New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-19
No Excuse for Advance
in Flour, Sugar and
Meats, Says Ad-
ministrator
Cost at Wholesale
Has Been Reduced
Commodities Should
Be Cheaper From
Now On; Public
to Get Figures
rspcsai Correspcrderc cei

WASHINGTON, Oct. lS.-Exposurs
Of extortionate retail grOcers in every
community and, as last resort, Fed
eral regulation Of retail prices, are on
Food Administrator Hooycr's pro-
gramme Of measures for bringing down
the high cost of living.
Mr.. Hoover. in an analysis OF the food
situation, asserted tonight that retail
ers are not responding to price reduc-
tions set By the wholesalers.
Mr.. Hoover says he wants to give the
retailers an adequate chance to adjust
themselves to changed conditions as
brought about by government regula-
tion of the wholesale dealers in food
products, but II publicity and persus-
sion DO not result in cooperation on
the part Of the man who sells TO the
consumer Congress may te asked st
the next session 20 give tie government
authority 70 control retail business as
it now controls wholesale business.
Mr.. Hoover asserted that there are
proven cases OF non-co0peration on the
part of retailers, citing particularly the
retail price Of aour. which is out Of all
ratio TO the present wholesale price
brought about by government regula-
tion. The Food Administrator also de-
clared that there have been recent ad-
vances in the retail price OF sugar
which are wholly Gnwarranted.
To Expose Retail Extortioners
Beginning November the food sd.
ninistration will expose extortionate
retailers 20 the public in every consum-
ing centre Of the country every week.
The wholesale price Of all commodities
in every section will be Published.
Then the public may know just what
the retailer is paying for his commodis
ties said the Food Administrator. "And
then the public may also know whether
the retailer is charging unfair prices
and reaping unfair profits.
THE food administration and the
government have no authority to regu.
late the retailer. We must depend upon
patriotism, publicity and the fair mind
edness Of the business man who deals
directly with the Consumer.
81 do not want TO act hastily with
the retailers. It - .act that the
United States has the most expensive
retail business in the world. and this ad.
mnistration is now engaged in trying
to reduce the running cost OF retail
business. The retail grocers have prom
ised to cooperate with us in this. Re
duction Of cost OF operation should ac.
complish somethiE. N rsaucing retail
prices.
But vhether Congress should be
asked for Legislation giving the govern
ment authority 70 regulate the retailers
is a question largely dependent upon
what the retailer does between now
and the time Congress meets There IL
no reason right now for the present
high retail prices Of four. Retailers
cannot plead the excuse that they have
old high priced stocks on hand, because
within the last six weeks the four bar
rel of America has been scraped clean
or than ever before in history.
Flour Crisis Is Passed
at can be told now because the crisis
is passed, but il is an actual fact tina,
the City Of New York late in Septem-
Der was down 20 thirty hour sup
ply of -four. We had 20 requisition
1000 barrels Of export -four 70 re-
lieye New York City. Philadelphia
was down 10 a weeks supply, and ex-
traordinary relief methods had 10 be
employed there.
"In Chicago -four conditions did no.
become alarming, but the situation be-
gan 20 be tremulous. Now We have
made a redistribution Of -four over the
whole country, and there is no short
age anywhere. Notwithstanding this
fact and that the wholesale price OF
-four since the regulation OF wheat
prices ranged from SO TO 5000 a bar
rel, the average retail price on first
patents in 796 cities OF the country on
October 10 was $l3.77 a barrel. Clearly
the retailers have had chance 70 ad-
just themselves 10 conditions, and the
time has come when the retail price
should come down.
"In the city of Washington sugar wa.
advanced one cent the other day by the
retailers. without any corresponding
Wholesale advance. There was not an
iota Of justification for the retail sd-
vance.
The situation clearly in this coun-
try to-day is that the retail prices do
not reflect wholesale prices. IL may
be that the licensing OF the big retail
ers doing a business Of more than $780,
600 a year, which the government has
power TO do and Is now doing. may
have some effect on the small retailers
price. That remains 20 be seen, but
there are only 200 retailers subject 70
this license in the whole country out
OF a total OF more than 10000"
Meat Prices Not Warranted
Mr.. Hoover also emphasized the fact
that while the wholesale price OF meats
have been falling. the ultimate con
sumer has been asked by the retailers
to dig deeper into his purse for meat
and meat products
The facts which present 20 the
American people to-day" said Mr.