Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-10-20
HOOVER SAYS
RETAILERS HIGH
Wholesale Prices on Down
grade---Public Is Over
charged for Flour, Etc.
PREDICTS CORN DROP
Cheaper Cattle, Hog and
Poultry Fatteners Prom
ised-.-Reducing Meat.
PREDICTS CORN DROP

Washington, Oct. 19.-Food Ad-
ministrator Hoover gave notice to the
public tonight that the corner has
been turned in high food prices and
that most of the essential commodities
should continue to show reduction
between now and the end of the year.
AT the same time he pointed out that
the retail prices are not going down
in accord with wholesale reductions
and intimated that the consumer him
self might correct this by bringing
proper pressure to bear.
To aid the public in dealing with
retailers, who continue to extort war
profits, the food administration is COL
Letting wholesale prices of all staples
in seven hundred cities and soon will
begin publishing them weekly for
comparison with retail figures.
Without further authority from con-
gress, Mr.. Hoover says the govern
ment is powerless to control retailers
except those doing a business of more
than 100000 year.
AS an illustration of how the price
to the consumer is keeping up, a
statement issued by the administrator
said beef is now selling in Chicago at
14A centsa pound compared with l6
cents in July while the average retail
price of round steak now is 81 cents
compared with q cents in July. The
millers' price. for first patent -four in
iute bags. range from $40 to $40. 20
but the average retail price is $13.77
or the administration says, from $3.50
to 81 more than the wholesale figure
warrants. Sugar should sell from 8
to 81 cents pound in spite of the
present temporary shortages as the
wholesale figures have not advanced.
The food administration considers
that, subject to cooperation from the
farmers and the retailers, the corner
has been turned in high prices and
that most of the essential commodities
would one after another continue to
show reductions between now and
the end of the year.
"The current prices at which -four
is being sold at the mill door in jute
bags vary somewhat with the locality
and freight charges on wheat, Toledo
showing the lowest prices, at $40 for
first patent and SO. 70 for second pat
ent. the highest being Buffalo, at
$40. 70 for first patent and $1050 for
second patent, at Minneapolis the
prices being $1,000 for first patent
and $40. for second patent. This
shows large reduction under Au-
gust prices.
"The average retail price on first
patents in 796 cities on Oct. 10 was
$l3.77 or from $3.50 to 81 per barrel
higher than is warranted by the price
being made by the millers. In other
words, the retail price has not wholly
to the reductions made by
the miIlers.
"The bean harvest this year is esti- :
mated by the department of agricul-
ture at approximately 1900, 600 BUSH
els over last year, or nearly double last
year, and promises an abundant sup
ply. The growers associations in
prominent bean growing states are
holding beans for from 133 to Is cents
per pound, as against an average
price last year of s cents per pound.
There has been hooper cent. increase
n the Manchurian bean crop and il is
low estimated at 100000 tons.
Owing to shipping shortage, practical
y the only outlet is the United States
ind these beans will flow into the
American market from December on,
much below the prices now being de-
handed foriAmerican beans. II
'The corn harvest this year is 6OO,-
100, 900 to 7OO,0O0,OO0 over last year {
nd win be generally available about {
Continued on page four.) h