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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 13, 1919)
I TIIE MORNING OREGONIAX, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 1919. NATIONAL IN QUI MO PRICES ASKED Federal Trade Board Make Investigation. May GOVERNMENT WASTE CITED fublic Extravagance - Blamed Fcss of Ohio for Inflated Charges for Goods. by "WASHINGTON", Aug. 12. An appro priation of $500,000 for investigation of the increased cost of living by the federal trade commission was asked of congress today by acting Chairman ; Murdock of the commission in a letter j to Speaker Gillett. Funds for the com- j mission already authorized are insuffi- : cient to conduct he proposed inquiries, fhe letter said. Chairman Murdock, who also is a member of the sub-committee named by Attorney-General Palmer to sub mit recommendations for reducing liv ing costs, set forth in his letter that the commission proposed to conduct further investigations as to the pro duction, storage and distribution of foodstuffs with the aim of arriving at figures on the real cost, wholesale and retail prices. So far as known, the president has not directed any additional investiga tions, but bills now are pending in the house for inquiries into the sugar and shoe industries. Much Attention Given Costs. The communication from the trade commission chairman reached the house at the close of a day during which both branches of congress gave much attention to the cost of living problems. Appropriation of $175,000 was asked for the secret service by Secretary Glass, who asked that in authorizing the appropriation a clause be inserted to permit the use of the service operatives in running down food hoarders and profiteers. Hoarding and profiteering were the subject of two measures, presented in the house. A bill by Representative Garden, democrat, Ohio, would provide $10,000 fine or five . years imprison ment for hoarding, profiteering or monopolizing ' the production of food stuffs, f iel or clothing. Representa tive Goody koontz, republican, "West Virginia, presented a resolution to di rect the judiciary committee to frame legislation to eliminate hoarding and to reduce the amount of currency in circulation. Mr. Goodykoonlz also in troduced a resolution requesting the secretary of war to sell the surplus stocks or automobiles and motor trucks. Conservation Board Wanted. Representative Keller, Indiana, re publican, introduced a bill to authorize creation of a national board of con servation, headed by the president and composed of members of the cabinet, five senators and five representatives. which would have power to regulate wholesale and retail prices of food and clot hing. Representative Fess. republican, Ohio, discussing the high cost of living in the house, declared that government wastefulness during the war and at present in continuing many war-created agencies largely was responsible for the existing situation. Senator Mi-Kellar, democrat, Tennessee, appear ing before the house agriculture com mittee, predicted organized opposition on the part of the packing industry to any legislation to regulate cold storage facilities. The cost of living question will be brought up again tomorrow on the floor of the senate with addresses by Senator McKllar and Reed. "We at this time shall insist on change in the wheat standards so as not to penalize every grower of wheat Hundreds of millions of bushels of wheat have been shriveled by extreme heat this season which under the grad ing and discount rules may not average the producer $1.50 per bushel. Author! tative investigators have found such wheat to be of the highest milling value, and it is unthinkable that farm ers should sustain a loss of from 50 to 75 cents per bushel by reason of the arbitrary standards that have been es tablished. This wheat in large measure will go into the production of the best patent flours and be sold to the con- suming public at prices based on No. 1 wheat. The producers are thereby de frauded and the consumers receive no benefit. CHICAGO. Aug. 12. The federal bu reau of markets on cold storage ware houses today showed generally a large increase in stored foods on August 1. as compared with same date a year a so. Nearly twice as much butter, '20 per cent more eggs and a considerable increase in meats were shown to be on hand. The majority of retailers today were selling sugar at 12 and 13 cents a pound. federal authorities having agreed on 12 cents as a fair price. Potatoes fell $1 per 100 pounds at retail today and peaches and melons dropped somewhat, while shipments were increasing, but lower retail prices were not general. Scores of letters alleging prof iteer ing were received today at the federal district attorney's office, where prep arations are being made to prosecute hoarders and profiteers. All such in formation is