The sun., 1919-09-18
PALMER SAYS HE
HAS THE GOODS
ON MEAT TRUST
Attorney General Asserts
Packers Control Substi-
tutes to Keep Prices Up.
HOPEFUL OF CONVICTION
Tails Governors Conference
People Will Be Amazed at
Proof to Be Offered.
s..o,s, p.,po,ca 10 TEE sus.

AtsiNY, Sept. II. District Attor-
neys of the State, Mayors and other
public officials who attended Gov.
Smiths food conference on the high
cost Of living were told to-day by A.
Mitchell Palmer, Attorney General Of
the United States. that he "has the
goods" on the big Five" Chicago
reat packers and will present to q
Federal Grand Jury this week such a
mass Of evidence that no jury win
hesitate to find them guilty of con-
spiracy ITO control the American ia
hle"
Attorney General Palmer character
fred the many Buy now" campaigns
~ "despicable efforts to reap big prof
It's before prices drop. and advised
local food commissions everywhere to
back the Work and save" campaigns
that have been inaugurated with the
idea Of increasing production and
eliminating the extravaganza which he
Ays now exists.
Gov. Smiths Food Cost Commission
NyH, n. N1lynu anu LTs JOntl
Finley, State Commissioner of Educa-
ton, submitted a plan for a clearing
huose for cold storage products, which
the Governor will put into effect without
delay. This clearing house will consist
Of the State Bank Superintendent, the
State Health Commissioner and the State
Commissioner Of Foods and Markets.
The idea is to have the Bank Depart
ment get reports regularly on warehouse
receipts, showing Just what food products
are In cold storage held by individuals,
and the Foods and Markets Commis-
sIoner and the Department Of Health by
the exercise Of existing powers to regu-
late the handling Of food products will
then be able to see that foods are not
bearded.
License System Urged.
District Attorney Cooper OF Jefferson
county recommended to the Governor
and the conference a special session of
the Legislature to pass bill providing
for licensing Of food dealers by county
clerks. fixing a maximum profit OF 25
per cent and making IL a misdemanor
V violate the act. This was approved
BY District Attorney Swami of New
York and District Attorney Lewis of
Kings as the best and speediest means of
ClLuuldllnk pTOHtccTDnBs DuI Ine NrONCT-
nor has referred II to Commissioners
Gynn and Finley to determine II such
q plan would interfere with their pro-
sramme.
Attorney-General Palmer suggested
that legislation be enacted giving juries
the right to determine what constitutes
reasona Bile" profit, and he also would
like to see laws which would require cold
storage products to be stamped with the
date when put In storage and their cost
at that time. Mr.. Palmer also wants
legislation compelling manufacturers to
stamp their products with the original
cost
7 tell you," he said, shat II you
walk into q shoe store to buy a pair of
shoes and pick up shoe and find upon
It's sole plainly stamped This shoe cost
when II left the producer 1915 ] win
be damned II you will pay SIS for them.
In marking such goods you would give
the public measure of self-protection
to which they are entitled as a counter
weapon against the gouger in wholesale
and retail lines"
Fair Price Committees Ala.
Mr. Palmer urged public support OF
ihe work OF local fair price committee.
declaring they already have accom-
pllshed wonders In connection with other
e1orts at reducing the cost OF living.
Legislation will be sought in WASH
mston. Mr.. Palmer said, putting wearing
apparel in the category Of necessities.
Our information" he said, "is that
IN many lines of the vitality necessary
common wearing apparel. which our
men who work for wages must have
constantly, there has been the grossest
and most outrageous profiteering.
There are men In all classes of busi-
ness-l have run into them, / can al
most say. by the thousands-who upon
the justification that everybody is do
ing IT, have added on to their prices
or changed their conditions of doing
business from the normal conditions in
way which have added heavy taxes to
ue people. They are what we have
come to know as profiteers. In my
judgment they are the most despicable
scamps In any community. They are
IN not alone the retail trade but among
the Joooers, the wholesalers and the
manufacturers. They ought to be ex-
posed In every community. They ought
be punished II the law will permit
them to be punished and l think 1t will.
Begin. With the Packers.
The FIRST place where we directed
ou. guns was the place which in my
Judgment marks the very centre of the
me OF those who are depressing the
people In this manner to-day. This
week there will be presented to a grand
Jury In Chicago the evidence which will
warrant and sustain an Indictment
uhuer the criminal clause OF the anti
trust law against what are known as
cago.
There never was before In any gov
erhment agency so complete a collection
ot the data which bears upon the ac-
uVities of this giant combination as
mere Is to-day. and when II has been
Laio before jury the wrath of the
american people will compel verdict
vi conviction. For the story will amaze
america as It has amazed me when /
nave seen the analyzed reports of all
uler activities. And its effect upon this
very problem which we are now consid-
sIing will to my mind be far reaching
And complete.
. II these men were meat packers. II
they were a mere combination in con-
a"l OF tha meat products alone, they
nouio deserve attention, but we know
lnAt not alone do they control rs per
cent or thereabout Of the meat pro-
oueed and distributed TO the American
consumer. but they control In sufncientiy