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

The territory is now beginning to learn with some
surprise-and incredulity-and there is neither FED
era nor territorial authority to fix retail prices IN
Hawaii.
In until now most Of us have labored under the
comfortable deIuson that our local Hoover. j. Fran
els Child could act under the territorial law even
If not under the federal authority. But A. L. Cas-
tie retiring executive officer Of the food conm1s
sion told the Star Bulletin the other day that the
territorial law does not permit price fixing. and
enlarccs upon this aspect in his letter of resigna
ton. In this he says:
THE work Of the territorial commission has reached
a point where a proper division can be made between
purely territorial work and the federal WORK. Inc
proper functions the territorial commission it seems
to me are continue its work in the increase OF pro
duction of food products throughout HAWAII ana
through its womens committee TO spread the docrne
of food conservation These committees are all at the
present time doing effective and se1sacrlhclng WORK
The territorial commission should not attempt to
regulate prices but this should be left to the tederal
administration which has far broader ana greater
powers than the local body The territorial commits
sion did come to a voluntarily agreement with the
darymens association the price OF milk which mas
resulted In saving to the public, but this Is the
only instance"
few weeks ago Mr. Child told the AID Club that
the national food administration has no authority
to regulate retail prices charged for food
If neither the territory nor the federal admins
tration can control retail prices, what effective
weapon is there to prevent prohteerlng! Inc mer
chandise license system affords method, but 1T
is indirecte and slow at best.
+ As 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 on sound ground in doing So the
legislature passed the act under the assumption
that it would hold water and up until now she ter
ritory has believed that Section Of Act 221 means
what II SAYS Here is what il saws:
Section g. Regulation Of Prices. Whenever In the
opinion Of the commission the circumstances justify
and the public requires such action, shall
investigate, and In far II 10 not prevented by the
ulaton Fix control the price prices at which any
food or foods shall sold within the territory that
the shall be reasonable, and TO prevent unreal
sonabIe discrimination between localities or between
users under substantially similar eondi
tons. -.. 1872"
No court has declared this section unconstitu
tional. No tribunal has held it imperative. And
when the law was drawnin 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's
powers 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 profteering