Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-12-03
CONSUMERS MUST
Do THEIR PART
SAYS MCCORMICK
Food Administrator Plans
Publicity Campaign to Get
Aid of the People
MUST BE REASONABLE
Dealers Will Not Be Permit
ted to Sell at Excessive
Profits
MUST BE REASONABLE

Constant publicity and the govern
ment licensing of big manufacturers
of foodstuffs and storage ware
houses are for the present to be the
prime checks on food gouging, ac-
cording to Donald Mccormick, who
returned from Philadelphia to-day
after a conference with Pennsylva
MAS Food Administrator, Howard
Heinz.
II have been given no definite in
structions," said Mr.. Mccormick,
whose appointment as food admin
istrator for Dauphin county was an
nounced to-day.
THE publication of reasonable
prices will be tried out Immediately
in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and
If the syste-.. operates there it will
no doubt become statewide We
have no power to fix prices and we
rely greatly on publicity to enlighten
the public and bend the community S
efforts toward team work. OF course,
if any one tires to take advantage of
the public he will be taken care of.
We will not allow gouging. The puo-
lie is bound to declare itself If it
believes it is being wronged and
these claims will be promptly in
vestigated."
In the license act which was pro-
mulgated by President Wilson on
| October 10, the food administrators
have a serviceable weapon with
which to work, because if the instruc-
| tions are disobeyed the firms license
may be revoked This act does not
affect the small dealer, but the food
administrators will be able to know
exactly what supplies have been fur
nished the retailer by the whole
saler.
Among the food distributors ex-
empted from the license is the re-
taller whose gross sales do not eX-
ceed 100000 per annum; farmers,
gardeners, cooperative associations
of farmers or gardeners, including
| livestock farmers; common carriers;
I millers of corn, oats, barley, wheat,
rye or rice operating only plants of a
daily capacity of less than seventy
| five barrels; persons slaughtering,
packing and distributing fresh, can
ned or cured beef, whose gross sales
do not exceed 100000 per annum,
and operators of poultry or egg pack
! ing plants whose gross sales do not
exceed $4,000 per annum.
| Here is the rule in President VIII
sons act which holds over the Ii
censee: HE shall not knowingly sell
any food commodities to any person
! engaged in the business of selling
such commodity who shall violate
| the provisions by making any unrea-
sonable rate or charge in selling OF
otherwise handling or dealing in
such commodity, or by holding, con-
! tracing for, or arranging for a
quantity thereof in excess of the rea-
sonable requirements of his business
! for use or sale by him for a reason
able time"
Mr.. Mccormick gave out the fol-
| lowing statement from the Commit
| tee of Public Safety, bearing on the
meatless day, saying: II feel sure
that the people of this district will
show their patriotism by following
out the suggestions. | believe that we
can depend upon them"
"The State of Pennsylvania" reads
] the bulletin, sis observing meatless
Tuesdays and Fridays because there
/ is world shortage of 100000
animals and the only way to help this
deficiency is through eating less.
Reports received by the Pennsyl-
vania Committee of Public Safety
show a gratifying response to the ap-
! peal for self-sacrifice. The Food De-
partment announces that the meat
| less days will continue to be observed
|
| or until there is no danger of short
| age in this vital food supply.
One of the first things that each
citizen should keep in mind is that
not only has the world herd been
! depleted but the United States to-day
| has a shortage of seven million ami
mails as compared with seventeen
years ago.
"Our allies need food-animal food
! as well as wheat. They need beet
! and they need the fats that are prod
ucts from pork. If we are to helT
supply our boys in the trenches and
] camps and the nations aiding us in
the war and if we are to feed our
! selves, every ounce of meat and fat
must be carefully conserved.
ut has been estimated that If the
| United States generally observed two
meatless days each week there would
be saved 4.400.000.000 pounds an
| nually."
'Mr. Heinz pointed out that meat
| less days are not compulsory" added
! Mr.. Mccormick. but while not obli-
gatory the idea means something
| greater. 1t is a test of democracy.
Tt is test whether the people of
Pennsylvania are able to control their
appetites so that the nation may en-
| dure."