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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 14, 1914)
THE MORNING OREGONIAX, FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 1914. WIDE INQUIRY OVER HIGH PRICES BEGUN President Wilson Orders Bu reaus to Ascertain if War Is Pretext for Rise. PUNITIVE MEANS SOUGHT "It's Damnable H Merchants Selxe Upon Situation for Gain," De clares Secretary Redfield 3 Departments Investigate. WASHINGTON. Aug. 1 President Wilson set the machinery of cral Government In motion today to de termine whether the coat of living 1 being increased -upon the pretext of tt. Conditions existing in Europe. H called upon Attorney-General McRey lds to report if criminal proceed tag were warranted and if any new law were necessary. The send a special message to Congress U Tew legislation 1. found to be ne-ded. "Certainly the country ought to be defended " the President wrote to the Attorney-General, "if possible, against men who would take '"J" Vrtce of circumstances to increase the Price f food and the difficulties of living. Investigation Bm at Once. Attorney-General McReynolds at once set at work the bureau of investigation ""the Department of Justice which has hundreds of agents throughout the . ountry. Agents of the Department of Commerce also were started on the in quiry and Secretary Redfield conferred with Secretary Houston, of the Depart ment of Agriculture. Congressmen who already have In troduced resolutions to investigate the rise in prices and others who are pre paring similar measures viewed the ac tion of the Administration with satis faction. They pointed out that while flour particularly has taken a great jump in price, wheat exports prac tica -iy are paralyzed and millions of bushels are piled up in elevators or in freight cars strung across the continent. 810,000 Aakrd for Probe. Secretary Redfield wrote Chairman Adamson, of the House commerce com mittee, suggesting an appropriation or S10.000 for his part of the Investigation. "If the present stoppage of trade with foreign countries Is made the basis for an attempt in this country to put up prices artificially." said the Secre tary, "it is unpatriotic. I may say even damnable." . , The food question was the first Into which President Wilson plunged when he went back to his desk today after his return from Rome, where he buried Mrs. Wilson. His letter to the Attorney-General was as follows: "The rapid and unwarranted increase In the prices of foodstuffs in this coun try on the pretext of the conditions ex isting in Europe is so serious and vital a matter that I take the liberty of call ing your attention to it. Way to Punish Asked About. "I will be very much obliged if you would advise me whether there is un der existing law any action which the Department of Justice could take, either by way of investigation, or le gal process, and what Federal legisla tion. If any. would in your Judgment, be justifiable and warrantable in the circumstances. "I feel that this is a matter which we cannot let pass by without trying to serve the country. Certainly the country ought to be defended, if pos sible, against men who would take advantage of such circumstances to In crease the price of food and the diffi culties of living." Attorney-General McReynolds at once replied: "The head of our special agents has been instructed to give directions to his men throughout the country to begin real facts, and I am sending the various IMstnci Attorneys similar iiisiruiiuna This should enable us to secure some rterinire iniormaiiou in icscui iw nuo conditions. "May I take the liberty of suggesting that perhaps the agents of the Depart ment of Commerce could render valu able assistance along the lines Indi cated? "When we have become somewhat more familiar with the exact situation. T hope to be able to make you some suggestions In respect of legal proceed ings or appropriate legislation. "The Department has for some time been making Investigations In various directions concerning the price of foodstuffs." CHICAGO CAFES' PRICES RISE ROYAL CADETS, "WEST POINTERS" OF AUSTRIA, BEING SWORN IN AS OFFICERS. I j i . i wi in.t cnrrritrYttn hv Underwood & , pper Photo M...Pry Conference on Fteld of Actiou. erwood. of the Lower AUSTRIA ALL READY Late Archduke's Changes in Army Notable. OLD GENERALS RIDICULE During First Year as Chief Army Inspector Maneuvers Develop New Soldiery Present War Will Bring Out Results. Stockyards Situation Firm. All but Eggs Showing Increase. CHICAGO. Aug. 13. Increases in liv ing expenses spread today to Include most of the more pretentious cafes and clubs, and a general rise of prices was marked on the bills. In spite of threat ened investigations by Nation, state and city, there was no reduction In the tost of staples for home consumption At the stockyards there was no change In the wholesale price of meats. Cattle and hog receipts continued under nor mal and