Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-08
PIacards to Designate Stores
as Maximum or Minimum
Establishments.
LOCAL ADMINISTRATOR
TELLS OF new PLAN
Statement Following Conference
With Federal Officials Outlines
Scheme to Separate Sheep
From Goats"

From Goats"
Washington retail food stores are
@ be placarded as minimum price
and maximum price" establish
ments.
Complaints of food prohteering in
Washington have become so numer-
Gus and so insistent that Herbert
Hoover and his assistants in the
United States Food Administration
have taken a hand in the matter
and will attempt to afford relief.
Complaints Against Price List.
There has been widespread dissatis-
faotion with the fair price" list is
sued weekly from the Office of the
food administrator for the District.
The tenor Of complaints has been that
this official price list. instead Of oper-
ating to the benefit of the consumer.
has been a shield and an alibi for the
food profiteer.
In other cities. reports to the ma
tional food administration show, there
has been general satisfaction with the
operation of the fair price lists and
they have been a genuine benefit to the
consuming public. officials Of the ma
tional food administration contend
that there is no reason why the WASH
ington public should not be benefited
in the same way, and the purpose of
their present intervention is to see
that these benefits are forthcoming.
Plan Formed at Conference.
The matter was discussed yesterday
at a conference in Mr.. Hoover's Office,
and plan was worked out by which
it is hoped Washington consumers
will be benefited at least to the ex-
tent of being able to buy at the mini
mum instead of the maximum prices
quoted in the weekly "fair-price" list.
1t is hoped that this plan will give
the relief recognized as due Washing
ton consumers, but 1t Is understood to
be the purpose of the national food
officials not to relax their efforts un-
til the price list operates as satisfac-
torily here as 1t does elsewhere.
Mr.. Wilson's Statement.
The experimental plan and the rea-
sons leading to it's adoption are ex-
planned in the following statement is
sued by Clarence r, Wilson. District
food administrator, following the con-
ference:
noon. attended by Mr.. Hoover. c. r.
Winslow and G. E. Lichty of the
United States Food Administration,
and Clarence r. Wilson and Robert A.
Maurer of the District food admins
tration, to consider the situation of
retail prices in Washington. 1t was
clear from the evidence that competi-
tive conditions have largely disap-
peared In the city. due to the great
Quent ability Of the retailer to sell his
stock without much regard to price.
While a number OF dealers do follow
the fair price list published in the
press by the District food administra-
tion. a large proportion Of them do
not conscientiously do so.
To Separate sheep From Goats"
1T was, therefore. concluded to
sheep from the goats by offering an
authorized certificate, In the shape of
q placard, to all the retail dealers in
Washington. This placard will state
that the dealer has agreed to abide
by the minimum list or. alternatively.
fair prices. In turn. the District food
administration will publish in the
press the names of those dealers who
have undertaken to do SO and will
circulate. in leaflet form. to the con-
sumers in Washington. the names of
rx.h q % v q ~
either one list or the other.
1T Is felt by tho District food ad-
ministrator that there are sufficient
Of the dealers who are prepared to
undertake this to give the necessary
service to the people in Washington.
are put out Of business the better.
The difference between the minimum
and the maximum price lists to con-
sumers should be the difference be-
tween cash and carry and delivery
and credit. Those who wish to do
their own shopping may, by this
means, learn the points at which they
can obtain the lower price lists
Those who. on the other hand want
the privilege Of credit and delivery
and will. likewise. receive Indication
Of all the shops performing this serv-
ice at the maximum prices published.
nay CLASSIFY Meat Dealers.
In the matter Of meat, which has
not yet entered upon tho fair price
list. the District food administration
has had numerous meetings with the
dealers without. so far. constructive
results. and 1t 10 considering the plan
adopted in Erie. Pa. OF q classifca-
Gon Of the different dealers with re-
spect to the quality and character of
the meat In which they deal, and the
publication OF such classification, with
an indication as to fair prices for diff
ferent classes Of meat. This system Is
under consideration and will be de-
veloped during the coming week.
The District food administration
Ands that their inspectors have a great
deal Of dimculty in obtaining true
prices. and they are, therefore. do
pendent upon tho consumer to sup
port the administration by making
to the administration complaints Of
unfair treatment It can be stated
generally that the retail margins in
the city Of Washington are larger
than in practically any city in this
section Of the country, while tho
Wholesale prices on all Of the great
staples are practically the same, and
the higher cost Of living, as compa red
with Baltimore or New York, lies
practically altoRether In the larger