Omaha daily bee., 1921-11-16
State i'll
Investigate
Depression
Governor McKclvie Orders
Thorough Probe Of Causes
OF Present Economic Con.
ditions in Nebraska.
First Meet In Lincoln

Lincoln, Neb.. Nov. l5.-An in
,estigation TO ascertain the essen
tial facts regarding the causes OF the
present economic conditions and the
party or parties who arc contribut-
Ing TO the delay OF the orderly pro-
cesses OF readjustmcnt, will be con-
Quoted by the state departments OF
agriculture, trade and commerce and
labor. III cooperation with the at.
torncy general and the business adj
ministration OF the University OF
Nebraska. The investigation will
begin in Lincoln. November II,
Governor S. X. McKelvie today
ordered In written instructions TO
these departments. A board OF In
quiry is to be set up, according to the
instructions, before which farmers,
merchants, bankers, laborers, land
lords, commission men and others
who will be able to throw any light
upon these subjects, will be called.
The probe will make every prac-
teal effort to secure the facts" and
after the inquiry here similar probes
will be conducted in several of the
other principal cities in the state.
Governor McKelvie bases his author
ity for ordering the investigation on
the civil administrative code.
Agriculture Frustrated.
Judged by retail prices, freight
rates, wages, taxes. rents and other
items that enter into the cost of liv-
ing, one would scarcely know that
the war is over, and while this con-
dition exists, agriculture, all industry
that j. of the most vital importance
to the national prosperity. is pros
trated by the tremendous burdens OF
rcadjustment that it is obliged to
bear" Governor Mckelvie said in
MS order.
The probe will be conducted by Leo
Stuhr, secretary Of the Department
Of Agriculture; J. Z. Hart. secretary
of the Department of Trade aud
Commerce; F. A. Kennedy, secretary
Of the Department Of Labor, and At
torney General Davis, assisted by
Prof. ]. E. LcRossignol, head OF the
business administration department
Of the state university.
The meeting will open at Lincoln,
and will proceed to Omaha, FIRE.
lnoat, Grand Island and other places
in the state il necessary. Farmers,
merchants, bankers, laborcrS, land
lords, commission men and Others
will be called before ths tribunal.
Testify Under Oath.
A section Of the civil adninistra-
ton code law empowers the gover-
nor to cali the meeting and to force
any person in the state to testify
under oath regarding his business.
If, during the investigation, it is
found that any criminal statutes OF
the state have been violated, the at
torney general will institute prose-
cutions.
The main purpose of the investiga-
ticn, the governor says, is education-
al and an effort to throw the light
of publicity on the inside workings
OF all businesses in the state.
Burden on People.
ANY intelligent study of present
economic conditions reveals the wide
disparity existing between prices OF
raw products of the land and fin
ished products of the factory" said
the governor. The normal value
OF exchange that existed before the
war has not been restored and the
burden of readjustment is falling
with uneven weight upon the people
The question that agitates the
public mind no is whether this con-
dition is merely an aftermath of the
war or whether it is being main
tanned by arbitrary and unjust
means"