The Washington herald., 1918-07-08
EXCESSIVE COSTS HERE
WHERE U. S. CONTROLS
Foodstufs 10 to 80 Per
Cent Above Most
Other Cities.
SUNDAY MEETINGS DEMANDS
EXPLANATION OF OFFICIALS
Union Cites Exodus Of Hundreds
Who Could Not Bear Expense,
in Capital. They Assert.

Demand that the government
explain the food profiteering prev
alent in Washington was con-
tanned in a resolution unanimously
adopted by. the Federal Employees
Union at a mass meeting yester-
day.
No satisfactory explanation of
the high prices for food in this
city has been advanced. the reso-
luton stated. 49,
Prices of foodstuffs here are
from 10 to 80 per cent higher
than in most other localities in
the country.
These high prices prevail in
spite of the fact that the gov
ernmental agencies for the pre-
vention of profiteering in the nee
essaries of life are centered here.
The resolution named the Food
Administration, the Federal Trade
Commission and the Bureau oi
Markets, and demanded that all
be called upon for a public an
swer, telling why food profiteer-
ing should exist in Washington.
The Resolutions.
| The resolution was unanimously
adopted with, but little debate. II
follows:
| Whereas. II is shown by current
Quotations that food prices in the
City Of Washington are in many in
stances from ten to thirty per cent
higher than in most other localities
Throughout the country, notwith-
standing the fact that governmental
agencies for the control of such
prices are centered in this city
namely, the Food Administration
the Federal Trade Commission and
the Bureau of Markets; and
Whereas. no satisfactory explain
alton has been forthcoming from
ditions exist in this city; therefore
be it
Resolved, by the Federal Ep-
ployes' Union No. 2. in mass meeting
assembled. that the governmental
agencies aforesaid be called upon to
make a public statement in explana-
tion of the high food prices prevail
ing in Washington at this time; and
be it further
Resolved. that copies of this reso-
luton be transmitted to the Secre-
tary of Agriculture and the United
States Food Administration"
Fight L. Harder.
Profiteering in rents and by restau.
rants and hotels, in addition to gro.
GERS, butchers and dealers I'm food
stuffs, is constantly making hardei
the fight Of all employees in Washing
ton, not only those employed in the
government service, to meet expense,
an official of the union said.
With constant need of additional
workers here there has been practi
cally no effort to stop profteeying IL
the District As an evidence 'of tn,
cost Of living in this city the exodui
of employees in the government. serv
Ice from here at the rate of 500 pei
week was cited. Hundreds of then
Icame to Washington and receives
more pay than they had been receiv
ing In their home cities. In spite o
this fact. however. expenses were u
heavy they were forced to give VI
their positions and return home to /,
smaller pay envelope. The usua
SALARY Of a clerk or stenographer IN
the government service barely serve
to cover actual expenses.
II, it was asked. new employees com
ling to Washington with only them
tselves to support find 1t so dificul
to make ends meet on their pay, an,
must leaYe the service, how mucl
more difficult Is It for the ayerag
family to exist on the pay receives
by the chief breadwinner in the fac
iof the era of petty and grand prof
teering In the city?
I Exorbitanf Prices.
The majority Of the new employe
live in boarding houses or restaurant
4 and are forced to pay the exorbitan
prices demanded. The ordinary lunch
room menu hist prices are higher tina
those of large hotels In many leadin
4 cities. Prices are raised in season
when certain commodities are scare
and remain at that same high pri,
when the commodity 10 plentiful. A
omeiet in a restaurant today. wlie
eggs are plentiful. brings the sam
3