New Britain herald., 1917-09-20
lERS IN FOOD MEET WATERLOO
. Of President to Be En- slOrCed to Reduce Prices

may have schemed to buy cheap sell dear under the provisions Food Control law may expect to themselves brought up with Pp turn and obliged to take out lses themselves before they can
 bread, milk, eggs or any other modity that is for human con-
 ption.
 was stated at the office of the
 d Administrator that unless the
 Hers throughout the country fell
 line with the purpose of the ad-
 istration to keep the cost within .onable bounds, the ample powers he president would be invoked to
 end that every man engaged in
 retail food trade would have to } out license, and violation of
 regulations governing his particu-
 case would result in a revocation lis license.
 he retailer has seen the govern
 1t fix the prices of the wheat crops (l917 and 1918, and has observed rictions imposed upon the profits De made by the millers. He has
 of the requirements under which rations of mills and elevators of ,if1ed capacity must take out H- ses in order to continue in busi-
 5. He has been informed through press that importers and refners ,ugar also must obtain licenses and form to governmental regulations. { entire program of the food ad- dstration has appeared to him to -e been devised and conducted for particular benefit and prOtectiOn\ D people from whom he bought
 'e tied hand and foot in the matter
 the prices they could charge him.
 he was left absolutely free to
 tinue to mulct the public to his
 .rt's content.
 'erusing the Food Control law with :areful eye, he assured himself of
 fact that the authority of the sident to fix retail prices was re-
 cted to the subject of coal. Any Necessaries Covered.
 lis attention is called through the ton of that law. the provisions
 which are as follows:
 That, from time to time. when IT the president shall find it es- ltial to license the distribution of v necessaries, in order to carry 70 effect any of the purposes of this !, and shall publicly so announce, person shall. after a date fixed in } announcement engage in or carry any such business specified in the of importation, manu- .ture, storage, mining, or distribu- Tn of any necessaries as set forth in ch announcement unless he shall cure and hold a license issued pur- ant to this section.'
 The same section provides further at the president shall have the au ority to prescribe regulations gov- ming the persons to whom such li- nses shall be issued and the re- .irements for systems of accounting, Id the filing of reports.
 In the face of these provision re- Hers will hesitate before refusing to ,-operate with the food administra- r in his efforts to accomplish re- 1ction in the retail prices of neces- .ries commensurate with the prices .ed for the wholesaler.
 Active investigations by local boards trade and chambers of commerce i'll have a wholesome and deterrins fleet upon the "gentlemen's agree rents" of local merchants under |hich the greed of the retailer ha: sen the sole excuse, and his power force payment has constituted it nly justification.
 Th policy of the food administra on heretofore has been one of ami bility. It has sought by every mean a it's power to obtain co-operatio1 n the part of the producers an aerchants of the country in the en of the spirit of the law nd a large majority of those wh ave come within it's influence hay allen into line. Its dealings. how .ver, have been largely with the pro lucers and wholesalers. who are d .ectly affected by the letter, as we'll oy the spirit of the law.