turned over to the bureau of investigation of the department of justice. The secret agents are expected to have a report ready for the district attorney on coid storage warehouses by Saturday. That the big producers associations are operating in restraint of trade was charged Vy a commission merchant who declared men in his line actually were selling at a loss because the pro ducers were demanding top prices. SEATTLE. Aug. 12. Acting on a re quest of Attorney-General Palmer. B. C. Breck. Seattle, assistant state food administrator during the war. today organized a "fair price committee to investigate prices of commodities in Kins: county. The committee will de termine the wholesale pries of goods and then arrive t what they will con eider a fair retail price. Both prices v. ill be published. PEXVKR. Aug. 12. Since January 1 i :i , i ne retail prices of necessities Y ave risen, in some instances, as h igh as per cent, according o com para - tive price lists submitted today by the stale department of labor to Governor Shoup and other officials, who are i vestipai,ing the high, cost pf Jtving. in this state. SACRAMENTO. Aug. 12. A resolu tion authorizing Jonn Q. Brown, presi dent of the i-ity commission, to sub pena merchants and others to obtain information concerning prices of food and other necessities in Sacramento was adopted today by the city comruis fcion. SAN FRANCISCO. Aug. 12. Governor Stephens is not contemplating calling a f-pecial session of the legislature in response to requests by Attorney -General U. S. Yebb and the 14 counties' protective association, who asked spe cial legislation on the high cost of liv ing and a probe of the Japanese immi gration, respectively, the governor an nounced here today. SAX FRANCISCO, Aug. 12. Increases fares charged by the San Francisco- Oakland Terminal railways (Key route) system for trans-bay ferry service were authorized by the state railroad com mission today: The one-way fare was advanced from 11 cents to 15 cents and commutation from $3-30 to $4 a month. The commission severely criticised the financial structure of the company. WASHINGTON, Aug. 12. Demands that changes be made In government wheat standards under the price guar antee act, "so as not to penalize every grower of wheat." were made in a statement prepared by Chairman Gronna and representatives of farm or ganizations and approved today by the senate agricultural committee. Producers Declared Defrauded. Chairman Gronna announced that committee would be named to present the demands to Julius ii. Barnes, pres ident of the United States grain cor poration, and representatives of the department of agriculture in the hope of having modified various govern ment regulations by which it was charged "the producers are defrauded and the consumers receive no benefit. In the statement the senate commit tee said it believed grave injustice was i being done the farmer and might ; continue to injure not only agricul- : ture, but the entire nation as well." The statement continues: "Julius H. Barnes of the United States Grain Corporation openly states that his policy is to resell wheat, curtail our foreign shipments and 'use the re-sale of wheat to help control the domestic market price against further advances. The result of such policy. together with the manipulation of . system of grades and standards, has been to reduce materially the farmers income and to deny him access to a free market where he can secure actual cost of production. Farmers Getting 91.15 a Bushel. "We believe city people should know that, owing to the manipulation in ad ministering the grades and standards together with the damage done by hot weather to the maturing crops, the winter wheat producers are receiving as low as $1.15 per bushel not the $2.05 which Mr. Barnes gives as a theoretical average and that this year's crop may average not over $1.50 per bushel net. City people should realize that the effort that is being made by the gov ernment to restrict all or still further reduce the price at the farm must in evitably lead to " denying the farmer living wages. SPOKANE IS SHORT OF FOOD Independent Storage Firms Xot Being Done. Say Hoarding SPOKANE. Aug. 12. That there is a food shortage rather than food hoard ing in Spokane is the statement made today by the managers of three large independent cold storage plants. Facts and figures on the amount of cold stor age in the three plants, furnished by the managers, either are taken directly from or based on monthly sworn state ments required of the firms by the fed eral department of agriculture. The three concerns have compiled data from the reports made twice each month to the government, which have been turned over to the city and to the food administrator. FAMILY EXPENSES SI 31 8 ALLEGED MINIMUM FOR SEVEX SUBMITTED TO MEDIATOR. Packers' Employes Introduce Budget Showing