OCR Text |
Show 5 Railroad Strike's End Nearing Solution I FEDERAL AGENTS ORDERED AFTER ! FOOD PROFITEERS ! , WASHINGTON, Aug. 9. All special agents of the department de-partment of justice throughout the country have been ordered to assist district attorneys in uncovering evidence of profiteering profiteer-ing in foodstuffs and other necessities. Attorney-General Palmer's instructions were that the special agents should drop everything but the most pressing cases now pending and devote their entire attention to assisting assist-ing in the campaign to reduce the cost of living. The result will be to put hundreds of trained investigators in the search for men who have inflated prices exorbitantly. PRESIDENT TO TALK H. C. L. WASHINGTON, Aug 9. Domestic problems now facing fac-ing the country may be taken up directly with the people by President Wilson during his forthcoming trip in the interest of the peace treaty. t This was indicated today at the White House where it also was said that plans for the president's tour i were going forward. CONGRESS TO ACT AT ONCE. WASHINGTON, Aug. 9. Congress got down today to analyzing and digesting President Wilson's recommendations recommenda-tions for reduction of the increased cost of living. Although either branch of congress was in session today leaders prepared to take action at an early date on the high cost of living problem. Although some senators disagreed with the specific recommendations of the president it was believed be-lieved that the prospective legislation would generally follow the proposals he made. Suggestion by the president for the federal license of all corporations engaged in interstate commerce and for extension of the food control met with greatest opposition in congressional congression-al circles. Many of the opponents of the league of nations in the senate criticized the stress laid by the president on early i ratification of the peace treaty, some of them declaring there was no connection between ratification and the cost of living. New steps by the executive departments of the govern-! govern-! ment to reduce the cost of living were expected today to be started at once along lines laid down by the President, who promised immediate steps to maintain and control wheat shipments and credits so as to facilitate the purchase of wheat with a view to lowering the price of flour to sell surplus government gov-ernment stocks of food and clothing and to force withdrawal ' of foodstuffs from storage. Coincident with the president's appearance before congress con-gress the war department announced the prices at which its surplus food stocks would be sold. Price lists are to be sent to postmasters throughout the country through which the consumers con-sumers may place their orders beginning August 18. Under the department's price list, the consumer will be able to buy bacon for 25 cents a pound, baked beans for five cents a pound, flour at six dollars per hundred pounds and other commodities com-modities at correspondingly low prices. Congress Ready to Act WASHINGTON. Aug. 9 - Republican Leader Mondell declared in the house today that congress was ready to act promptly on such legislation as was needed to carry out the suggestions made yesterday by President Wilson for reducing the high cost of living. oo |