Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-09
.AIM T0MAKE DC.
LIVING COST MODEL
Congressional Leaders in Ac.
cord With Presidents Views
Concerning Capital.
FAVOR DRASTIC ACTION

President Wilson's recommendation
to Congress that it should. regulate
cold storage practices and other mat
ters related to the cost of foodstuffs
very fully for the District of CO.
lumbia, where its legislative author
serve as a useful example for the
other communities Of the country" is
receiving earnest attention on Capitol
Hill.
Leaders on both sides Of the House
are in accord with the Presidents ad-
vice regarding the costs of necessities
of life, especially in the District, and
say Internationally some definite &C.
ton may be expected soon"
Many members have views regard
ing what should be done in Washing
ton, and most Of them are for drastic
action. A large following concurs in
the opinion forcibly expressed by Rep
resentative Benjamin K. Focht of
Pennsylvania that the crime of prof
iteering in Washington in foodstuffs
has gone on long enough. / know
that 1t exists and propose to have it
stopped"
1t seems likely that q joint confer
enee of the Senate and House Dts
trict committees will be called to CON
slider the question of what Congress
shall do to lower the price Of Reces-
stiles of life in the pistFiet. Repre-
Virginia advocates this course as the
best way to get concerted action
that will be affective.
Chairman Mapes Of the House Dis
trict committee is absent from Wash
ingten, but expects to be back In a
nR ot til tfvnA he
members Of the committee plan to
take up at once the problem of low
ering prices In the National Capital.
Too Little Effective Action.
Representative Facht is ranking
member of the republican majority.
I'VE have had too much investigat-
ing and too little effective action.
We propose now to get actioa," Ar.
Foeht says: THE President's mes
District. ] am reliably Informed that
the eeld-sterage people here make
deliveries to the small stores, telling
them what prices to sell for, and II
the food IL not sold they have .s.,, = re-
while the people can't get enough to
Il am just back from Aereefsburg,
where we get the best butter at 40
cents Q pound. AT the corner store
here In Washington I have to pay
: a. distance OF about loo miles.
"I propose to take this matter UP
Just as soon as we can get the Dis
trict committee together. have no
doubt that the committee will take
prompt and effective action. ] know
that the temper Of the msmbers ts
foponnrfRa InnRor with the
prohteers on foodstuffs in Washing
ton"
years taken q thoughtful interest in
District welfare, was particularly Ina
se stssu sS IL thss IL Is daaacuit e
find any sane and legitimate reaseR
fer the Increasing prices when there
e not . scarcity, ..Snmsthing viii be
done to make Washington q model
for the rest Of the country rather
than horrible example" he said. 7
COMMITTEES will confer 50 as to get
united action for quick enactment Of
effective legislation. Whatever -
going to be done must be done quickly.
The cost Of necessities Of life will be
the principal matter considered at the
next meeting of the committee.
Hopeful Of Early Reform.
u am hopeful Of an early reform
here In the National Capital. Already
I have some evidence that the very
fact that Congress 10 gsing to aet has
brought the pEoducers,. distributors.
Wholesalers and retailers to their
senses. They are SHOWING an eager
ness to appease Congress AID TO
avoid II possible DRASTIC action bY the
law-makfng body. Such sane public
sentiment, IL 1t spreads, can do more
to relieve conditions thsn any number
Of laws. But we are goi1g right
ahead to safeguard the ophspsners.
The House District conlntttee can be
depended upon to gtve this matter
earnest consideration and pSempt
action"
Representative LampsFt Of Wiseon-
sin Is heartily in favor Of anything
that can be dqne In the District or
elsewhere throughout the country to
reduce the cost Of living. and con-
fesTed with other members OF the
House District committee today. He
is preparing to draft q bill to cover
the needed Legislation as respects
the National Capital, Il some older
member of the committee does not
first present one. He says he will
support any practical proposal for
'cptting down the costs Of Necessities
In the District. q.