The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-16
Nv JOHN (

one. It's up to him to see that nothing but reasonable profit is made by eith- CT the big wholesaler or the little tei- low on the corner.
 In some suburban sections Of BIT unreasonable prices are oe- ing charged the consumer. For instance rutabaga turnips are wholesallng at 2c per pound, while certain retailers are asking SC, certainly some war time 125 per cent. Other coIn- modities arc charged for at much too high rates, and it's up to the consumer to "1xeep an eye'' on the interruptions retailer, for the law allows only reasonable" profit, and where prices are out of Keeping with the spirit of the times are charged the dealer is sub ject to revoking of his license. MT. Hobbies exact requirements, as given out by him to a gathering of mer- chants Wednesday, follow:
 Everyone dealing in foods is ey- pected to make a fair, reasonable and just profit. You men are not foolish. and know, therefore, just what that means You need not worry about just what percentage is indicated when we say 8 fair, just profit. We mean that you arc allowed reasonable return on your investment, and on the volume of business that you do, about what you would make in ordinary nor- nal times under average condi- tions. No one would expect you to make less at this time, and the food administration will most re- ligiously see to 1t that you do not make more.
 Speculation is prohibited, and there shall be positively no exor- bitant profits earned by any one. These rules I now lay down to you: Figure only on a reasonable, fair profit; do not attempt to accumu- late huge stocks of any commodity, expecting the price to increase later, and with the hope of profiting by the increased price, because you cannot--you must sell strictly on the basis that the stuff cost you, plus your reasonable margin of profit, because more than that would be called exorbitant, regardless of what the existing market might be; and each division of the trade is called upon to watch closely the others, so that no cause for drastic action by the administration may arise. I call upon jobbers to watch wholesalers and I want retailers to watch wholesalers, to the end that all may keep in the proper way.
 Revoking of license is one of the methods provided to punish offending realers, and heavy fines and imprison- ment are also included in the schedule of penalties for those who violate the rules laid down by the food adminis- tration.
 The government allows tho broker his commission. The whole sale dealer is granted a fair profit based on purchase price, and the retailer is granted the same per- mission. In this way speculation IS done away with. A broker can- not collect his brokerage and then sell to the wholesale dealer at an additional profit. neither can the wholesale dealer become over- stocked with goods and sell to a dealer at an increased price be- cause of the market advance since the date on which he laid in his stock
 Stocks must always be sold at the basis of a reasonable profit. accord ing to the price paid at time of pur- chase
 Any complaints addressed to Richard " Hobble, State Food Administrator, Montgomery, will be looked after. Business was better on the avenue yesterday. due to cold weather. Price changes were few, but with the new food law now understood. drop may De looked for in some staples, especial ly at retail.
 The federal official price list con. trains no changes over yesterdays ouo- tations.
 The corrected local quotations fol. low:
 N. B.-These are not retail prices. but the prlce at which your retail merchant can buy the articles mentioned. ONIONS
 Red Globes, per pound ....4 .4c Small Green, per bunch .... 4lA95c APPLES
 Bulk stock. various varieties
 (oest per peck ...... 25dSoc Bulk stock, various varieties
 (pooreD per peck ............. 20925c Barrelled Stock
 Firsts, Albermarle, Pippins, Mis-
 souri Pippins. Works and
 Winesaps, per peck ...... 50aac Seconds, Missouri Pippins. Wine
 saps, per peck .............. 40a5oc CABBAGE
 Danish, per pound ......... 2d21sc CELERY
 In Rough (not punched or washed GREENS
 Various kinds, per bunch ...... a1s@4c LETTUCE
 Louisiana, per head .... 71saSo Florida, per head .............. 9@loc RADISHES- IRISH POTATOES
 Round Whites (best) per peck d5
 pounus) ...............-........ 4219J45c SWEET POTATOES
 Yellow Yanas and Porto Ricans,
 per peek -...................... 25@30c SPINACH
 Per Bunch ..s.................. rose TURNIPS-
 Rutabaga. per pound ............. 20 Round whites. in punches of
 about ,. per bunch ............ SisQ5c DRY BEANS
 Black Eye, per pound ............ lie GRAPES
 Northern Black Varieties, per Alb.
 pony basket .................. 22GYc November 1S, 1917. Office, SOS-9 Jefferson
 T. c. BUSHFIELD,
 Market Station Assistant.
 Poultry
 Hens-26Q21c
 Fryers-320S3c.
 Guineas--f0c.
 Roosters-15c
 Extra Graded Eggs-42c.
 Candled Eggs-40c
 Turkeys Live. 2Sc.
 Ducks-Ag2oc.
 Meats
 D. $. Ribs-2S%c.
 D. s. Clear Rib RelIiax-22c