The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1918-03-13
FOOD VIOLATORS
TRAITORS TO THE
CAUSE, COUNTRY
Should BE Lines Up Against a
Brick Wall at Sun-Up," Is
Verdict.
WORLD WOULD BE
BETTER WITHOUT THEM"
Some Violations Here, but Proof
Can Not Be Obtained.
fFrom Saturdays Daily.)
rhe following is from the Federal

The following is from the Federal
Food Administrator of Mississippi:
A large merchant doing business in
Mississippi, and also conducting a
public gin and handling cotton seed
was recently fined 100000 for TAX
ing more profit from his patrons than
he was allowed to do lnder the ruling
Of the Food Administration. His pun
i%hment was meted out in way to
help those who had been the sufferers.
He was required to return all the ex
cess profits taken from the people,
and was given limitel time to make
settlement, and was required tu pro
cure receipts for return of such
amounts as were due his customers.
These receipts to be turned over to
the Food Administration by a given
date
There have been a number Of often
ders called to Vicksburg to explain
their conduct in selling -four in larger
quantities than permitted under the
rules of the Food Administration. The
penalty for disregardmg the rules
subjects them to a fine, or a revoca-
tion of their license, or both, depend
ing upon the seriousness of their Of
tense. Where it was proven that they
had sold -four in excess quantities,
they were required to haul the flour
back to their stores and refund to the
purchasers the cash money paid for
the -four so returned They have all
promised to conform strictly to the
rules of the Food Administration in
the future, and in each instance have
attributed their failure to do so ig-
norance Of the rules, and as there
were mitigating circumstances these
people have not been fined but were
warned that second toffense meant
cancellation Of their license or being
compelled 10 disc lG,lue business,
In connection with the foregoing !
wish to state that a number of com
plants are being made to me by re-
putable dealers who are trying TO OBJ
serve the food regulations, that 9TH
er dealers are violating the regula-
tons by selling more -four than the
regulations permit. They claim that
when they refuse customers quanti-
ties in excess of the regulations these
customers frequently refuse to buy
of them at all, claiming they can 60
elsewhere and get as much as wanted.
They state further that in some in 4
stances they have seen these same
customers go by in wagons with as
much as two barrels of flour. Efforts
to get sufficient evidence TO prove
these violations beyond doubt, have
so far failed, but whenever and where
ever it can be obtained prompt and
vigorous action will be taken. Jus
tice to the law respecting and law 4
abiding dealers of the community de- 4
mands this much, independent of any
patriotic considerations. So far as
loyalty and devotion to their country
is concerned, such offenders as these |
belong to that class of traitors that
would stand in the rear ranks and
comrades in the front
ranks. This is exactly what they are
doing to the law abiding and patrio-
tic comrades in business. Such men
ought to be lined up against a brick !
wall at sun up. The world would be
better off without them, or any of |
those who sympathize with them or
condone their offenses.
As to complaints that breakfast ba- |
con and potatoes are being sold at !
higher prices than those prescribed
by the Food Administration, the State
A Administrator writes: |
"As regards breakfast bacon will |
say that fancy brands put up in bot |
ties or cans, or where the bacons is
sliced, the retailers is privileged to
charge more than the prices named" |
Potatoes should be sold by the |
pound, which is one of the rules Of the
Federal Food Administration. The {
price allowed is 3 1-2 to cents per
pound, for Irish potatoes"
F. HERR,
Lefore County Food Administrator |
n