the packers, declaring they were facing the greatest shortage In their history, kept the prices firm. Almost all the staples showed a slight Increase, with a firm market. Wholesalers advanced butter half a cent for good grades, potatoes 5 to 10 cents a barrel, rib beef from 21 to 22 cents, loins from 23 to 24 and chucks from 13 to 13 cents. Eggs were half a cent cheaper. Retail meat dealers denied state ments from the packing-houses that Men meat prices were due to a pny- lcal shortage and were not Influenced it the war times. "Retailers are charging but 1 cent mr. a nound for meats than they pay said one retail dealer with several big ilnwntown stores. He declared the packers had prepared for Just such a shortage by filling the cold storage houses, ana tnai ino in crease was not justifiable. PORTLAND INQUIRY STARTED Washington Order to Investigate Prices Received Here. An order was received this morning by Deputv United States District At torney Johnson from Washington to investigate the sudden Increase in price of foodstuffs since the declaration of the European war. The investiga tion has been begun, says Mr. Johnson, and every effort will be made to dis cover whether any merchant or dealer is working In violation of the Sher man anti-trust bill. "I can see no reason for the price In foodstuffs going up." said Mr. Johnson, "and I am heartily In favor of the in vestigation. If we discover that any one has violated the Sherman law we will prosecute him. I think the step taken by the Government will greatly assist in lowering the prices of food." BV J. VON MAKDTCH. First Lieutenant Austrian Army Reserve. The clash of Russia and Austria did not come unexpectedly. The Issued declaration of war caused In the mon archy neither consternation nor fear. From the beginning of his activity . . . . i. ,j . . ,i as Chief Army inspector. jin.uu- Francis Ferdinand undertook changes in our army which brought forth a head-shakins of many generals of the old school. During his first year as Chief Army Inspector occasional trials were had at the Fall army maneuvers, which easily ,j , .... .. in to nt life, but t COU1Q IldVC icauntu ... fortunately transpired without damage or casualties. Kegimema ui and cavalry actually were overshot by weakly charged shrapnels in order to accustom the men to act under ftre Granats, steel granats and shrapnels were used In these trials, which brought forth great admiration of the attending foreign attaches. Neither were the advantages and benefits to be derived from another novel institution at all appreciated from the beginning. We have refer ence now to the weekly mock battles. On a certain day of each week the en tire corps of officers of each regiment was assembled under the leadership of the commander of the regiment, who thereupon engaged in and discussed the theory of a battle In a given locality. Besides this there was held once a month one great sham battle in which all officers of the entire garrison took part and which lasted at least two or three days. The preferred territory of these dis cussions and sham battles was the Rus sian frontier, and in our opinion there is hardly a stretch or tract of land to be found In that locality which has not been studied In the most thorough man ner during these trials. As a conse quence, we will not be fighting on strange territory, and during these trials not only battles were discussed which already have been actually fought in this war. but all eventualities were considered, great consideration having been given to the supply of am munition, provisions and forage. Provided with general and special maps each individual officer was obliged to act as independent com mander of his division and take a hand as occasion would require, all mistakes or bad moves being corrected and ex plained by the leader of these discus sions. Consequently our corps of offi cers has been trained by these tactics that In case of dire necessity even the youngest officer can take command of a given division of his troops without letting the occasion find him undecided or incompetent. In this manner the team work and the Individual as well as the concerted action of the various army divisions has been increased greatly in efficiency. We lay it great ly to these weekly war discussions and sham battles that the outbreak of the war found us ready on such short no tice, with our commissary and ammuni tion departments well supplied. Only now and chiefly by this war, will It be proved what an efficient tutor Arch duke Francis Ferdinand was. whose death means an irreparable loss to the Austro-Hungarlan army. DREAM OF YEARS GONE GEORGE GIUSTIN UNABLE TO GET PASSAGE TO VISIT MOTHER. Court Interpreter Returns to Post and Reports Thousands With Fares Paid Are Stranded. Balked by the European war from a visit to his aged mother, whom he has not seen since he was a young man, George Giustin. Austrian Inter preter In the Municipal