Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-09
Fixing Food Prices.

II you have been following the
schedules that have been appearing
In the Chicago newspapers every day
you must have been impressed by the
efficacy of the work OF the commission
charged with the responsibility Of fix
ing household commodity price lists
from day TO day. The figures speak
for themselves. and they show that
the Chicago consumer has benefited
considerably by the arrangement
which had Dos beginning at Washing
ton as one Of the angles Of the pro
gram promulgated by Mr. Hoover ana
has been passed along TO the indi-
vidual community through the iii
nois state food administrator.
Chicago has found the plan SO sat-
isfactory that 30 Is aimed to introduce
It In other localities IN the state. II
is on its way 10 Rock Island county
and the FIRST of the coming month
may see u in operation here. Harry
A. Wheeler. the state food administra-
tor. threw ont the hint in an address
he delivered In the city Tuesday that
il would be in keeping with the spirit
of the times II the wholesalers and
retailers Of the tri-citles got together
and followed the example that has
been proving so popular among Chi
cagoans The merchants here have
decided to adopt Mr.. Wheeler's sug-
gestiou, hut they do not regard the
idea of including Davenport in tho
compact with favor. inasmuch as that
city is situated in another state and
there might be a clash over divided
authority in the event of some future
disagreement. A price-fxing commits
sion will therefore be chosen by the
wholesalers and retailers of Rock Is
land and Moline A meeting Of the
Rock Island Retail Grocers associa-
ton. which embraces in its member
ship meat markets also, already has
been called TO take formal action
in which the Moline organization VIII
concur.
The appointment Of the board to be
charged with making prices will fol
low, and thereafter every day the con
sumers of the two cities. as well as
those in East Moline and other town,
exactly what they will be expected Il
pay for every article Of food used OF
their tables. 1t ia not understood that
the prices set by the board will b,
compUlsorily applied, but in other
cities where the experiment has beer
introduced there has been little troU
BILE in gaming the cooperation Of tn,
retailer. for he realizes ne would SCOT
suffer loss of patronage il he sough
to exact prices higher than those de
clared to be fair Boy 2 commission
comprising in its membership some O
his own business competitors Tn
board will work. under The direction
Of the state food administration al
though the latter takes it for grantee
that each community can get alonl
tremendously without interference
from the parent body. 10 is not pur
posed to beat down either the whole
saler or the retailer to where he j
not receiving a fair margin Of prof
On the contrary. it is the intent t
insure him those profits TO which he
entitled The public has faith i
the schedules fixed by the locs
boards. and when the price of an
commodity is raised few cents
is convinced that there is a just re5
son for IT, On the other hand if til
sames advance was made by the n
taller howl Of robbery would so u
The price-fxing board is proving
harmonizer at a time when the COZ
sumer is under the impression thi
he Is being exploited at every turn
the road in life's necessaries.