The sun., 1919-08-07
FIGHT IS ORDERED
TOCURB PRICES


were not tustihable.
The instructions to United States AT
torneys throughout the country are a
follows:
The food control act, which is
still in force, In Section makes
boarding Of necessares ~ herein de-
fined a crime and Section provides
that whenever necessarics shall be
boarded they may be proceeded
against by process of libel for con-
domination. There Is much complaint
in the country about the extensive
storage Of food products, which in
many instances may amount to
violation OF the law. You are hereby
directed to Immediately employ all
facilities at your command and make
use of all available sources OF In
formation to seek out all dealers
guilty OF boarding within the mean
ing Of the act and to ascertain II
in any other respect these provisions
of the food control act have been
violated in your district.
Please proceed with promptness
and Diligence TO make thorough in
vestigation of conditions in your dis
trict with respect to possible VIOLA
lions Of this law and of the anti
trust laws and when the evidence
without further Instructions.
This 10 business of prime impor-
lance which demands your imme-
diate personal attention. Conditions
require countrywide campaign
against hoarders and prohteers and
desire the Department Of Justice
to use every legal means available
to put an end to their activities.
Call for Joint Session.
At the same time the white Hous
made public a letter from the Presipen
to Representative Mondell IN. Y. C.)
Republican floor leader in the House
asking for a Joint session Of the Con
gress to receive a message. II follows
am very sorry indeed that can
not comply with your suggestion Of
delay IN the matter of my address
to a joint session of Congress. The
situation which impelled me last
week to ask Congress to postpone It's
recess until my Recommendation
could be submitted Is still acute. I
have had under very serious consld-
GRAFTON the proper action Of the
Government with reference to the
high cost of living, and feel that It
Is my duty at the earliest possible
moment to present certain recon-
mendations now ready for submits
sion to Congress.
have, therefore, asked the Vice.
President and the Speaker to arrange,
II possible, for a joint session for
Friday afternoon next at 4 o'clock
Attorney-General Palmer said that h
was not prepared to state whether ac
ton against the packers would be of
mi tx,,
civil suit for dissolution.
But" he said, ''the law in the cas-
makes both criminal and civil action b
the Government possible"
The Attorney-Genera was not pre-
pared to state just where and when &C
ton would be brought. but said that
would be inenediate. In view of tn
fact that Federal Attorney Clyne Q
Chicago attended the II. c. of L. con
ferences here 1t Is regarded as likel
that the initial action will be brougf
in the United States District Court 1
Chicago.
In explanation of the formal state
ment Mr. Palmer said that by the con,
bination he meant Of course the FIVE bi
packers. Armour and Company MORT
and Company Cudahy Packing Compan
and Wilson and Company. The cas-
against them was prepared, he con
tinued,I after Kresel and a number O
attorneys had gone over the reports O
the Federal Trade Commission for thre
or four months.
These men gave conscientious study {
the hearings and the inquiries conducte
by Francis ]. Heney with respect to tn
inner working OF all of the packer or
ganisations.
Chairman Colver Pleased.
Commission supplemented the statement
in which he said that he was muc
pleased at the action taken by the De
partment of Justice. 1t was, he said
recognition OF the truth OF the fact
that have been brought out by the com
mission in a series of Investigations an
reports involving the meat packers an
their efforts in control of production an
distribution OF food and Their prduct
In the United States.
Attrney- General Palmer made 1t plat
to-day that the antitrust laws as vel
as the food laws were to be brought int
play by Federal attorneys in action
against all persons. firms or corporation
responsible for hiking the cost Of Twins
So far as hoarders are concerned tn
Attorney General made IT plain tina
they can be reached under section 4 o
the food control act. He explained tn
personal view that the effectiveness o
this and possibly other sections of tn
food control act should be extended be
yond the present Limitation OF the com
ing OF peace
1t is regarded as extremely likely tina
President WileOn will rannnuoAnJ 80 onp
ference extension of these provisions