Show fr 1 GOODS j 1 r h f I 1 p i I. I alton e M oves s1 To Force Down Cost of Living were n numerous today in the nationwide nation- nation DEVELOPMENTS L- L wide fight to reduce living costs costs Dispatches hes indicate indicate indi indi- cate that many municipalities and states as well as the national government are re moving to force a drop in prices In the senate c consideration was given to reducing the amount of curr currency ncy in circulation as a means of reducing reducing reducing re re- re- re the cost of of living A bill in the the house would limit prices for necessities to the prices th that t prevailed November 11 1918 Another bill Hill would appropriate with which the president could requisition necessities and sell them at cost The house gave up its expected five weeks' weeks recess and determined to consider economic and industrial problems problems problems lems made acute b by threatened strikes by railroad em em- The most drastic state action came in Iowa where Governor Harding H issued d an order directing all county attorneys to meet at Des Moines next Friday to consider ways and means of fighting profiteers The war department announced it would sell at cost ost all surplus subsistence commodities now on hand I Army Y to Sell All Its Surplus v WASHINGTON Aug 2 2 tion of all an surplus subsistence commodities commodities commodities com com- held by the war department departments Is s provided for in modifications of the original plans announced today Sale of only canned and cured meat and canned vegetables was planned at first Provision is made for meeting the demand in towns where the charter restrictions prevent the purchase in inthe inthe the he manner provided or prescribed by bythe bythe the he war department In such cases the he mayor or some commission may mayI act as agent Instead of carload lots of I pounds sales may be made in as assman carton small mall lots as a single case or The prices quoted to municipalities are re the basic price of the department in n offering the commodities for sale through the parcel post TO CURTAIL CURRENCY The senate adopted a resolution re- re requesting recommit questing the senate banking committee commit- commit tee ee to report whether leI legislation a t to reduce educe the amount of currency in circulation clr- clr i was waR advisable as a means of reducing educing the cost of living I Th The resolution which was sponsored by Senator Myers Dem of ot Montana had been under debate for two days HOUSE WANTS RECESS Efforts to have the house recess for two weeks were blocked by Representative Representative Representative Igoe Dem of Missouri who refused unanimous consent for consideration consideration consideration consid consid- of the recess resolution until the house acted on his his measure proposing proposing proposing pro pro- posing an investigation tion of the high cost of shoes House Honse leaders had hoped to suspend business for two wee weeks s They said that if a recess was not taken the house would meet daily but transact not business HIGH PRICES OF SHOES SHOES' Appearing before the house rules committee to urge that his resolution directing the federal trade commission commission commission commis commis- sion to investigate the price of shoes be made a special business of the tho house Representative Igoe Dem Missouri said prices of shoes had in increased increased increased in- in creased from 78 per cent to per percent percent percent cent in the last ast three months as compared with the prices of the last ten Len years He lie also read a statement of the National Boot and Shoe Manufacturing ing association issued July 31 at Boston which said shoes to be sold next lext spring of 1920 must bring still 4 higher prices based on the present established prices of leather and labor ENORMOUS EARNINGS Mr Igoe presented a statement which placed net earnings of the Central Leather company for th the quarter ending June 30 last a at and told the committee this was an increase of more than 10 per cent over the preceding quarter and a gain of 99 per cent over the corresponding period of 1918 In support of another resolution Mr Igoe asked that the rules committee com com- bring to the houses house's attention his proposed inquiry of whether dealers dealers dealers deal deal- ers were recouping their war taxes by advancing costs He said a Baltimore Baltimore Balti Balti- more man owning or controlling apartments was advertising that his tenants must sign an to pay increases sufficient to meet his higher taxes Chairman Chairman Campbell told the committee committee committee com com- that a a. dealer in Washington bought a barrel of potatoes this week for and within an hour sold sole the potatoes for 2045 Packers Ask I F For or Investigation I Special Dispatch CHICAGO ill m. Aug 2 The The American American Amer Amer- ican meat packing industry today t