THE 3IORXIXG OREGOXIAX, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1916. MOUSE COMMITTEE WANTS FOOD PROBE Shortage Is Actual Menace in United States, Says Trade Commission Chairman. PRODUCT CONTROL HINTED The Ben Selling Store News Devoted to the Interest and Comfort of the Buyer of Men's and Boys Apparel. A Specialty Shop. Portland, Oregon, December 22, 1916. For Men and Boys. Output. However, Not Keeping Pace With Consumption Considera tion by Congress Immediately Is Recommended in Report. WASHINGTON. Dec 21. In report Ins' favorably Representative Borland's resolution to have the House direct the Federal Trade Commission to make an exhaustive Inquiry Into the high cost cf living, the ludiclary committee to day expressed the opinion that only a tr.orough investigation into production, marketing and storage would solve the problem. A letter from Chairman Hurley, of the Trade Commission, accompanied the report, saying the Inquiry would le- 1 quire 15 to IS months and cost about 1142,000 Products Control Indicated. Hearings on the shortage and pres ent t:gn price of foodstuffs, the re port said, had disclosed a condition "strongly pointing to a control of prod ucts referred to by those engaged In marketing the same In this country as In foreign countries. "They disclosed also," the report con- ! tlnued, "that marketing conditions -were not at all satisfactory to a large number of farmers and stockralsers. It appears, however, that the production of food products Is not keeping pace with consumption throughout the country as represented by the growing industrial population of the cities." Food Shortage Is Menace. Food shortage. It Is said, with a re sultant distress to wage earners and consumers was not only a possibility, hut a real menace. "Tour committee believes there Is an economical problem Involved," It con tinued, "which can only be solved In the Interest of the American people by a thorough investigation of the sub ject. The cost of living has been stead ily increasing, until a condition is pre sented which demands the immediate and intelligent consideration of the Federal authorities and which may re quire legislation to correct the present eystem." The House took no action on the resolution. Socialist Offers Flan. The Socialist plan for meeting the food problem was outlined to the House today, when Representative London, of New York, introduced a bill to create a Federal food commission, comprising the Secretaries of Agriculture, Com merce and Labor, to recommend action by the President and Congress. 1 The bill would direct the commission to ascertain all the facts regarding food supply and authorize the President to put an embargo on exports if neces sary. Government regulation of trans portation, preservation, marketing and distribution of food is contemplated as a last resort. SPECIAL! Children's Overcoats Reduced $5.00 and $6.50 gto r? S5.00 Overcoats at ... . $8,50 and $10.00 Overcoats, at. . . . These are in good, warm fab rics; every age from 3 to 10 years. A dandy present for the boys on Christmas morning. Make your selections today. Second Floor Gifts the Boys Will Like Dressing gowns, sizes 3 to 16 years, $2.50, $4 and $5. Ruff neck and jersey sweat ers, $1.50 to $5. Flannel blouse waists, 50c, 75c and $1.00. Madras and percale waists, 50c and $1.00. Union suits, sizes 4 to 18 years, 50c to $2.50. Pajamas, muslin or . flannel, sizes 4 to 18 years, $1 and $1.50. Plaid ties in gift boxes, 25c. Paris garters and arm bands in sets, 50c Suspenders in Christmas boxes, 35c. Lined leather gauntlets, 75c Handkerchiefs in boxes, 3 for 25c Silk ties, 25c and 50c Cloth, felt and plush hats, 50c to $2.00. Leather belts, all colors, 50c Windsor ties, 25c and 50c. Youths' shirts for detached collars, $1 to $3. Cloth caps, 50c to $1.50. Special school stockings, fast black, 30c Children's kid gloves, tans and grays, $1 and $1.25. Knitted toques, 25c and 50c. Knitted gloves, 25c and 50c Leggings, all fabrics and col ors, 50c to $2.50. HaveYouaMan to Buy for? House coats, $5 to $20. Dressing gowns, $3.50 to $30. Mufflers; $1 to $3.50. Silk hose, 50c to $1. Silk shirts, $5 and $6. Silk pajamas, $7.50. Kid gloves, $1.50 to $3. Auto gauntlets, $5 and $7. Umbrellas, $1.50 to $6. Initial handkerchiefs, 25c, 35c and 50c. Hat orders, $3, $4 and $5. iiMimnimimimiHmnruninumiiinmnmnmniniimiiimiiiMiiHimtmm - wiiHii umiHtuui IWUU II M 1 1 11U II IU1 (Mil i Ut It UJ IM ) UJUU1 IU UUH1U1 UUUlIUUUtU W U U1UUUI UUUU IMII UMU IUI miUUIUUUUiUUiUUUUU 111 I UU UiUU U HH1IIIU IlltlUMHIlU lUUllU U It 111 U1U1 U UMUU UI HiWiUi uuu uwwiwu QUALITY ABOUNDS In This Low-Priced PLAYER $450 price. It is mechanically the player that we have ever seen. You may search the city over and not find as good a player piano as this at the price. You may pay $150 more and yet not equal its quality. It is musically the finest player piano made at its sturdiest, the most easily operated and controlled Silk Neckwear Newest weaves and colorings in fine, soft silks 50c to $4 Open Evenings Until Christmas. Ben Sellin Leading Clothiei Morrison at Fourth THREE PROJECTS URGED RECLAMATION COMMISSION MAKES REPORT TO LANE. COAL COMBINE IS SUSPECTED Federal Investigator Says Brokers Try to Create Panic. NEW YORK, Dec 21. That there are grounds for the suspicion that the re cent increase in the price of coal was the result of an "artificial and illegal combination," was the statement made here today by George W. Anderson. Federal District Attorney, at Boston, who Is In charge of the Government's National food and fuel Inquiry. Mr. Anderson came here to confer with special Assistant United States Attorney-General Swacker, in charge of the Federal grand Jury investiga tion in this city, after having held similar conferences with the Federal and local authorities in Washington, Philadelphia. Cleveland and Chicago. "When there are Indications that the movement of coal has been checked, not only on railroads, but at termi nals," Mr. Anderson said, "there is rea son to suspect that such action prob ably is the result of an artificial and Illegal combination designed to reap extortionate profits -through a specu lative market. "When you find coal brokers and coal dealers reconslgnlng coal cars over and over again so as to delay delivery and thereby create a panic, you find a Drima facie case. ' "Such a condition is similar to that recently called by David Lloyd George profiting.' Boston, Mr. Anderson added, turn Ing to the food situation, "is the only city at present suffering. It even ha a shortage of its favorite foodstuff deans which are now selling at $7 a bushel." CITY EMPLOYES - CUT COST Appropriations of 8400,000 Each for Malheur and Owyhee and $200,000 for King Hill Recommended. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash ington, Dec. 21. The Reclamation Com mission today unanimously recom mended to Secretary Lane that he urge on Congress the appropriation at this ession of J400.000 for the construction of the Warm Springs dam on the Mal heur Irrigation project and that he further urge the appropriation of an other $400,000 to build the storage dam of the Owyhee project In Oregon. Coupled with these recommendations was one lavoring an appropriation or f 200.000 tor the King Hill project in Idaho. The Secretary probably will forward the papers, with his recommendation, to Concrete on January 2. If the Sec retary concurs in the opinion of the Reclamation Commission and it Is thought he will and if Congress car ries out that recommendation, there will be available next Summer an amount sufficient to complete the dam on the Malheur project, which is all that is asked for, the canals having already been built. The I400,ooa for tne owynee project. while ample for the dam, does not pro vide for canals and other distribution works. The King Hill. Idaho, appro priation asked is half of the amount necessary to put that project in fin ished condition. The fact that the Reclamation Com mission was unanimous in its recom mendation and based its report upon the surveys and estimates recently made In the field, is expected to bring from Secretary Lane his concurrence in their views. 