The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-08-05
President Concentrates At
tention on Living Costs
and Threts of
Strikes.
PALMER MAKES REPORT
Cabinet Conference Expected
to Bring Ways of Lower
ing the Cost of
s5 Living.

Washington, Aug, 5.-Presdent
Wilson today concentrated his en-
tire attention on the threatened
strike of railway men and the high
cost OF living problem, receiving no
visitors at all, 1t was announced at
the White House.
Even the peace treaty and the dis
cussions of the league Of nations had
to take second place before the vi
tai democratic problems.
At meeting of the cabinet the
situation will be canvasscd and later,
it was stated, the report of the special
cabinet committee, appointed to ex-
anime the two problems. would be
placed In the presidents hands by
Atty. Gen. A. Mitchell Palmer, the
chairman. After he has digested the
report President Wilson will confer
with Julius Barnes, head of the
| United States grain corporation, on
advisable steps to be taken to cut
the cost of foodstuffs.
Whether President Wilson will 60
before congress with a special mes
sage will depend to a large extent
upon the recommendation made by
the cabinet committee, 1t is under
stood.
Increase Production,
While the cabinet officials were In
conference the federal trade commits
sion began a study of all English laws
against profiteering. Some officials re-
garded 1t as probable that congress
dealing directly with all classes OF
protiteering. Atty,-Gen. Palmer has
said that the existing laws are made
quate.
Administration officials feel that
one way TO decrease the cost of liv-
ing is to increase production and
President Wilson Is understood to
feel that strikes now, or threats will
interfere materially with any solu-
ton of the problems sought by gov
ernment agencies.
Conferences with republican and
democratic senators on the league of
nations have definitely been aban-
doned by the president until the
problems of the high cost of living
are solved. Secretary Tumulty an
nounced. THE president, MFR. Tu-
multy said lis going to give his
whole timetto the question of the high
cost of living
That the president planned TO de-
vote the entire day to consideration
Of the railroad and high cost of liv-
ing problems was indicated by the
fact that aside from the cabinet
meeting he had no engagements for
the day.
Receive Report.
Members of the presidents cabinet
went into conference early today with
Mr.. Palmer to receive the report Of
the special committee appointed last
week to tabulate the various sug-
gestions thus far advanced. The
conference was expected TO continue
until just before the regular Tues
cabinet meeting at the White House.
Mr.. Palmer's report was to he sub
mitted at the cabinet meeting and
the president then planned to discuss
n free market for wheat with Mr..
Barnes.
Many offers Of assistance In his in
vestigation of the high cost Of liv-
ing are reaching Atty Gen. Palmer.
One came today from Gov. Bartlett
of New Hampshire, transmitted by
Atty Gen. Oscar L. Young, to which
the attorney general replied that he
would be glad to avail himself of the
services of states officials as soon as
a definite plan of action was formu-
lated.
julius H. Barnes, president Of the
United States grain corporation, has
been called to the White House for
late today and it is understood the
will take up with him
to restore wheat to a free
with the government making
good the difference between the mar
l<et price and the 1925 guarantee to
the farmers.