Increase of $100 Since October. CHICAGO. Aug. 12. Employes of Chicago packing houses appearing be fore Federal Judge S. A. Alschuler, federal mediator, with demands for in creases in wages of from 20 to 30 cents an hour on all scales, today introduced a budget of household expenses pur porting to show that $1918 was the minimum amount on which a family of seven could live for one year. Prices last October made the total $1518. New wages demanded by workers range from 70 cents an hour for com mon labor to $1.10 for f loormen and splitters, with a 44-hour week for all and uniform rates for like operations in all companies. Present scales range from 42 H to 83 cents an hour. Preceding the opening of the hearing1. AttdVney James G. Condon, representing the packers, asked that the hearing be continued until demands of the workmen of the outlying plants, who were intending to ask wage increases, be received and that all shall be settled together. GUARDS PATROL PLANT Salem Company ITses Gas to Kight Flour Moth. SALEM. Or.. Auk. 12. (Specials- Armed guards have been patrolling the plant of the Sa'.em Kings Products company, since Sunday night and in many respects the surroundings re semble the precautions taken by the United State; government in protecting munition plants and otler essential in dustries during the recent war with Germany. The alien enemy in the case at issue is the Mediterranean flour moth, which during certain months of tle year must be eliminated from the plant in order to preserve the manufactured products. .To do this a poisonous gas is used in liberal quantities, the effects of which ar-e deadly to the human family as well as to the unwelcome insect. The guards patrolling the plant are uder strict orders to preserve the wel fare of their fellow men and every per son nearing the establishment is warned of the impending danger. W. C. T. U. MEETS IN COOS County Organization to Make Cam paign for Fund?. NORTH BEND, Or., Aug. 12. (Spe cial) The 11th annual Coos county convention of the V. C. T. U. opened at the Presbyterian church in this city yesterday. Mrs. Mary B. Campbell of Myrtle Point, county chairman; Mrs. Mattie Sleeth of Portland, state presi dent, and a number of dele gate . from, .various, .sections of the county attended. Following a morn ing and afternoon business session a programme of music by local talent anq reafHrtgs by Mrs. Sleeth were given at the church in the evening. The session which closed today rec ommended that a county campaign be made for funds for the organization. MjTtle Point was chosen for the 1920 convention. Oats Yield 100 Bushels an Acre. OREGON" CITY. Or.. Aug. 12. (Spe cial.) Among those having bumper crops in wheat and oats this year are Ellis Brown of New Era. whose 18 acres of oats yielded $100 bushels an acre, and his father. George Brown, the po tato king of Clackamas county, whose farm adjoins that of his son. harvested 300 bushels of wheat. The potato crop oll be light. ARGUMENTS IN FORD LIBEL CASE Counsel for Tribune Stresses Ignorance of Plaintiff. ANARCHIST, SAYS LAWYER Pitiful Showine on Stand Cited to I Prove Charges Chicago Paper Styled "Pro-German." MOUNT CLEMENS. Mich., Aug. 12. The evidence and the final arguments in Henrv Ford's $1,000,000 libel suit aeainst the Chicago Daily Tribune. are all in. The last word was spoken by Alfred Lucking, senior counsel for the plaintiff, today. Tomorrow Judge Tucker will formulate his instructions, and Thursday he will deliver them to the jury. The final appeal on behalf of the defendants was by Attorney Kl- liott j. Stevenson, preceding Mr. Luck ing. The issue was squarely joined, Mr. Stevenson contending that Mr. Ford was an anarchist in June. 191S, when the Tribune so characterized him. and Mr. Lucking asserting that there was no man in the United States farther- removed from anarchy. Mr. Stevenson read statement after statement from the Ford peace propa ganda and similar ones from the writ ings of Emma Goldman, and declared that the jury could not tell which was Goldman and which was Ford. Appeal to Paasion Alleged. Mr. Lucking characterized the ad dress of Mr. Stevenson a3 a powerful appeal to the passions and prejudices of the jury. "This suit is being "watched all over this continent. . perhaps beyond," said Lucking, "and it -calls for consideration at your hands from which every item of prejudice and every element of the extraneous has been eliminated. "This you must bear in mind when you consider damages," said Mr. Luck ing. The lawyer drew a distinction be tween "president and "government. When President w iison asks con gress for legislation he is not the gov ernment; when congress passes that legislation and it becomes law, and the president puts it into execution, he government," said the advocate. He pointed out that in arguing against in- creasing the national guard in 1916 