Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-12-11
Surprised-.- lncredulOuS

The territory is now beginning to learn with some
surprise-and incredibly -and there is neither fed
era nor territorial authority I" fix retail prices IN
Hawaii.
Tn until now most of us have la"orrd under the
comfortable drIuson that our local Hoover. j. Fran
els Child could act under the territorial law even
if not under the federal authority But \. H. as,
tie retiring executive officer Of the food r"IIIhlS,
sion told the Star Bulletin the other day that the
territorial law docs not permit Prlcr,fXlng. ana
enlarges upon this aspect in his letter "f rrSgna-
ton. In this he says:
THE work of the territorial commission has reached
point where a proper division can be MADE between
purely territorial work the federal work. The
proper functions OF the territorial commission seems
10 me are to continue its work in the increase OF pro-
duction Of food products throughout fta"aII' anu
through it's womens committee to spread the doctrine
OF food These committees are all at the
present time doing effective and self-saCr1tlcng WORK
The territorial commission should not attempt 10
regulate prices but this should be left TO the federal
administration which has far broader and greater
powers than the local body The territorial commits
sion did come a voluntarily agreement with the
darymen's association the price Of milk which has
resulted in saving TO the public but TINS Is lhe
only instance"
4 few weeks ago Mr. Child told the AID Club that
the national food administration has no authority
to regulate retail prices charged for food
II neither the territory nor the federal admins
tration can control retail prices, what effective
weapon is there TO prevent profiteering? The mer
ehandise license system affords one method but 1t
il indrecte and SLOW at best.
As a matter of fact the territorial law distinctly
provides the food commission with the power to reg
ulate prices. The attorney who drew the section
believes he stood sound ground in doing so. the
legislature passed the act under the assumption
that it would hold water and up until now the ter
ritory has believed that Section of Act 22l means
what it SAYS. Here is what it says:
Section 8. Regulation Of Prices. Whenever In the
opinion Of the commission the circumstances justify
and the public Interest requires such action, shall
investigate, and In far 10 not prevented by the
constitution laws Of the United States by reg
uatIon fix control the price prices at which any
food or foods shall sold within the territory that
the shall be reasonable, and to prevent unrea-
users consumers under substantially similar eond-
tions.
81 No court has declared this section unconstitu-
tional No tribunal hal held it imperative. And
when the law was 'draw1 b good faith and passed
in good faith what justification is there for assum-
ing that it doesn't mean what it says?
OF course it must be recognized that Uncle Sam 8
bowers are greater and broader in such time as
this than the territorys powers of regulation, But
If the federal food administrator says Uncle Sam
can't regulate retail prices there is still the terrific
rial law, untried There is no necessity of serving
public notice that the way is open for profteerng.