The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-04-21
NEAR CLIMAX OF
PROFITEER FIGHT
Campaign Will Reach
Head in Next
Thirty Days
(By Universal Service)

(By Universal Service)
WAsHiNGToN.-The climax Of
the campaign waged by the depart
ment against profiteering will be
heard in the next thirty days. How
ard e. Figg, special assistant to the
attorney general has told sub COM
mittee of the senate manufactures
committee. No general decline in
the cost of living can be expected,
however, as result of the campaign,
Mr.. Figg stated. Until the cOuntry's
production is stimulated to equal its
consumption, he said there could be
no appreciate fall in living costs.
Two flying squadrons of twenty
five investigators are now travelling
about the country gathering facts re-
garding 10 prices and examining into
the deiuge of complaints of alleged
profiteering which have been submit
ted to fair price commissioners in
the various states.
A total of 1900 profiteers have
been arrested since--the department
inaugurated it's last October, he
added.
How many indictments were Sc
cured from these arrests" asked
Senator Pomerene.
approximately $50 indictments,
with convictions in about IS per cent
of the cases. replied Mr.. Figg.
How many profiteers went to
jail?" asked Senator Pomerene.
About twenty-five or thirty"
Were these big profiteers or little
ones?"
Both" Mr.. Figg answered.
Investigations now in progress
covered the activities of several
large corporations which deal in raw
materials and finished produce en-
bracing food products and wearing
apparel. Figg stated that the de-
partment's campaign had been es-
pecially effective in Georgia.
Asked by Senator MeNary what
investigation Mr.. Figg had made of
the high prices of shoes he replied ,
that the inquiry was still in progress.
Senator McNary asked whether the
of justice had done any
thing about report that one of the
big packers had stored large quaint
ties of hides in seven states to keep
them off the market and thereby in
crease the prices of shoes. Mr.. Figg
said he had not investigated this
boarding, but promised to do so.
1t was strongly intimated at the
of justice that all the re-
sources of the departments would be
used during the next thirty days in
making a definite effort" in reduc-
ing costs. The action of some of the
agents of some of the large packing
in taking advantage of
the recent outlay railroad strike to
increase prices of meats in some ter
ritories as much as 9 cents would
receive special Investigation it was
said.
The bureau of labor statistics in
It's monthly report on food prices,
increases in the prices of
'oodstuffs in twenty-seven cities, and
a decrease in twenty-y hree cities.
The reports of decreases in some
cities are the first received for many
all previous figures of the
bureau showing a steady monthly
Use of from to per cent.
The price of foodstuffs in New
York and most other large cities of
he east show decline during
March of about 2 per cent, while an
Increase is noted in most cities of
he middle and far west
During the year ending March,
1919 foodstuffs increased from 10 to
20 per cent turnout the country
Compared with the average expen-
litures of 1913 a general increase of
about sos per cent has taken place,
statistics show.