Mr. Ford was opposing President Wilson, but not the government. The Ford lawyer took up the ques tion of the "right of fair comment," claimed by the Tribune in defense of the editorial, and asserted that the right existed with regard to comment on views but not comment on indi viduals. Tribune Called Pro-German. l ne speaker insisted that it was the "pro-Germanism" of the Tribune which led it to advocate intervention in Mexico and that the attack on Mr. Ford was due to a malicious Resent ment of his opposition. He emphasized that while the newspaper paid its em ployes while they were with the na tional guard on the border it did not do so in the war against Germany. "The Tribune was not interested in the great war; it opposed It to the last." said Mr. Lucking. Mr. Stevenson, for the Tribune, took up the editorial on which the suit is based and read one of the alleged libels. "A man so ignorant of the fundamen tals of government as Henry Ford.' "Well." commented the lawyer, "what did he tell us on the stand? He said he did not know what the fundamentals; were and didn't care. And they put Ford employes on the stand to prove that he could read and write. I was never so shocked in my life." Mr. Stevenson recounted how Mr. Ford repeatedly evaded reading while on the witness stand and finally said he was willing the impression should go out that he co,uld not read. . Pitiful Ignorance Alleged. The Tribune lawyer said that incident after Incident occurred while the plain tiff was on the stand to prove the charge of ignorance. "It was pitiful." continued Mr. Stev enson, "but they had demanded proof. and I had to go on until Judge Tucker himself said: 'Mr. Stevenson, you have gone far enough along this line. Gen tleman, mat pnase or the proof was completed right there." Mr. Stevenson said he wondered if Mr. Ford would have still opposed send ing soldiers to the Mexican border if he had been in Jesse Deemer's place ana Kidnaped into Mexico. "And now comes Mr. Ford and says that his reputation has been ruined, his life blasted by this editorial," went on Mr. Stevenson. "Great heavens! Gentlemen! Blasted! i.uiiifjj: w ny. nis reputation was so ruined that Michigan, two months after the editorial, gave him the primary vote for president! President! Think of it. some of you jurymen may have voted for him. 1 don't know; but if you did. may God forgive you." SHOES TO DROP SOME DAY Boston Grand Jury Hears Prices Will Tumble, but Xot When. BOSTON, Aug. 12. Predictions of decided drop in the- price of shoes were made by leather dealers and shoe man ufacturers, who testified today at the grand jury investigation of the high cost of living being conducted by Dis trict Attorney Joseph c Pelletier. The opinion, however, was that the decline might not come for another year. LEAGUE POSITION FILLED Sir Herbert Ames of Canada Finan cial Director at Geneva MONTREAL. Aug. 12. Sir Herbert Ames, who was chairman of the execu tive board of the Canadian patriotic fund, has accepted the position of financial director of the permanent secretariat of the league of nations at Geneva. Announcement of his acceptance was made here today. PERSHING TO VISIT ITALY General Expected to Leave for Amor- ' ica in September. PARIS, Aug. 12. General John J. Pershing, after his visit to Belgium, will visrt the Italian battlefields. Present plans call for his departure from here for Rome next Saturday, August 16. General Pershing expects to leav for the United States the first week in September. SOLDIER'S RELEASE LIKELY Campaign Boy in Behalf of Montesano Promises to Win. HOQUIAM, Wash., Aug. 12. (Spe cial.) That the campaign waged by Senator Alex Poison, for an- lnvestigi' TO ture of the papers also LUDENDORFF'S BOOK IS EAGERLY AWAITED Intimate Knowledge of Kai ser's Part in War, and Estimate of Allies . Expected to Be Set Out. (Copyright, lfin, by the Press Publiih- 'inK Co. (the New York World.) (Special Cable Dispatch to the World.) LONDON July 22. The approach ins; publication of Gen. Ludendorffa book on the great war, throughout tion of the case of Lonnie Edwards of Montesano, now serving a sentence of 10 years at Fort Leavenworth for tak ing 62 bottles of wine from a barn in Belgium, received prompt attention by the war department is shown by the following telegram received yesterday by Mr. Poison from Congressman Al bert Johnson: "Every reason to believe Lonnie Ed wards will have sentence canceled, be restored to duties and be honorably dis charged." Mr. Poison, whose efforte to have the court-martial sentence set aside were indorsed by the commercial bodies of Aberdeen and Hoquiam. telegraphed Mr. 