Court, re turned to Portland yesterday from New York. For years he has saved and planned on the trip. Two weeks ago, before the war situation looked so serious, Mr. Giustin bought his ticket and left to realize his dream of years. In New York Cy.y he was met with the information that he could not get passage across the Atlantic. In vain he tried all the steamship companies. No boats would risk a voyage. His mother lives at JDalmatia, Aus tria which is outside the war zone, and' Mr. Giustin, even after war had broken out, hoped he would be able to get there. Himself nearly 60 years ojd. he can hope for few years longer in which to see his mother alive. In New York he met thousands of foreigners who wanted to go to their native countries, but could not get passage. "The confusion among these people Is terrible," said Mr. Giustin. "Every man is fighting for some sort of a chance to get back. Only the reserv ists have a chance. . "People have come to New York from all parts of the United States, their tickets bought and paid for, only to find that they cannot get passage. They wait in New York, hoping that something will turn up so they can get through. Their funds dwindle and right now many of them are desti tute." Forced to abandon one of the dreams r.f his life in America, Mr. Giustin re turned to his post in the Municipal Court yesterday. GABLE IS CENSORED United States Virtually De cides on Policy. NEUTRALITY IS SOUGHT Belligerent Nations, However, as Well as Large Commercial Inter ests, Join ill Desiring Un hampered Communication. WASHINGTON, Aug. 13. President Wilson and Secretary Bryan discussed at length today a plan to apply at all cable offices In the country the same censorship which recently had been placed on wireless stations to prevent neutral territory from being used as a base for the transmission of military or naval Information to the belliger ent countries of Europe. At the' conclusion of the conference it became known that the President and Mr. Bryan were agreed that an impartial enforcement of neutrality would require censoring of cables as well as wireless. British Advantage Noted. A new phase was called to their at tention, however, which has delayed final decision until tomorrow's Cabinet meeting. This is the comparative ease with which England could evade the censorship at cable offices In the United States by having all her messages sent by telephone, telegraph, mail or mes senger over the Canadian border for transmission through the Canadian ca bles at Halifax, N S. -vlthough the German government has protested against the unrestricted use of the cable by England from the United States while German-owned wireless c npanies and other stations are unable to send code messages, the elimination of all forms of censorship in the United States on either cable or wireless is said to be tne wish of the Germans as well as ommercial com panies concerned. Law Studied Carefully. The question of the authority of this Government over the cable companies and Its right to prescribe the conditions under which they shall operate has re ceived careful study at the State De partment In connection with the sub ject of neutralizing the radio systems. Though the question is new and of great importance, the officials have satisfied themselves that the Govern ment is entirely within its rights. str-otitr renresentations have been made to the State Department not only by belligerent nations, but also by the great commercial intej-ests, against any attempt to control either the wireless MAP SHOWING SEVERED GERMAN CABLES. ' t T TAKES strong clothes to ..old the active boy--the only kind of clothes that this store sells. Bring your boys in to day and see how nicely we can fit them ont. All fancy Norfolks are reduced in price this week; strong fabrics, stylish patterns, with unusual cleverness in the tailoring. $5.00 Suits $3.95 $7.50 Suits $5.95 $6.50 Suits $5.10 i $8.50 Suits $6.75 $10.00 Suits . . . .$7.85 Boys' Bathing Suits Reduced $1.50 Felt Hats 98c All Wash Suits Half Price. BEN SELLING fcgffl Morrison Street at Fourth. mis. svstems or cables. The German gov ernment made such representations in behalf of the station at Sayvllle, L. I., and Tuckerton, N. J., and the Marconi Company, the British pioneer organiza tion in wireless extension, has pro tested against any interference on the part of the Government in the word ings of its stations. COURTS WIXJj CUT PRICES Canada to Pass Law Placing In Hands or Judges Ample Powers. OTTAWA. On'-. Aug. 13. A law to control prices of fuel and all neces sities of life will be enacted by the Canadian parliament which meets next Tuesday in special session to pass war measures. The government will enact a statute by which the prices charged by manu facturers, wholesalers and retailers may be brought before a judge and. If found that advantage has been taken of conditions created by war unduly to advance prices, they may