The Washington herald., 1918-12-18
U. S. WATCHING
PRICE OF FOOD
Seeking Control Measures;
First Publication of Fair
Price Profits.

Some method of continuation OF gov
7 ernment supervision of retail food
prices is being sought to prevent an
outbreak of food profiteering at the
conclusion OF peace.
Immediately on the signing Of the
armistice. 1t is charged, retailers be-
gan to jump prices, feeling that the
war was over and that the decks were
again cleared for business as normal.
meaning "all that the traffic Will
bear"
The Enforcement Division of the
Food administration was at once
flooded with complaints. 1t proceeded
to hurry a warning to all State ad-
ministrators that the pair price lists
were to be continued, and the margins
Of profit allowed retailers on staples
would not be varied while the admin
istration was in existence. This will
be until the President proclaims peace.
The final message OF Herbert Hoover
to his confidential assistants before he
left for Europe contained a warning to
them of the necessity of activities
against profiteering.
"Fair Price. Proats.
Plans understood to have received
the President went abroad looked to-
ward an extension of the Federal
Trade Commissions artiyities and
their assumption of the fair price
work of the Food Administration and
its Enforcement Division. No steps
have been taken toward such a trans
fer. however, because of constitutional
difficulties.
These margins of profit allowed
retailers on the fair price lists were
fixed after a careful study of busi-
ness costs. and have received the
approval of the consumers commit
tee, as well as the merchants and
banking experts. They have never
before been made public but their
publication is permitted now, that
the public may see on what margins
the retailers handling their food
have been operating for the past
year and to give a basis for con-
sideration in the various States for
the formulation of food control poll
cies in case the Federal government
may find no way for further super
vision. Dealers have been permitted
to sell on closer margins than these
If they so desire, and some Of the
NSIy idLB Cdsh anu carry SlOTts
have done so.
The official list follows:
Flours. in original mills packages.
Victory -four or wheat -four. one
half barrel or more, 81 to S120 per
barrel, one-fourth barrel or less,
s1.35 to $3.50 per barrel: barley, rye,
corn and rice. IS to % per cent; in
! broken mill packages, Victory and
! wheat fiours, III cents a pound.
Bulk corn meal, rolled oats and
sugar, IL cents a pound.
Corn meal in original mill packages,
honliny, and evaporated milk, un-
sweetened. IS to . per cent; sugar, in
bulk, 1-2 cents a pound in packages.
/ 1 cent a pound. Oatmeal and rolled
| oats. in bulk, l 1-2 cent a pound. Oat-
! meal and rolled oats in original mill
packages. rice, beans, edible starch
corn syrups in tins. 20 to % per cent
| Canned corn. peas and tomatoes,
standard grades. pink and red canned
! salmon chums, domestic canned sar-
! dimes. dried fruits, raislns, prunes and
peaches 25 to 30 per cent. Lard, pure
leaf and substitutes. bulk. to cents;
! tins. IS to % per cent.
| Breakfast bacon, whole pieces, to
| &c per h., heavy bacon, whole pieces,
/ ; to &c; hams, smokes, whole, to &c.
! Retailers are permitted to add the
usual differentials to cover shrinkage
| in selling sliced bacon and hams.
! Potatoes. white or Irish. 25 to 30 per
| cent: onions. 25 to 30 per cent. Eggs
in carton or in bulk, to SC per dozen.
| Butter. to 7c a lb. Butter substI-
tutes. to &c Ib. Domestic cheese,
| Z to Sc lb
| For perishable goods and meats the
local boards have been authorized to
make the fair prices as the local con-
! ditions require.