty for hoard
ing inserted. New moves by the exec
tptive departments of the government
, to reduce the cost of living were ex-
pected today to- be started at once
along lines laid down by the presi-
dent who promised immediate stems
to limit and control wheat Shipment
and credits so as to facilitate the pur-
chase of wheat with a view to lower
ing the price of flour, to sell surplus
government stocks of food and cloth
ing. and to force withdrawal of food
stuffs from storage.
Army Food at Low Prices.
Coincident with the presidents ap-
| pearance before congress, the war de-
partment announced the prices at
which its surplus food stocks would
4 be sold. Price lists are to be sent to
| postmasters thruout the country
! which the consumers may place their
orders, beginning August is. Under
| the departments price list the con-
sumner will be able to buy bacon for
| rs cents a pound, baked beans for 5
cents a pound, flour at Sc per hun
dred pounds, and other commodities
at correspondingly low prices To the
prices quoted by the war department
/ will be added parcel post charges
| from the nearest army depot which
are to be paid by the consumer.