be re duced by a court order. Since the declaration of war the charges for flour, fuel, sugar, tea and many other commodities have in creased throughout Canada. It is expected that parliament will be asked to impose some form of war tax The revenues of Canada are de rived chiefly from customs duties. Curtailment of Import orders, due to financial stringency, had seriously re duced the government's revenue be fore the war. Since then, the shrink age has been more serious. The government finds since that time It cannot borrow In London. The modest contribution of aid for Eng land and defense of herself which Can ada made is costing thousands a day. It is regarded as certain that the fi nance minister will ask for the im position of war taxes to enab e l he administration to finance its military and civil affairs. ALL M RATES SOAR EVERY COMMODITY SENT FROM SEATTLE TO EUROPE INCLUDED. In addition to the transatlantic cables shown above, the eight transatlantic lmes of the Western Union Company six from Newfoundland and two from Nova Scotia to Ireland and England are .still opera Ho All connections with Germany, however, are broken, as the remaining lines of the Commercial Company shown above land on English soil. Danger of Selsure and War-Haard Insurance Responsible for Rise by AH Lines. SEATTLE, Wash., Aug. 13. (Spe cial.) On account of tremendous risks of seizure by the belligerent nations of Europe and the increased cost of maintenance of shipping facilities ne cessitated by war-hazard Insurance, rates on every commodity transported by steamer between Seattle and ports in Europe leaped skyward today. Seattle representatives of the big lines operating between the North Pa cific and Europe announce that, effect ive immediately, rates on canned sal mon from Seattle to London and Liver pool will be advanced from 40s 6d to 50s; lumber from 75s to 100s; whale oil from 40s to 50s; wheat and flour from 40s. to 50s. Tallow, scrap metal and general freight has been advanced 25 per cent. The new rates are effective on ship ments made either by way of the Pan ama Canal or the Straits of Magellan in vessels of the regular lines. The rates on wheat and flour, which became effective August 1, are 2.50 to Japanese ports, J3.50 to Honkong, and $4 to Manila and Shanghai. It Is now proposed to advance the rates, effective Immediately, to $5 from Seattle to all ports in the Orient, with the exception of Shanghai, to which port a rate of $5.50 has been pro posed. An advance of 25 per cent on all other commodities is under con sideration. The lines affected by the new rates to the Onemt include the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, the Blue Fun nel line, the Nippon Yusen Kalsha and the Osaka Shoshen Kaisha, the Hamburg-American line and the Great v. .1 .... Ctnamehln PnmnanV. All these companies, with the ex ception of the Hamburg-American line, will receive freight. HOLMES CASE IS PENDING Civil Service Action Deferred Until Examination Is Cheeked Until the official examin' , J. A. Fouilhoux and Thomas Pumphrey, have time to check over the examination papers in the recent civil service exam inations for the position of chief of the Bureau of Highways and Bridges, noth ing further will be done in the case of H W Holmes, who now holds the po sition of chief of the bureau In spite of his failure to pass the examination. The Civil Service Board decided yes terday that nothing should be done with the case until the examiners go over the papers to ascertain If Mr. Holmes could have passed had his pa pers been rerated with others. Astoria Pythians Incorporate. ASTORIA Or., Aug. 13 (Special.) Articles of incorporation of Astoria Lodge, No. 6, Knights of Pythias, were filed in the County Clerk's office to day. The incorporators are the fol lowing officers of the lodge: Herman D. Kribbs, chancellor commander; A. J C Schroeder, keeper of records and seals; C. W. Bar, L. M. H. Wise and Thomas B. Loughery, trustees. The property owned by the lodge is valued at f5000. A woman at Afcertysswg, In the Rhym r.ey Vallev. Wales, gave birth to four children recently, none of whom lived more tliaii a couple of hours. 18 TREATIES RATIFIED Senate Puts 0. K. on Bryan's Peace Measures. TWO COMPACTS HELD UP Further Consideration to Be Given to Cases of Santo Domingo, Now in Revolt, and Panama, Which Has Canal Agreement. WASHINGTON, Aug. 13. Eighteen of the 20 peace treaties with foreign nations providing for commissions of inquiry before resort to arms In Inter national disputes which ordinary re sources of diplomacy fall to settle were ratified by the Senate today. The . iu .ho nnmln can Republic and Panama were held up for further consideration. , Treaties ratified are with Norway, the Netherlands. Portugal. Switzerland, Denmark, Italy, Salvador. Guatemala. v,.,,.,i. Hollvia. Persia, Costa Rica. Venezuela, Uruguay, Ar gentina, Brazil ana -nue. Two Treaties Postponed. D..i.n.mcni nf