Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-01-06
PROFITEERS TO
FEELU. S. HAND
WITHIN 3DAYS
Raids to Start in Washington
and Spread Through
Larger Cities.
SUGAR GOUGERs FIRST

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.-The de-
partment of justice within the next
three days will launch a nationwide
campaign against profiteers who are
responsible for the high cost Of liv-
ing, it was announced today.
Practically the entire personnel of
the bureau Of investigation, which
has been released by the general
clean up Of the reds, will be used
to make arrests of dealers who are
charging excessive prices.
Dealers, both wholesale and retail, who
are profteering in the sale of sugar will
be the first to be taken into custody. 1t
is learned that there are dealers who have
been using the authorized high price of
Louisiana sugar to camouhage their deal
ings in Cuban and beet sugar, which
should sell for at least cents a pound
less.
WASHINGTON USED
AS STARTING POINT.
The work of the department of Justice
will begin in Washington, where a corps
of agents will begin work before the end
of the week rounding up sugar profiteers.
These Investigators following the com
pletion of the local raids" will be sent
to Philadelphia, New York and other
large cities, where they will be used as a
nucleus to build up permanent organi-
cations Of investigators, who viii carry
on the campaign against profiteers.
Howard f. Flgg, special assistant 70
the attorney general in charge Of the
of or
work would surely have Immediate re-
suits.
Dealers who are to be arrested can
not claim they were not warned" said
Flgg. THE newspapers have explained
the situation fully. Wholesalers and re-
tailers both know what constitutes the
fair margin Of profit which the law al-
lows. We are now inaugurating an ac-
tive campaign Of arrests and prosecu-
tions. and will see it through to a finish.
CONTAINERS ASKED
TO COOPERATE.
IF those people who complain most
about the cost Of living would give the
department their assistance In reporting
each case of profiteering, we would be
able 10 break up the practice. We must
have the cooperation Of the public"
Figg stated investigators familiar with
the workings of the clothing and shoe
businesses would be used in making ar
rests of dealers proflteering in those
lines. Through state and county fair
price organizations, the campaign which
will begin this week will extend into
every nook and corner Of the country.
District attorneys have received special
instructions within the last few days to
cooperate with the department Of justice
or f- st,0
All details Of the plan to bring profit
eers into court have been completed. and
results are. expected by the department
immediately.
SUGAR FAMINE
END IN SIGHT.
With tn Cuban sugar crop, amounting
to approximately 100000 tons. now NOV
Ing into this country there shortly will
be an end Of the sugar famine. It is
the intention of the department of jus.
tice TO end profteering also.
Consumers who pay above is to IL
cents a pound should report such trans
actions to their local fair price commits
sions for action.
Officials said they expected a decline in
the price OF sugar as soon as the depart
ment's campaign is well under way and
that corresponding decrease would fol.
low In their lines Of necessaries.