telegraphed directly to President Wilson Wilson Vilson an offer to cooperate in every way possible in his cabinet investigation tion of the high cost c st of living and to to place unreservedly before the committee committee committee com com- appointed by the ca cabinet binet all an facts relating to the packing business This action action- was taken en through the Institute of American Meat Packers representing tho the five larger packers and about smaller firms in various parts of the country Telegrams similar to that sent to President Wilson were transmitted also to Senator Gronna chairman of the committee on agriculture Representative Representative Representative Esch chairman of the house committee on interstate and foreign commerce Representative Haugen chairman of the house committee on I agriculture Governor Harrington of I Maryland and other state and federal officials who are conducting inquiries to fix responsibility for the high prices of necessities The telegram to the president signed by Thomas E E. Wilson president president prest- prest dent dept of Wilson Co as chairman of Continued on page 3 3 HIGH COST FIGHT SWEEPS OVER NATION H I Authorities ies Move to Find Means of F Forcing Forsing Down Prices Continued from page 1 1 the executive committee of the Institute institute Institute tute reads as f follows fallows The afternoon papers here announce announCe announce an an- that a special committee to consider means me-ans of reducing the high cost of living has been appointed by your cabinet The high cost of living is today the most important question before the American people It will undoubtedly be found that a variety of causes contribute to the situation The public public pub pub- lic lie Is entitled to know the full an and exact facts The Institute of AmerIcan American American Amer Amer- Meat Packers ican speaking au authoritatiVely authoritatively authoritatively au- au for its members members invites a thorough investigation or of their business and audit of their books I b by capable certified public account aCcount- ants Such an examination will disclose disclose dis dis- dis close the exact facts and we are I sure will show that the packers are not responsible for the prevailing high prices of meats and other products which they handle I An investigation of this sort should be entered upon at once and carried on with the utmost expedition and to this nd the members of this in institute institute in- in will afford every facility in their power and will ill cooperate in-I in in inee ee every possible way Congress Gets Two Bills BiUs BillsBy By Associated Press WASHINGTON Aug 2 Prices Prices for tor necessities would be limited to the amounts charged November 11 ii 1918 1913 under a bill introduced yesterday by Representative Huddleston Democrat Alabama The president would be directed di directed di- di reeled to appoint a war trade commission commission commission commis commis- sion of five members to fix minimum sale use and service prices for all ne ne- ne Food clothing foodstuffs medicines furniture building materials tools Iron steel coal gas electricity transportation transportation transportation trans trans- and rents would be defined as necessities The board which would continue operations rations for five Years vears would Woul adopt regulations re for tor the distribution distri- distri button transportation sale handling and storage of ot the necessities and to issue licenses for dealers to conduct business Dealers would be required to mark the original cost and sale price o ot of articles on the package FAVORS REQUISITION An appropriation of ot to carry carry carry car car- ry out the act was proposed by the resolution re which was referred to the Judiciary committee A bil bill authorizing tho President nt Wilson to ro requisition woo lood fOOd fuel ruel ann and other ne necessities necessities ne- ne I an and sell them at reasonable prices and to appropriate ten million dollars as a working fund was introduced introduced intro introduced intro intro- by Representative James Republican Republican Republican Re Re- publican l Michigan gan HOUSE ABANDONS RECESS The house without a record vote yesterday esterday abandoned Its five weeks' weeks recess re recess recess re- re cess plan House leaders however expect expect expect ex ex- ex- ex to begin a series of three-day three re recesses recesses re- re ceases for the next two weeks the plans for tor which will be framed today The presidents president's request for the abandonment of recess plans coming unexpectedly provoked informal and andI and anc I bitter r comment from both Republicans and Democrats but only a single protest protest pro pro- test was vas heard on the floor it floor it coming I from Representative Blanton Democrat Democrat Demo Demo- crat Texas who asserted that his op opposition opposition oPposition oP- oP position