New-York tribune., 1919-08-08

prosecution against food profiteers
and price gougers were promised yes
terday by Earl Barnes, acting United
States Attorney. who called on the
public to aid him in the campaign.
Ben A. Mathews, assistant United
States Attorney, will have charge Of
all prosecutions.
Prosecution of the food hoarde "a
will be given the right of way in tho
| United States Attorneys office in nc.
cordance with instructions Received
yesterday from Attorney General
Palmer. All victims of food profiteer-
ing have been invited to present their
complaints to Mr.. Mathews or Mr..
Barnes, and they will be investigated
Immediately by operatives of the De-
partmcnt Of Justice.
Lever Act to Be Utilized
Where cases warrant prosecution
the action will be brought under the
Lever act, passed in 1917. Under this
spectators is liable. 1t is the in
tention of the Federal officials to ,li-
rect the seizure of boarded food by
the United States Marshal and to sell
1t under cour. order.
special drive will be made against
the storage warehouses where butter
and eggs are being held. Many of the
New York corporations engaged in
this business have their warehouses
munlty from prosecution under the
state law.
Enforcing of Law Promised
In statement issued yeste rday the
United States Attorneys office said:
This office is in receipt of tele-
gram from the Attorney General in
structing it to give right of way to
prosecutions and forfeiture proceed
lngs under sections and of the
Lever act, which forbid the boarding
OF foods, feeds, fuel ard fertilizer.
These instructions will be complied
with to the limit
Section of the Lever act provides
punishment of not more than two
years or fine not exceeding $4,000
or both in cases of persons or cor
Section provides that the boarded
articles may be seized summarily by
the United States marshal and con-
demned and sold under order of the
court.
Householders Responsible
"The act forbids boarding by house
holders, consumers or manufacturers,
wholesale or retail dealers, and by.
SPECTATORS. Hoarding by house
holder is the holding or contracting
tor by him or her of a quantity in
excess of his or her reasonable re-
qulrements for use or consumption by
self or dependents for a reasonable
time. Hoarding by dealer is the
holding or contracting for quantity
in excess of the reasonable require
ments of his business for use or sale
by him for a reasonable time. Hoard
ing by speculator is the withholding
from the market for the purpose Of
unreasonably increasing the price"
The actual quantities of foodstuffs in
storage June 1, 1919, and June /, 1918,
are given as follows:
Canned salmon, 99,20O,000 pounds;
last year, S2,600,000 pounds.
Canned tomatoes, 100000 pounds;
last year, 88,500,00O pounds.
Canned corn, 81,200,000 pounds; last
year, 42,35o, 900 pounds.
Mixed flour, 11,SsO,O00 pounds; last
year, 1900 900 pounds.
Buckwheat -four, 100000 pounds;
last year 100000 pounds.
Wheat -four, white, $4,000 barrels;
last year 3,235 900 barrels.
Rye, 100000 bushels. Last. year,
3,350,0O0 bushels.
Barley, 16,40O,O0O bushels. Last year,
100000 bushels.
Wheat Al 1,95O00O bushels. Last year,
15.2S0,O0O bushels.
Eggs, 5,975,000 cases. Last year,
$4,000 cases.
Butter, 30,OOoooo pounds. Last year
1875 900 pounds.
Creamery butter stocks. 27,190,122
pounds. Last year, 12,749,o56 pounds.
Frozen lamb and mutton, 100000
pounds. Last year, 3.725,OOO pounds
Frozen pork, 13a3OO,000 pounds.
Last year, 15,625,O 900 pounds
Picked pork, 432,300,000 pounds.
Last year, 394,6O0,00O pounds.
Frozen poultry, all kinds, 54,5700OO
pounds. Last year, 1S,34O 900 pounds.