The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-05-24
SUGAR GOUGING TO
SUPREME COURT
Early Decision on Powers of Gov
eminent to Protect Public
Against Profiteers Asked.
BECK TO PRESENT ] PLEA
Department Of Justice Wants Congress
to Pass New Law in December
Sugar Piles Up unsold as Big
Boycott Grows

Washington While the Govern
ment has been baked temporarily in
its fight against speculation respon-
sible for soaring sugar prices. the
housewives boycott is having highly
beneficial effect on the situation, ac-
cording to reports to the Department
Of Justice.
Acting Acknowledgement Seymour.
who has personally directed the in
junction suit againgt the exchange, an
nounced that his observations of the
activities on the Sugar Exchange
showed that the market was "abso-
lutely stagnant." He says:
There seems to be no desire either
to sell or buy. Refined sugar is piling
up because shipping orders are with
held on old contracts.
"This simply means that public at
tention has been directed to a situa-
ton which public sentiment has
solved. No court decree is as effec-
tive as the peoples MIND when CEN
tered on proposition of this sort"
An early decision on the power Of
the Federal Government to afford pro-
lection against speculation in the
necessaries of life is vital to the
welfare of the American public"
This is the basis on which the De-
partment of Justice urges the Supreme
Court to advance the appeal from the
New York District Courts denial Of
an injunction against the New York
Coffee and Sugar Clearing Associa-
ton to stop trading in sugar futures.
Department of Justice officials de-
clined to comment on the possibility
of a hearing and decision before the
Supreme Court recess for the Summer
on June II. They stated emphatically,
however. that if the court should SO
indicate, they would be ready to argue
the matter at once.
The petition to advance points out
that il the Government is without
power to deal with the situation under
existing law, this fact should be fl
nally determined, so Congress may
take up the question of enacting ad-
ditional legislation when it convenes
in December. The petition says:
"A question vital to the welfare !.
the American public is presented for
the determination of this court,
namely, whether under existing stat
utes the Government has the power
to protect the public against sudden
and artificial fluctuations in the
prices of necessaries of life directly
occasioned by purely speculative op-
erations on future exchanges.
III the power exists, it should be
as early as possible; if it does not,
the Congress should be apprised be-
fore 1t next assemblies, in order that
it may give consideration to the en-
actment of additional legislation
The injunction is sought, the plea
to advance asserts, because 1.-THE fur
Their unlawful maintenance and en-
hancement of the present abnormally
high prices Of raw and refined, sugar
will constitute an irreparable public
injury, in that sucIi exorbitant prices
will be extorted from the public with
out possibility of restitution"
President Harding was appealed to
"on behalf of eight hundred civic or
CARNATIONS representing more than a
million housewives of New York CITY"
to take steps for the removal or re-
duction of the tariff on sugar in let
ter which was unanimously approved
by the executive board of housewives
sugar committee meeting in the Alder
manic Chambers at City Hall. New
York
The appeal stated that the petition
ers realized President Harding was
in full sympathy with the difficulties
of the consumer" and that he had al
ready taken steps for their relief.