Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-12

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variations from prices charged for
: the same lines of food yesterday and
last week.
While the wholesale and commits
sion markets were fairly crammed
with crates boxes. bags, baskets and
other containers bulgfng with fresh
vegetables. fruits and produce. prices.
both wholesale and RETAIL remained
practically at the high MARKS OF the
last few days.
Slight Reductions Shown. =
tail prices Of sugar corn. some re-
tailers selling three small and In
ferior ears for 10 cents. or at the rate
of 40 cents a dozen. Potatoes OK me-
dunn grade sold at from Ii cents a quar-
ter peck to IS cents a peck String beans
remained at 10 to Is cents a quarter
peck Small cymlings sold at cents
each. the same being asked for the
small yellow crookneck squashes.
Beets, carrots, onions. etc. remained
at yesterdays prices. Notwithstanding
the huge heaps Of these vegetables
on the wholesale and commission
markets. Tomatoes also remained
about at yesterdays wholesale price.
ranging from two to three pounds for
25 cents.
specially plentiful. though the canta-
loupes still sold at $3.50 per crate of
from forty to forty-eight melons.
Peaches also were on the market in
abundance. prices ranging from $2.25
per three-peck basket upward. ac-
cording to size and quality.
Prices of fresh and smoked meats Of
all kinds, it was stated, are practi-
cally the same as they have been for
several days. this also being true of
fish. both fresh and salt.
However, 1T was noticeable that
wholesalers, commission men and re-
$ailers generally were discussing the
ton today. and that a tone Of ner-
Sousness existed which was not OBJ
servable few days ago.
: Attorney General Active.
While Congress proceeded today
with consideration of various bills
and sug gestions for legislative relief
from high living costs. Attorney
General Palmer continued negotia-
hons with representatives of his de-
partment and state, city and county
agents throughout the country for
cooperation to bring about lower
prices for the necessities Of life.
The Attorney General received "en-
thusiastic'' assent from virtually all
state food administrators Of whom he
asked cooperation in the governments
CIOf - " NCuuCC lHC HiSH COSt VI Iit-
ing. At the same time he sent instruc-
lions to all district attorneys to get in
touch with the food administrators
and to act at once on any evidence
Of law violation which might come to
light in the work of the fair-price COM
mittees to be reconstructed in every
county.
: The attention of the district attor-
neys also was called to the unlimited
availability" of the secret service for
any investigatfve work necessary to
the punishment of hoarders and
Yrofteers-
Army to Sell Blankets.
Coincident with the announcement
of surplus Army food would be re-
adjusted from time to time to con-
form to reductions in the retail mar
ket on similar commodities. which
was taken here as an indication that
retail dealers already were begin
ernment's action in placing the vast
quantities OF stores on the market, it
was announced last night that the |
War Department also would offer to !
the public 100000 surplus blankets. |
These include practically all grades |
and range in price from 50 for the |
best all-wool to $1.25 for reclaimed |
cotton blankets. 1
Sale and distribution of the blankets |
will be conducted through post office /!
plan that foodstuffs are being han |
died.
Senator McKeller Testtfies.
Senator Kenneth 3. Mckellar Of
Tennessee, father OF cold storage leg
islation in Congress-, Who has been
urging passage of cold storage bill
for ten years while member Ct both
the House and Senate, testified today
culture. which is conducting hearings
as regards practical cold storage leg
islatfon to relieve the high cost Of
living as suggested by President VIII
son in his address to Congress.
Senator Mcclellan told the commit
has teeth in 1t to be effective In re-
ducing the cost of foodstuhfs under
present conditions. He explained that |
his bill IL based on testimony given |
at hearings conducted years ago by |
Senator Hepburn. at which Dr. HAr-
yey W. wiley and other food experts
testified regarding eold storage con-
Aitions and abuses, Demanding legis-
1attve correction.
Senator McKellar explained that the |
constftutionality Of his bill finds its
foundation in the interstate commerce
statute, and said that q number Of |
experts on constitutional law had 10
declared
Senator McKeIlar has announced that
he viii speak In the Senate tomorrow
on this cold storage legislation. He ex-
planned to the House committee today the |
various paragraphs Of his bill and how
they differ from the Hutchinson bill
which was under discussion in the COM
mittee yesterday and which legal experts
from the Department Of Agriculture de-
alu poA mn <opafffY,ffnrAI
Will Plan Food Distribution.
There will be q meeting tonight at 8
o'clock at the Phelps School, Vermont
avenue between T and U streets, to plan
for the distribution Of Army foodstuffs
ordered by consumers at that school
Distribution Of foodstuffs 10 to be under
the direction of the community secre-
tary.
Plans to obtain produce from farmers
for distribution to consumers also will
be discussed at the meeting.
SUBMITS BILL TO CONTROL
PRICES OF NECESSITIES
To meet what members Of Congress
believe is the most important sugges-
tion regarding the control of prices of
necessities OF life, made by President
William N hfa rpAeRa0o RADrA-~~%u