'Johnson last night as follows: "Keep the good work up until every war boy who is in prison lor like of fense ie liberated with an honorable discharge in his own free country." The Edwards case attracted atten tion because the severe sentence was passed after the signing of the armis Your Speech to the Wool Club Suppose yon are asked to make an address to the Tide-Water Association or to the annual banquet of the Lapidary Employers' Board. It is a matter of great moment; you write and rewrite your remarks and rehearse all the details. It may even entail a new dress coat and the finishing touches of a professional coach. And yet at mot, you will actually talk to no more than two thousand people directly and perhaps three times that number through reprints in the trade press. Are you equally careful of your speech to millions in the advertising columns? Do yoa employ the best brains without stint to prepare your messages? These messages of yours do not go to hundreds at a banquet-table; they go to millions in the homes, and when your chance comes to speak to a whole nation, if it be. only for two minutes, you ought to have the best speech-maker in the nation as your mentor. When yoa advertise nationally, employ experts to pre pare your speech your message your advertisement. Publishers ere in a position to appreciate the best work of the leading agencies. Advertising tftee in the Butterici pubScstims is fir sal by accredited advertising agenda. Butterick Publisher The Delineator Everybody Magazine Wednesday, Sept. IS THE DATE AVHEN PUBLICATION WILL BEGIN IN The Oregonian OF GENERAL LUDENDORFF'S CLOSE-UP HISTORY OF GERMAN ' DOMINATE It will be published in daily instalments. year. In this territory it will will publish it: NEW YORK WORLD CHICAGO DAILY NEWS TORONTO STAR ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH PITTSBURGH GAZETTE TIMES LOUISVILLE COURIER-JOURNAL (First Page Cablegram to New York the main part of which he was the dominating German military figure. is arousing tremendous interest hore. For he alone can throw authorita tive light on many obscure episodes of the highest importance in judging not only of the German military sys tem at work, but of those of the different allied countries to which he was opposed. Nobody can speak with more inti mate knowledge of the real part played by the former kaiser both in triumph and adversity and on the relations between the German civil and military power in times of crisis, for Ludendorff virtually be tice. Edwards' war record was credit able and he bore an excellent reputa tion in Montesano. DEPORT ALIENS, IS PLEA Hoquiam Veterans to Select Site for Legion Building. HOQUIAM. Wash., Aug. 12. (Spe cial.) Hoquiam post No. 16 of the American Legion last night unanimous ly adopted a resolution calling upon the congressional delegation from this state to support a measure calling for the immediate deportation of all aliens who relinquished their first papers in order to evade the draft law. The resolution also asks that service men be given preference to positions over this class of foreign slackers. The sugirestion of N. J. Flagen. prin THE EFFORT THE WORLD It will be the greatest newspaper fea- appear only in The Oregonian BOSTON POST CINCINNATI ENQUIRER SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER LOS ANGELES EXAMINER SEATTLE STAR World Wednesday, July 23:) came dictator in the most crucial period of his country's fortunes. His estimate of the capabilities of the allied military leaders as viewed from the enemy's experience of their work and achievements should be highly instructive when allowance is made for the critical hostility of their most formidable antagonist. Above all. Gen. Ludendorff's book is expected to provoke a storm of controversy on many points: con troversy which must be fruitful in startling revelations. In short. Ludendorff is in a position to write the book of the war. and. it is understood, he has done so. cipal owner of the Grays Harbor mill, to erect by public subscription a $50,000 home for the American Legion, the building to 'be provided with stores to insure revenue for upkeep, was re Shall Spoons Be Placed on the Right or Left Side? of the plate shall knives be turned in or out shall the salad fork be placed above the plate or at the left side? All these and any other questions will be answered this week in the Silverware Shop by Miss Wilkinson of the 1847 Rogers Bros, silverware organization, an au thority on the correct use of silverware. She will also be glad to tell you how to keep silver bright and shining with the least amount of work. 1847 Rogers Bros, silver plate is guaranteed for 70 years' service. We are principal agents. Meier & Frank's: Silverware Shop, Main Floor. 8 I MEIER & FRANK COMPANY Require the Services of Five Additional Experienced Millinery Makers Best salary paid to competent makers Apply at once to Miss Weizle, Fourth, Floor- 'A 3 These ceived with approval by the service men. A committee was appointed to confer with a citizens' committee ap pointed by Mayor Philbrick to decide upon a suitable site. 2