New-York tribune., 1920-04-20
u. S. Roundup
Of PrOfiteers
Due in 80 Days
Department of Justices
Campaign Will Reach
Climax Then, Palmer's
Aid Promises Senators
Sees No Price Decline
Senator Dial Dons Oyeralls.
After Urging an Exten-
sion of the Movement
From The Tribune's Washington Bureau

From The Tribune's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, April ia round
up of profiteers by the Department of
Justice within thirty days was prom
ised to-day by Howard A. Figg, special
assistant to Attorney General Palmer,
who has had charge of the departments
campaign against the high cost of liv-
ing.
Mr.. Figg testified before the sub
committee of the Senate Committee on
Manufactures that is investigating prof
iteering in shoes. He told the commit
tee Mr.. Palmer's campaign against prof
iteering will come to climax within
thirty days, and that he expected it
to result in the apprehension of a
large number of profiteers. 1t is ques-
tionable, however, MIR. Figg told the
committee, whether the expected ar
result in any general decline in the
cost of living.
Investigations now being made by
the Department of Justice. Mr.. Figg
said, cover the activities of many large
corporations dealing in raw materials
and finished products, and embracing
food, fuel and wearing apparel. He
promised to furnish the committee
with confidential data already gathe red
by the department concerning profits
made on commodities in a number OF
states. He also promised to submit a
list Of profiteers convicted by the gov
ernment and now serving jail sem
tences.
"How many profiteers have been pun
ished under the Lever act?" asked
Senator Pomerene, of Ohio.
1900 Arrests Thus Far
about 1900 arrests have been
made" replied Mr.. Figg. approx
mately $50 indictments were returned
and convictions were obtained in about
85 per cent of the cases."
"How many profiteers went to Jail ?"
continued Senator Pomerene.
About twenty-five or thirty replied
Mr.. Figg.
Were those profteers big or little
ones?"
"Both."
Mr.. Figg told the committee the De-
partment of Justice Investigation into
profiteering is being conducted by two
flying squadrons" Of twenty-five men
who go about the country gathering
facts concerning prices and who sub
init their reports to the department.
Senator McNary asked what investi,,
cation Mr.. Figg's organization had
made of the shoe situation. He replied
they had gone into the question Of
hides and that data were now being
gathered concerning the profits of
hide and shoe dealers.
Senator Dial, Democrat, of South
Carolina, in the Senate to-day urged
that the overalls movement be extended
throughout the country. After making
his speech Senator Dial donned a pair
of overalls and was photographed for
the motion pictures.
Rebel Against High Prices
owe have been encouraged recently"
said Senator Dial, "by reading in the
papers that the people over the coun-
try, and especially in the South, have
rebelled against the high cost of cloth
ing and that they are daily estab-
fishing 'overalls clubs and calico
brigades.' This is a spirit that should
be encouraged by every one, whether
he be rich or poor.
"The price of mems clothes has gone
all out of reason. l. know men in high
places and who are we'll off who are
wearing Sc shoes and So shirts. They
appear neat and comfortable.
"The troubles of to-day, as I see
them, are imitation, extravaganza, false
pride and incidence. There are too
many $3.50 suits and too little use of
the sewing machine; there are too
many automobiles and not enough corn
fields and hog ranches; there are too
many $25 hats and not enough Liberty
bonds. The old French maxim was
good one-If you can not get what
bo1y