El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-06-24
PRICE INTERPRETERS OF Ell PASO|
ARE TRYING TO HOLD PRICES DOWN

I'll PASOANS should not forget to recognize the good
Il work being done for the benefit of the whole public
by the price interpreting committee Of the federal food
administration for Texas It has done It's best to keep
prices the pays for food down to the lowest
mark and to figure profits for dealers down to fair margins
which preclude eXorbitant figures.
The committee representative of the wholesale and
retail trade and OF the consuming public its member
ship comprises James A. Dick, chairman; Frank S Alnsa,
J. B. Watson F. s. Stein, George G. Franklin, C. H. Gimbe
Mrs " II. James, Mrs. R. J. Iighe, L. ! Chapman, J. T.
Peytou, ". s. CTombie, ". H. Loretz J. ". Lorentzen,
Allen C. Staples, Perry P Young, Clifford A. Perkins
work establish wholesale prices figure the
margin Of profit allowed to retailers and publish both
fair wholesale and tar retail prices Inc pces nave 10
be revised frequently, either upward downward, de-
pending supply and demand and on trade conditions
generally, and 1t is only fair TO state that the committee
has been quicker TO revise prices downward than upward
Any raise prices is the subject Of prolonged discussion
before It is decided upon.
this committee undertook its which by the
way Is moneyess and almost thanless one, there was
public suspicion born Of years Of experience with
steadily mounting food prices There were those who be
heved the committees sessions were 10 be IN reality tade
conferences at which agreements were TO be made for
eevating prices This feeling persisted after some
reoucuons had 5een scheduled Doubtless tins was merely
clever deception to mask the real purpose. But the
months have passed Ii become evident any
who has given the matter attention that food
prices here have become vel stabilized Rarely is there
any change IN prices Of prime necessities such sugar.
lard compounds, BEANS bread and flour substitutes while
those Of potatoes butter onions and condensed milk have
tended lower Ihose VINO remember that little more tnan
year ago FL Pasoans paying Is for five pounds
OF potatoes DeLLer appreciate the Work the
mttee in recommending such prices that people get
10 OF II pounds Of potatoes for the same Prices
Of quite number Of things low as year ago OF
perhaps should say scarcely higher than year ago
and this in wartime when millions Of Of foodStuffs
being exported when the tendency 1916 and
1917 before Hoover took hold Of the food administration
to boost prices clear through the roof.
Reference 10 Hoover brings US back to the source
Herbert C. Hoover Is the handspring Of the price
bizatiOn Re has not been able do as much as most
people would have liked in the way Of reducing prices
through pressure dealers by Of the license which
he Is at liberty to revoke evidence Of prOteerng
ne has done great deal TO keep sugar from going
cents pound for instance His influence is exerted
through the state food administrators and their suggestions
are passed TO the local food administrators and the
local committees, Of which the price interpreting com
ittee IN FL PasO is Charles n Basset local
food administrator and has fulfilled his duties up to the
present with commendable energy and entire justice
But strong that influence may be, il would be of
little practical relief to the community unless the local
committee sincerely endeavorng to hold prices down
There tricks IN all trades and plenty Of tricks whereby
Inscriptions Neal committee, bent favoring mer-
chants at the expense Of the the people (he com
Itteeen generally being merchants themselves could
nuy the efforts Of the national state administrators
As chain IS 10 stronger than Its weakest link 50 the
national food administration IS stronger than its local
representatives,.
With few exceptions, the merchants selling foodstuff
II Fl PaSo have cooperated very willingly with Mr. Basset
and the price Interpreters The schedule Of prices which
the committee de7Ises are suggested maximums not
as mlnmuus. Nevertheless merchants might charge as
much Is the committee allows and point 10 the fair price
schedule their justification As matter Of fact several
firms here sell below the committees price schedule as 10
such items as butter, condensed milk, and potatoes
The attitude Of the merchants the more creditabIe
IN view OF the fact that the price interpreting committee
IS III no sense puce liking committee 1t suggests but