Evening star., 1921-04-07
Thorough Investigation of
Building Material Situation
ai in D. C. Proposed.
BUSINESS MEN MUST
QUIT VIOLATING LAWS
Scouts Sent Ont Over U. S. to Gain
Facts Which Will End "Ques-
tionable Practices"

Evidence of prIce-nxinS ana Otner
questionable practices tending to
keep up the prices of building mate
rial in the District of Columbia and
vicinity is in the possession of the
Department of Justice. Attorney Cen
eral Daugherty said today. He said he
intended to assign an attorney in the
department to make a thorough IN
vestigation of the situation mere WIN
a view to bringing to an end condl-
tions which he called "intolerable-
In sounding warning to the ma
terial men as well as other business
men that the time has now come
when they must desist from practices
which keep up prices and tend to VIC,
late the law, he said that the Iuii
force of the Department OF Jusuce
would be employed to put a stop 10
them.
Scouts will be sent from the De-
partment of Justice to other cities in
the country to gather information 10
aid in bringing to justice those VINO
nave been engaging in the question:
able practices.
Goes to New York
Attorney James A. Fowler left here
yesterday for New York. and today Is
fnstituting an investigation in con-
pection with the now famous Lock
wood inquiry of the New York state
legislature into the building SITUATION
there. Evidence of doubtful practices
in the building industry in Pittsburgh:
Chicago will result in sending ofhcials
from the department to these places
to aid the local officials. Mr. DauSn-
erty said.
The action of the Attorney General
marks the institution of policy IN
oAv mi 20
posi- BILE aid to local officials in en-,
forcing the Sherman antitrust and
other laws During the activities IN
other cities in connection with the
that the federal department was ham
pering the work of bringing the cui-
prits to justice by failing to give
them aid. The steps just instituted
wide inquiry into the high prices Of
building materials. z
~Iatolernble Conaitfens.o
It has come TO the attention OF
the department., Mr.. Daugherty said,
that there exist in certain parts Of
the country conditions in the build
ing industry that are intolerable. 1t
is the purpose OF the Department OF
Justice to clean up the situation in
there is to be no disposition to un-
duly harass business. However. the
department will not submit, IL il is
possible to prevent it. to any violation
of the law in trade. The Attorney
I'VE would like the country to take
notice now that this is a new day
and a new way. We will not close
our eyes and approve any device,
scheme or trick that would violate
the law. We want the country to
understand, too, that we are right
positive about it. If the situation now
existing is produced by tricks, they
must be discontinued"
He said that there is sufficient au-
ttority under the laws now existing
to prevent the offenses charged from
being committed. All of these COM
panies. he said. have the best law
gers, and lawyers are considered a
part of the Department Of Justice
force These lawyers are expected
by the department to advise their
clients as to what is the right thing
to do and the safe thing to do. and
not permit them to indulge in these
plans and schemes: so,,t.s,, SO that business IS
straight forward and not be suspect
ed and injured.
Emphatic Warning.
This opportunity is being given the
firms now, il there Is disposition to
violate the law to stop and begin over
again. he said. The department is
rather inclined now to give this
zratuitous but nevertheless modest
and emphatic warning that they desist
Immediately.
THE warning sounded today for the
hufldinR material industry should also
be taken to heart by other business
interests, he pointed out.
He said that he had established the
policy of sending special counsel to
sections of the country wherever 1t is
necessary to make thorough investi-
cations and assist the local authori-
ties in the work of bringing to justice
those engaging in the practices COM
planned of.
Conferences already have been held
with District Attorney Clyne Of Chica-
20.