87,000 New Yprkers Organize Co operative Purchasing Societies. NEW YORK, Dec. 21. Municipal em ployes of New York, numbering more than 87.000. have engaged in a con. certed movement to reduce the cost of living by organizing co-operative pur chasing societies in the various city departments. It became known tonight. So successful have been first attempts to cut the cost of food by buying sup plies in bulk and distributing them at prices far below those paid by the gen eral public tnat recognition nas Deen given the movement by the city gov ernment. The Sinking Fund Commission today gave permission to the Employes' Con ference Committee, as the organization Is called, to use a room In the municipal building as headquarters for the pur chase of food, clothing and other sup plies. MUNICIPAL RIGHT AT ISSUE Idaho Legislature to Pass on Owner ship Privileges. BOISE. Idaho, Dec. 21. (Special.) The issue of jurisdiction on the part of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission over municipally-owned public utilities will be decided by the next Legislature rather than by the Supreme Court. That tribunal has entered an order dismissing the application for a wri of prohibition in the case of A. Cook cgainst the City Council and Mayor of Coeur d' Alene. Mr. Cook sought to prohibit the holding of an election in the city of Coeur d 'Alene to vote on bonds with which to raise funds to build a municipal light and water plant. He held the city had not secured a cer tificate of convenience and necessity from the Public Utilities Commission and was without authority to proceed. parent that, however Important diplo macy might be, the question of food stuff prices was In a large measure distinct. Signs that . European governments were buying wheat on a scale not sur passed in many weeks started an up ward trend of prices that had only one serious Interruption. Alarming bul letins that Secretary Lansing had said the United States was being drawn near the verge of war bewildered deal ers for a considerable period about the middle of the session, and seemed for a while to be likely to carry the mar ket back to the low level touched at the outset. When the complete statement from the Secretary was at hand, however, confidence grew rapidly, and attention was devoted almost solely to the an nouncement of export business, espe cially the latest estimate that sales to Europe aggregated 2,000,000 bushels or more at the highest prices obtained in weeks from across the Atlantic Last prices . were at virtually the topmost level of the day. c off to 214c advance as compared with yesterday's latest figures. The greatest advance was in the most active option. May, which stood at U.63& to $1.63 at the close. WHEAT REGAINS GROUND EUROPE BUYS HEAVILY WHEN PRICE BEGINS TO DROP. Market Bewildered by Secretary Lan sing's Statement, but Law . of Demand Asserts Itself. CHICAGO, Dec. 21. Notwithstanding almost panicky selling and 7 cents break In wheat prices today, the mar ket made a greater rebound and closed strong, with substantial net gains, Sudden merchandising demand on a vast scale to supply Europe with cheap wheat developed when prices tumbled sensationally. The ensuing big rally came with surprising force. At the opening the sole consideration in the wheat pit was President Wil son's note calling on the warring gov ernments to state terms on which they would accept peace. Unlimited quanti ties of wheat were thrown on the market the instant trading began, and values crashed downward until in a few minutes the decline of 7 cents a bushel had been reached. It was not long, though, before tne fact was ap' HOTEL N STElffilST By the Introduction of ventilating devices, a lead smelter works in Hun gary reduced the illness among its em ployes from 75 per cent to 3 per cent. SAN FRANCOSCO Geary Street, Hist