was due to the railway brotherhood brotherhoods brotherhoods broth broth- trying to hold up the country I Ifor for about the seventh time time The Texas I member me however conducted only a I single handed and andl unavailable fight The resolution setting aside the recess was adopted without a record vote with only a few noes being heard Preceding this vote Mr Blanton ha had 3 succeeded in forcing a roll roil call caU by I which a vote of to 4 decided in favor of considering the resolution canI cancelling can can- ceiling the recess Representatives Moon Tennessee Democrat and Platt I New York and Curry California Republicans Re Re- publicans Joined with Mr Blanton in casting the negative votes Senate concurrence In the rescinding resolution is necessary but before the house acted Republican acted Republican Leader Mondell Mondell Mon- Mon dell deli conferred with Senator Lodge and was understood to have hae had the assurance assurance assurance assur assur- ance that no difficulty would be ellI encountered en eu- ell ell- countered th there I I I I I I I I I States Unite to Bring Down Prices COLUMBUS 0 O. Aug 2 Ohio Ohio and Michigan have pledged cooperation inthe In Inthe Inthe the food price investigations which have been launched in both states Attorney General John G. G Price of Ohio Assistant Attorneys General S. S D. D Pepper and Clare of Michigan at a conference here exI ex expressed ex- ex pressed the hope that all the Central West states will Join in the gation The cooperation It was stated will consist chiefly in exchange of InI in information In- In Information i formation obtained by grand Jury investigations InI in investigations In- In and the like which may i lead from one state to the other I II I I I II I Iowa Governor Prepares to Fight DES MOINE MOINES Ia la Aug 2 Cover Gover Gover Governor nor W. W L. L Harding toda today started a campaign to reduce the high cost of living in Iowa by Iy sending se orders to all county att attorneys to meet me-et here next Friday to discuss ways and means of fighting profiteers The governors governor's action followed an announcement made last night eight that he would use every ry means me available a to reduce the cost of living Governor Hardings Harding's message to th the county attorneys was not in the form of a request b but t was a direct order orden The meeting of the attorneys will wiil willbe be for a twofold purpose purpose first first to gather information from all aU parts of the state concerning food profiteering I and second to acquaint each prosecutor 1 tor with his power and legal rights its in 1 such matters I 4 It was waa s said ld at the statehouse that the meeting probably would result in special grand Jury Investigations in m inmany I many places Grand Juries probably bly will be asked to especially investigate charges that dealers are arc limiting ting the I I amount of t certain foods placed on the market marlet and forming pools thus violating the law and keeping up ur prices Department Stores Offer Assistance NEW NEV YORK Aug 2 Several Several of the he New York department stores have offered to put on sale without profit to themselves foodstuffs surplus purchased purchased purchased pur pur- chased from the war department bythe by bythe bythe the city according to an announcement announcement announcement announce announce- ment made Edwin J. J OMal Icy ley ey deputy commissioner of lof markets The deputy commissioner returned to today today today to- to day from Washington where he arranged ar arranged arranged ar- ar ranged for the purchase of twenty- twenty five carloads of ot foods on consignment i i I II I San Francisco Selling Army Goods GoodsBy By Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO Aug 2 Approximately I persons dally daily arc are at attending attending attending at- at tending a sale of bacon and canned goods originally purchased by the gOVernment government government gov gov- for the army it Is estimated by those in charge of the enterprise e The food was recently re bought by the I city to be e retailed at cost I I Open Campaign On Profiteers By Associated Press BALTIMORE Aug 2 Maryland l and Baltimore public officials today began to take steps to prosecute food profit profit- Attorney General Ritchie will enforce the thirty-day thirty cold storage provision He lIe believes this will re result result re- re sult suIt In the public refusing to pay top prices for col cold coIf l storage products while In n turn the Imprisonment or finding of persons who sell such storage goods in violation of the law will vill aid the situa situa- tion j. j Th The governor said today that he ho will place all aU available funds at the disposal dis ds- ds- ds of a committee to probe the whole situation with a view of bringing out into the strong daylight the identity of persons guilty of ot hoarding and profit profit- eer g. g t |