Show I Wilson Sifts Sit is Reports Report s On s L Cost ost o of Livi Living J n Will Witt I As Action by b Congress By Associated Press Rese lo to The Tin Telegram WASHINGTON Dec The The governments government's investigation of the rising cost of living began assuming definite outlines today in conferences between officials of the department of justice the tile federal federal federal fed fed- eral trade commission and United States Attorney Anderson of Boston into whose hands the attorney general has placed direction of the work President Wilson Vilson also began his study of such reports as already have been made to him and will await others before making making mak- mak ing recommendations to congress The investigation Will vill center at first in the chief cities Mr r. Anderson will be aided by a special force of depar department ment of justice investigators and by all federal district attorneys from whom he heI may request assistance I Such organizations as the Chicago board of f trade the New NewYork NewYork NewYork York produce exchange ange and exchanges where coffee sugar and other foodstuffs are dealt in may come ome within the scope of the I investigation it was announced although it has not been determined determined determined de- de d definitely finitely when they would be investigated j Three factors are regarded by department of justice officials as as prime reasons for the increased cost of livings living r They are the I natural e c economic upward tendency of prices the desire of dealers I to obtain as much as poss possible bIe for their wares even to the extent I Ilof i lof of taking advantage of the situation created by the war war to advance prices unwarrantably and possible agreements between en producers producer 1 fr a d 6 i eS lh s G t c J r rast it was authoritatively announced is the only I Ione I one with which officials are con concerned The trade commission will viII operate co with the department to the extent of submitting I such data as it al already eady has Jus and of securing other data ata readily obtainable V VIn thoroughly I In addition to the rise in foodstuffs officials have decided to I I investigate thoroughly the causes for the recent increase in coal prices It was point pointed d out however that local increases such as asI I the recent rise in the price Drice of coal sold to tenement lent house dwellers in New v York and other large cities does not come within the federal governments government's jurisdiction I By Associated Press l to Tl Tile The Tel Tle t mm am I NEW YORK Dec 6 lt it It appears that twelve men mien in in this city are so manipulating the food market that they establish prices Ifor I for the entire country Joseph Hartigan commissioner of weights weights' I and measures said today in a statement recommending the he calling of a f federal deral grand jury to investigate the situation with a view to indicting men who might be guilty of maintaining an excessively high cost of living John J J. Dillon state commissioner of foods and markets announced that certain dealers were defying his order that cold i stor storage ge eggs be so marked and that he lie would submit evidence to too I city or state authorities and urge prosecution He said he lie had Iad written President Wilson suggesting national l legislation regulating cold storage and urging standardization in packing and freight l lAn rates tes An egg boycott movement was was launched in in more than a score of upstate cities today in response to proclamations issued by their mayors I |