Evening star., 1918-08-30
Responsibility Up to Buyer.

protection and a help.
Responsibility Up to Buyer.
Numerous complaints have been re-
ceived at the administration charg-
ing that the weekly fair price list,
which is supposed to govern prices
of staple food articles Is a means
unwarranted profits.
Protesting householders declare that
merchants never charge less than
the maximum price quoted on the
price list. regardless Of how low they
may have bought the articles at
wholesale. Other householders de-
clare that the food administration
places all of the responsibility Of
proving a merchants fairness on the
public
The food administration. realizing
that many local merchants are TAX
ing advantage of the wide scope of
the price list by selling only at the
top prices regardless of their low
purchase price. has made a rule
which appears at the top of today's
announcement of the fair price list
for the coming week. This rule
reads: only those dealers who buy at
the top wholesale price should sell at
top prices to consumers
The administration is most en-
phatic in declaring that any dealers
severely punished. despite the fact
that they are technically abiding by
the figures quoted on the price list.
Wants Help of Public.
As a means of carrying out the
provisions of this rule the admins
tration wants the public to help. If
housekeepers are charged the max
imum price for a listed article which
they have reason to suspect was pur-
chased by the dealer at the minimum
wholesale price, the administration
wants them to report the fact The
administration will then call upon
dealers so reported to furnish their
invoices showing what they actually
paid for the articles in dispute.
The administration has another i'm
portant rule regarding the intention
and purposes of the weekly fair price
list, which has not been widely ad-
vertised nor printed at the top of
the price list 1t is in relation to the
the amounts listed on the price LIST.
For instance, potatoes, of the best
grade, which are quoted at go cents
peck as . maximum, should sell
at 10 cents quarter peck and 80
cents half peck Dealers are not
Tor hall and quarter pounds or half
and quarter pecks and SO on.
Ihe administration again appeals
TO the buying public to report any
violations Of the fair price list The
inspection force of the administration
giving strict attention "a all COM
plants Assurance is given that the
names OF persons reporting violations
or making complaints will be treated
as strictly confidential
Fixes Margin on Butter.
Regarding butter prices the admin
lstrator issues the following state
The retail section of the distribu-
ton of perishables of the United
states Food Administration has inves-
ugated the cost of handling butter at
retail and has determined that any ads
vance in excess of to cents ner
pound over cost Gas defined in Rule Il
is unreasonable and will be Considered
eFaoence OF violation of Rule 1. The
cents per pound represents the max
lmurn margin for stores Conducted m
the cash and carry or no service plan
MhlIe cents per pound is the max
mum mum margin for the extra service
stores extending credit and delivery.
Dealers whose delivered store door
cost figures in fractions may have the
oeneht Of such fractional cost
TOT example. butter costing at store
ooor 40 Il cents per pound would carry
MAXIMUM margin of 51a cents per
pound for the cash and carry and M
service stores and ~ cents per pound
livery stores.
In determining margins at S and 6
cents pound on butter with the frac-
6onal costs in dealers favor the United
due consideration to the rising costs
OF operation which must be met BY the
dealer. This maximum margin no
doubt tss viii exceed in some. instances