oft Union Square European Plan $1.50 a daj op Breakfast 50c lunch 60c Oinner St .00 Most Famous Meals in ihe United States New steel and concrete structure. Center of theater, cafe and retail districts. On carlines transferring all over city. Take Municipal car line direct to door. Motor Bns meets trains ana steamersy Reduced Rates New Perkins Hotel FIFTH AJVD WASHINGTON STS. Where the City Life Ceaters. PORTLA.Nl. OREGON. Jackson, who has served this county Astoria Soap Company Organizes. ASTORIA. Or.. Dec. 21. (Special.) Articles of incorporation of the Astoria Soap Company were filed for record today. The incorporators are C. E. Beeman, A. W. Bathlke. F. J. Koehler, D. L. Kimball and J. C. Osier, and the capital stock is $25,000. The object of the incorporation is to engage in the manufacturing of soap and toilet ar ticles, and the principal place of bust ness will be in Astoria. Germans Killed In Mongolia. PEKIN, Deo. 21. Three German army officers, a Captain and twe Lieutenants, who escaped from a Siberian prison camp, have been killed in Mongolia by Russian soldiers, according to the Chinese Foreign Office. ROSEBURG MAN CHOSEN DR. A. C 8EELET ELECTED PRESI DENT OF HEALTH BOARD. At Annual Session Proposed Legisla tive Programme and School Sani tation Are Discussed. SALEM, Or. Dec 21. (Special.) Dr. A. C Seeley, of Roseburg, was elected president; Dr. M. B. Marcellus, of Port land, vice-president, and Dr. David N. Roburg was continued as secretary at the annual meeting of the State Board or tieaitn held here today. The legislative programme suggested at tne meeting included better sanl tatlon in rural schools, more extensive work In Infant hygiene and welfare, and an effort to obtain sufficient id- propriations for field deputies to carry on me neaitn 5oard work. In addition the secretary was In structed to draft rules to be sent to all county and city health officers cov ering the quarantining of communicable diseases, and the matter will be brought oeiore the Legislature, it Is under stood. Particular stress was laid on the ad vlsability of listing whooping cough as a communicable disease coming un der the quarantine regulations. It was reported that 40 per cent of the ab sentees in some schools investigated were kept out because of this disease. Cottage Grove Grange Elects. COTTAGE GROVE, Or., Dec. 21 (Special.) The Cottage Grove Grange elected the following officers at its meeting Saturday: Master, G. W. Mc Farland; overseer. S. IC Lewis; lec turer. Mrs. Julia Ashby; steward, W. E. Dorward: assistant steward. H. B. Taney; lady assistant steward, Mrs. M. M. Wheeler; treasurer, M. M. .The Euphona Player Piano $450. Easy Terms There is no field of music that is unexplored that is not open to you with the Euphona. Liszt. Schubert, Chopin; in fact, every master work is within your reach. Musically and beautifully played. Turn to it for the latest in dance music or the newest popular songs. It renders them faultlessly and ihey are always obtainable at our Music Roll Department The Euphona is Teacher. Friend, Companion and Entertainer in one. It satisfies the skilled pianist, the singer, the player pianist And it costs less for its quality than any player piano on the market Your old' piano in part payment Music Rolls Make An Ideal Gift to Player Piano Owners Your Money's Worth or Your Money Back Mason & Hamlin Pianos, Victrolas and Records MORRISON STREET AT BROADWAY OTHER STORES San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, San Jose, Los 1 Angeles, San Diego and Other Coast Cities lH 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 u 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 u 1 1 1 w 1 1 1 1 1 1 u 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 n 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 rri 1 1 lii Wheeler; secretary, L. J. Ardlte; Ceres, Mrs. William Dorward; Pomona. S. K-. Lewis; Flora, Mrs. G.