The Washington times., 1917-10-24

rounding each: must know all about
the manufacture. shipment and dis
tribution OF food supplies; the costs
from the producer all along the line
to the consumer; the profits obtained
in the transmission from one to the
other, and hundreds of other facts.
What MIR. Wilson VIII Do.
Inquiry at the national food ad-
ministration today reveals that the
various State administrators of fuel
and food. working along lines of
their own, have not received clear
instructions from Washington as to
detailed plans to pursue. Just now
they are bending their energies to-
ward making a success OF the pledge
card campaign for the conservation
of meats and grain products which
begins October 2S and ends Novem-
ber 4. Mr.. Wilson Is expected to
arouse interest in Washington in this
plan.
While a campaign of conservation
is being waged along every line in
Washington by Mr.. Wilson, he will be
at work upon the data that will en-
able him ultimately to NJ prices, issue
licenses and take action that may
bring results that can be grasped by
the consumer.
It has been hinted several times by
Food Administration officials that
they would like the local food ad-
ministrator, when selected, to take up
charges of exorbitAnt hotel and res
taurant charges in Washington and
to enter into early negotiations with
Washington bakers over the prices
charged for bread here.
Big ProAfs Of Hotel Bars.
On the subject Of hotel and restau-
rant charges there will be strong de-
nial of extortion by local proprietors,
II was asserted today. 1t will be ad-
mitted by most of the managers OF
large hotels that they have made
money in the last year. but they will
claim that this has largely been due
to the operation OF their bars, which
have been freely patroniEed by the
thousands OF stranE-sa who have
come here. without the rofits from
the bars. beginning Ecv' Gnber 1. the
net income Of the hotels and restau-
rants will be seriously impaired and
Just what the outcome will be II prob
lematIcal, Il was asserted today.
The Times representative was told
today by a large stockholder In q
prominent local hotel, one /of the
largest here, that the profits from the
bar for the last year have averaged
500 per day.
Coal Situation Serious.
Mr.. Weaver is working hard and
saying little, but the seriousness OF
the situation here is already manifest
to him
The national fuel administrator, DR..
n. A Garfield, and his assistants in
every State are eager to stabilize coal
prices to the consumer, but are con-
fronted with the demands of labor.
The labor situation is serious in Wash
ington as well as everywhere else.
The desire OF the fuel administration
Is to permit reasonable returns in all
branches OF the coal industry for the
money and energies invested, but from
all directions, this city included. are
claims that labor Is asking more every
day for it's hire. Local dealers make
the claim that II prices are fixed
here, allowing them reasonable re-
turns, they have no certainty that
these returns will be stable in the
face OF the increasing wages they
must pay for laborers and workers
generally.
Prices that do not promise fair re-
turns threaten to drive many coal
dealers, with their teams and equip
ment, into other lines of business that
are offering fancy prices for teams
and men.
Sterilization Of coal prices. at the
mines and among the dealers. is the
gigantic problem to be solved. Local
coal prices. II was said on all hands
today, cannot be fixed SO long as
abor's demands at the mines and in
all communities are on a rising scale.