action In pacts with the Dominican Republic and Panama was determined on after spirited de bate over present relations between the United Stales and those republics. The United States is now engaged in at tempting to settle a revolution in San Domingo, and it was suggested that the pending agreement might conflict with existing treaties. Senator Fall led opposition to rati fication of the Panama treaty in its present form. Under the Panama Ca nal act ships of that republic may pass through the canal free of tolls. Sen ator Fall urged that any new conven tion should prevent the possibility of complications arising through an Alli ance with foreign interest by citizens of Panama to purchase ships. Investigation Is Provided. The treaties ratified are generally of the same character and scope. They provide for the creation of an interna tional commission with each country to which disputes that may arise In the future which diplomatic methods fail to adjust shall be referred for Investi gation and report, and the parties to the treaties agree not to declare war or begin hostilities during such investiga tion and before the report is submitted. The life of the treaties is limited to five years. The contracting parties are not bound by the finding of facts as made by the international commission, but each reserves the right to act Inde pendently on the dispute after the re port of the commission shall be sub mitted. "The main purposes of these treat ies," says the committee, "is to give time for nations engaged In interna tional controversies to reflect and to afford opportunity for subsidence of passion before hostilities shall begin; before the passions of war shall have Inflamed a nation an opportunity Is given for the Influence of peace and reason to prevail." Treaties with Salvador. Guatemala. Panama, Honduras, Nicaragua and Per sia contained a provision, which tha Senate eliminated, providing that the contracting parties agree not to In crease their naval or military pro grammes unless danger from a third power should compel such Increase pending report of the international commission. The committee agreed that this provision "would produce compli cations and might embarrass this Gov ernment far more than benefit it." BIG LOAN FROWNED ON Wilson Opposes Morgan Plan to Aid French Finn m '-. WASH1NGTON. Aug. 1.1 President Wilson was confronted today with the problem whether American bankers shall be permitted to float loans In tha United States for any of the nations en gaged In the war. Though the President has not reached a final decision, he is strongly opposed to the idea. The question arose through the desire of J. P. Morgan Co. to float a loan of several hundred million dollars for the French government. In quiry was made of the State Depart ment by the Morgan firm as to whether the flotation of such a loan would ba regarded as a violation of neutrality. Secretary Bryan discussed the subject with Mr. Wilson, who Is studying It carefully before returning a final an swer. Besides J. P. Morgan ft Cc. It Is said that another New York banking house of prominence Is desirous of floating a loan for Austria, but the State Depart ment has not yet been approached, so far as could be learned tonight, with any formal Inquiry as to questions of neutrality Involved. While there Is no provision In tha American neutrality statutes against the lending of money to foreign na tions and no International agreement exists forbidding It as a violation of neutrality, the President" Judgment Is that If It were permitted serious mis understanding might ensue In Burnpa as to the real attitude of the Govern ment and people toward the different nations In the struggle. A loan was floated for Japan al the time of the Russo-Japanese wsr. but notwithstanding the precedent It la President Wilson's belief that the In fluence of the American Government ought to be exerted so far as noaalbl toward reducing the lenitth of h strife, rather than addlne elmeuls for Its prolongation. He Is likewise on posed to the sending of large quanti ties of gold from the United Stales at a time when domestic financial needs are paramount. Women employed In the t.tll W t In rjermsnv are In a majority over tn men there helns nn.0 female, a. aln.t STUM men. In the el 'BdMrv the women outnumber the men. with Sls.OOo to iiT.nno Advanced Fall Suits $11.85 Everything goes. MAX MICHEL UPSTAIRS, FOURTH AND WASH. Let Our Experts Develop Your Kodak Films DON'T trust your developing to experi menters or to establishments farm ing their work out on piece-work. All our developing and printing is done on the premises by specialists with one object in view that of producing the best re sults possible. Your inspection of our work and dark rooms and equipment invited. If You Can't Call Mail Them to Us The Agents. Eastman Kodaks The Home of the Kryptok Lent Columbian Optical Co. 145 Sixth St., Bet. Alder and Morrison St. 1 4