Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-07
ANTITRUST SUITS
AGAINST PACKERS
READY FOR FILING
Palmer Announces Steps t0
Hale Meat Men to
Court.
z'
TO WAGE COUNTRYWIDE
FIGHT ON PROFITEERS
Department of Justice Moves tc
Secure Relief for Con-
sumers. =,
PRESIDENT TO SPEAK FRIDAY
Will Address Joint Session on Living
Cost Problem and Urge
PRESIDENT TO SPEAK FRIDAY
Will Address Joint Session ON Liyinp
Cost Problem and Urge
Remedies.

"aSflNGION. August 6.-Anti.
trust suits against the great inca,
packin firms were announced by At.
torney General Palmer as the frs,
concrete development of the govern.
ments campaign to reduce the high
cosi u. living.
Armour. Swift. Morris. Wilson ant
Cudahy, who have pictured in the in.
vestisation of the Federal Trade Com.
lJSion frni of fnod as great aomoination in con:
again before the Federal courts bi
srecial prosecutors.
General palmer % declared shoi indieatsd dnia,Ur9eS;
clear violation OF the antitrust laws
Mhether the prosecutions would Ia
dec!ined TO state. merely recalling thai
the er,s law provided for both.
Inc history OF all the goyernment'i
years does not show single lndi.
s'GIa, niai, eyer f serving Jail sentence for
the government hopes for some In the
Statement by Palmer.
Attorney-Gener Palmer announced
that the evidence before the Fedora.
rnaa,eSs rrnaae Commi;ssion and committeea oi
9"Gsess Of the "a clear yiolsten
mad ordered prompt action accord.
: :. .Gondi,ions." !, said Mr. Palmers tele.
country, wide campaign against hoard.
ers and protiteers and / desire ths
ega means OF jnS,se bis to use every
Isador j., Eresel. of the New York
Vii have charge OF the case and Mr.
aaimer said he would be given such
a1iss,stance 1i'n by the Department. of jus.
'ice as tne case seems TO warrant"
~, Packers to BE Prosecuted.
,ions Mhile he was announcing prosecu.
eaons ernl te1 a,mss the packers, Attorney-Gen.
special agents on a country-wide trail
These nsonIssr.ng nroser5, ian and food boarding.
officers were instructed to ferref 'a,ei oe,
"oarhers ..Thf and profiteers
ness before the country" said The st'
,bn h1S.General' and ! propose to hava
cnr tnS law entorcement machinery of the
this job. everything to
rresident Wilson continued to give
len, ,nt, na'ehllon d TO the food cost prob.
Rone ro his address to Cong GonsressSs SO POST nnfii
Ir;da,sy IEuesday next week instead of 'l, III,
The postponement was suggested -.
cause OF absence OF members fron on,
washington. w but the President deeiineS
can ca me lesGel fG1ilowins letter to the Repubii.
am very sorry indeed that T can.
deiav del vofnp,y m ~ WITH your suggestion Of the
or Congress. The situation which i'm
PEELED me last week to ask Conrres,
on, on poStiPone its recess until my rec
still acute. have had under v.rs ls
serious consideration the proper action
o. me government with reference TO
IN me high cost of living. and I feel thai
IL is my duty at the earliest possihIe
moment to present certain resolutions
now ready for submission to Congress.
m Joint Session OF Congress-
have therefore. asked the Vice.
resident and the Speaker to arrange
Il i, possible for a joint session for ie Fri
daE AFTERNOON next at O'clock"
There was no intimation from the
w mite House as to the nature or the
re- rec9mme % ndations the President would
tthe trend of the governments activities
,,rohIa m IN attempt to solve. the living cost
nropiem; nr'i IN; h1wevsr in the view Of SOW
would deal with these subjects: -
,.exnr En,arSement gem OF the provisions OF the
peace and applicable to shoes. clothing
and all life necessaries in addition to
LEGISLATION to reach the small or
individual profiteer as we'll as big
business eXtortion.
To Define PronteerinE.
Legislation to define profteerinr.
thereby making easier prosecution un.
der existing laws.
Laws to make speculation in neces.
Legislation limiting the margin of
profit on necessities. ~
Another major development OF the
Federal Trade Commissions report on
the shoe industry investigation. This
report charged that the high price of
shoes resulted from excessive profits
taken by every factor in the trade
The packers. tanners, manufacturers
and retailers all shared in the blame.
The report was placed before Attorney
General Palmer today.
The hoa rder lis the big part OF the
game right now" in the opinion OF
the government officials in charge OF
the effort 10 bring down prices and
Attorney-General Palmer indicated to-
day that he was depending largely on
the section OF the Lever act dealing
with boarding as one Of the most in1a
mediate means OF forcing prices down.
After Price GouEer. .T
The price goueer can be reached In
another way" the Attorney-General
said. adding that there wasn't much
difference between boarding and prof
itcering Isii,
The Attorney General today pointed
out that all OF the wartime laws Roy-st
ernins production and distribution oS
foodstufs sti,l were in force and thai
this would be used to the fullest ex.
tent The conditions confronting tho
ountry now, he said. arc properly