- W. McFarland. Prlnevllie to Have Tree. PRINEVTT.T.E. Or.. Dec. 21. (Spe. cial.) Prinevllle Is to have a com munity Christmas tree this year. This has been arranged by the Commercial Club and ladies' annex, and the big fir tree has been placed on Main street. The tree is elaborately decorated and is illuminated at night, making quite a spectacular appearance. Children of Prinevllle and vicinity have been In vited, and candy and other suitable gifts will be distributed by Santa Claua 600 BOYS AT CONFERENCES Sessions Are Held at Corvallis, Ba ker at Pocatello. Six hundred boys, representing 99 cities and towns of three states, at tended older boys' conferences in Cor vallis, Baker and Pocatello, Idaho, this month. J. H. Rudd, state T. M. C. A- boys' secretary, returned yesterday from the last conference at Pocatello. where delegates also were present from some Utah towns. Portland's 100 - foot Illuminated Christmas tree at Sixth and Morrison streets, was described by Mr. Rudd to the blind students of the State School for the Deaf and Blind at Gooding. Idaho. At the invitation of Professor W. E. Taylor. Superintendent, Mr. Rudd made an address on the work of the conferences. He also Inspected the institution. Read The Oree'onlan classified ads. f pin Fancy Oregon Turkeys CORN FED: No CORN FED; No Cold-Storage Stock; Killed and Dressed on the Farm. Place Your Order Now for Christmas, to Ar rive the 22d and 23d of December. THESE ALL-WEEK SPECIALS PRUNES. Send Year Eastern Friends a Prenent of n Box of Orvicoa Italian Pmnea. Express Pre paid by D. C. Burns Co. 25 - pound box Fancy Italian Prunes, express prepaid to Chi cago, New York and all fin Eastern points, per box.. WTiUU 10 - pound box Fancy Italian Prunes, express prepaid to Chi cago, New York and all C I QC Eastern points, per box.. 0 1 0 J Five-pound box Fancy Italian Prunes, express prepaid to Chi cago. New York and all VI in Eastern points, per box.. N I I U EGGS Fresh Oregon Eggs, per QQn dozen at. 03u BUTTER Fresh Creamery Butttr,7Cp two-pound cube at...;.... w NUTS Walnuts, Imported 1916 1 p crop, per pound , lOu Walnuts. Oregon No. 1 nr. 1916 crop, oer pound Filberts, Oregon very fancy' 1918 crop, per pound.. RAISINS Raisins, cluster. 2 Vk-pound Cfl carton, per carton UUu Cluster Raisins, five-pound QQn box, per box 3u OLIVES. Queen Olives, bulk, per fl auart at. tUI '25c Fancy New Orleans Table Syrup, 1918 Crop. S1.40 Per Gallon. VolV SUNKIST ORANGES M 1 JUNO COFFEE G V A R A N TEES QUALITY AND PERFECTION IN BLENDING. A Splendid Coffee, constant ly growing in flavor, and the most satisfying to the great majority of drinkers of high-grade coffee. Regu lar price 35o per pound. SPECIAL. PER POUND. 29 c OR 3V4 fot.VDS FOR 91 OUT-OF-TOWN : CUSTOMERS I Out-of-town customers are invited to take advantage of the special Items listed In this advertise merit, shopping may be done by mall here as safely as If you shopped In person. NO CHARGE FOR PACK- ING OR DELIVERY TO FREIGHT STATION. Members of tke Greater Portland Association. CREDIT IF DESIRED. We Will Be Glad to Extend Credit to All Good People Who Will Kindly Furnish Portland References. Write for Monthly Price List. D. C. BURNS COMPANY Wholesalers to Private Families, Hotels and Restaurants 208-21,0 THIRD ST, BET. TAYLOR AND SALMON, ONE AND ONE. , HALF BLOCKS SOUTH OF PUBLIC MARKET. SPECIAL MAIL ORDER SERVICE. WRITE FOR MONTHLY LIST. M ."1 II Aj r j pit mid tfasrssi see Special Prices for Christinas OPEN EVENINGS HOLIDAY SHOE SPECIALS LADIES' BEAUTIFUL WHITE AND BLACK. WHITE AND TAN. TWO-TONE EFFECTS, in all shades; usually sold at $7.00 to $10.00 $3.95 $4.95 $5.95 ENGLISH TYPE HIGn-CUT tfJO Att STREET BOOTS, worth to $6 p0.4-iJ ENGLISH SPATS, in tan, white, $- A r or champagne P .xJ COMFY SLIPPERS, all colors, the QQ Evening Slippers Satin, patent and CA QCJ bronze P.J J O Gold or Silver Pumps, the $8.00 C1 QC style, at pJJ A gift of a Merchandise Coupon from our store cannot fail to please. An easy and positive solution of "What to Give." DONT FORGET THE ADDRESS 129 FOURTH, Between Washington and Alder tore I iHTl 108.2