Evening star., 1923-03-23
Consultation With Basil Man.
ly Held as First Step to
Stop Price Boost.
HOOVER AND SEYMOUR
TO HOLD CONFERENCE
Peoples Legislative Service Agent
Sees Chance for Quick
Action.

Tho department Of Justice Las
started the wheels in motion TO deal
with charges that gamblers in sugar
have forced and propose to continue
to force high prices of sugar. An
agent Of the department spent yes
terday afternoon in consultation with
Basil Monty, director OF the Peoples
Legislative Service, who laid the
charges of a conspiracy to advance
sugar prices before President Hard
ing
No direct reply has been received
by Mr.. Manly SO far from the Presi-
dent or the Attorney General in
Florida, but the action of the Dc
partment Of Justice in sending its
agent to take up the charges with
Mr.. Manly and obtain from him such
information as he possesses is in
terpreted here as the answer Of the
administration
Hoover to Confer.
Further, ii was learned today that
conference between Secretary
Hoover Of the Department or Com
merce and Acting Attorney General
Seymour has been arranged at which
the possibilities of joint action by tse
two departments will be Considers d
What the Federal Trade CommiSs .na
VIII do in regard to the sugar stu
alton has not yet been announced
Following a meeting of tho commits
sion today. Acting Chairman Thonp-
son said there was nothing al this
time to he said. so far as the Trade
Commission is concerned.
The Department of Justice is the
agency which must deal with any
conspiracy to force sugar prices uI.
it was said today. The department has
the power. ii was pointed out. 10 COM
pei the brokers to open their books
10 the departments agents and to
show just who has been dealing III
particular set or group Of persons
dealing in sugar has been acting in
concert to force UP the prices. then,
il is said, the Department of Justice
will have the information necessary
10 proceed.
Manly Issues Statement
Mr. Manly today issued a state
ment saying he was delighted the
Department Of Justice had acted so
promptly. Referring to the suggestion
made by Senator Capper of Kansas
and Representative Dallinger Of
Massachusetts, that the people Of tht,
country can effectually bring down
prices of sugar by abstaining from ita
use. Mr. Manly said that it was not
fair to ask the American people to
Starve themselves to prevent crime
which the government should he able
to control. His statement follows:
Il am delighted that the Depart
nlent of Justice has so promptly re-
sponded to my request for action TO
stop the present outrageous gambling
in sugar. | only hope that the action
of the Department of Justice will he
as vigorous and thorough as it has
been prompt.
NO long dra wn ont Investigation IS
necessary All that is needed is 10
summon federal grand juries in New
subpoena the leading sugar brokers
to produce their books, which will
show who has been bulling the mar
ket Claus Sprecllels. James H. Post.
Earl p. Babst. and other leading
sugar reffners have already declared
that the market is purely specula tive,
and there is every reason to believe
that they can. if they will. tell the
grand jury what forces have COM
bined to create this artificial market.
Already Have Law.
"A combination to increase prices
is combination in restraint OF trade.
and the Sherman act is all the law
the Department of Justice needs as
basis for a thoroughgoing grand jury
investigation.
IF the Department Of Justice will
show the same zeal against this sugar
conspiracy that it has exhibited in
labor controversies. the present
gamblers market will be speedily
smashed A federal injunction under
the broad terms of the Sherman act
is all that is required, and any live
district attorney. by liberal use of
subpoenas. can secure the necessary
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