The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-08-23
HAYWARD TO FIGHT
COFFIN EXTORTIONS
He Will Meet Daugherty to
Arrange Campaign on
PrOfiteers.
FRAUDS COVER NATION
Manufacturers Try to Get
Their Cases Quashed by
Federal Agents.
HOOVER URGES ACTION
Thousands of Complaints to
Help Prosecutors Rid
Cities of 'Gougers.'
HOOVER URGES ACTION
Special Despatch TO TIE NEW YoaK HERALD
sew Toeis Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. G., Aug. z2.

Special Despatch 10 TIE NEW YoaK HERALD.
sew TosiS Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. G.. Aug. ze. J
Attorney General Daugherty will
confer here with William Hayward
of New York and Charles Clyne OF
Chicago, Federal District Attorneys,
before determining the extent or
prosecutions against profiteering
a Manufacturers of collins.
:, The frauds of the coffin makers,
sow to be stopped by prosecutions
under the Sherman antitrust law. are
so widespread that the investigation
may reach into all parts of the
country
Agents OF the Department of Justice
have been approached by representatives
OF the coffin makers with overtures of q
nature akin to bribery to stop Federal
action These moves have met with re-
buff and have left the proponents open
Go prosecution for bribery.
There has been the most thorough in
CURRY into the activity of coffin makers.
particularly in the middle West.
large number of the manufacturers are
in that territory.
Disclosures startie Hoover.
Secretary Hoover was rather startled
by the recent disclosures and thought
something ought to be done to stop the
mercenary tactics of the coffin makers.
Pe has not seen At to begin any in
curry into the production costs OF the
manufacturers because of the work OF
the Department of Justice.
Commissioner Murdoch of the Federal
Trade Commission said the revelations
were startling, as they now have been
developed. and he thought the inquiry
and action by the Federal authorities
should be searching. to rid the country OF
this particular type of extortion.
Mr.. Murdoch Is not at liberty TO dis
close the commissions findings about the
coffin trust" until he has conferred
with his associates. but he Is impressed
with the necessity of putting check on
this brand of profiteer' Immediately to
shield these who are least able to con-
slider questions Of price.
District Attorney Clyne while in Wash
ington will confer on the Governments
action against undertalsers who have
been in league with coffin makers. The
extortions are so palpable that little
room Is left for defence. in the view OF
attorneys who have studied the cases.
Full support by Daugherty.
The department withheld any officia
statement until the Attorney General has
had further opportunity for conference
with district attorneys in whose dis
tricts the chief prosecutions will be
started. The Attorney-General Il il
said. will back up every move by Federal
prosecutors.
The present investigation and the
prosecutions affect vitality every COM
lnunity. small and large, In the country
II was said. The worst cases of "goug-
Ing" have come from larger cities where
undertakers have resorted to foreclo-
sures to compel payment of their bills for
funeral costs.
Thousands of caess not repaired to
district attorneys have been put before
members of Congress. The Department
81 Justice will consider these also In APP
plying lo-al remedies to the coffin ex-
tortions.