The Washington herald., 1918-07-26
WILSON ADMITS
PROFITEERING
EXISTS In d. c.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE
list the prices paid BY them for food
stuffs.
That the retail grocers cooperate
with the customer in eliminating un-
necessary labor. was urged by George
Lickty, of the Federal Food Admin
istration. He told the association that
the administration had done In con-
serving food, and urged that they
make every effort to cooperate with
that body In the service that was to
win the war.
A tribute TO Mr.. Wilson was offered
by George Zeh, q grocer OF the city.
Mr.. Zeh stated that not only was Mr..
Wilson capable Of filing the Job Of
food administrator, but that the
| grooers had always found him TO be
both fair and Just In his dealings with
them and the public.
Public Unjust, He Says.
That the public has been unjust to
the retailer was the statement made
by John Wolf, president OF the Jew
ish Retail Grocers' Association, in an
interview yesterday.
Mr.. Wolf thought that the blame
for the prevailing high prices rested
on the wholesaler. AZ a proof OF his
statement that the retailer had not
been guilty Of prohteering. he said
that in the last year 80 grocery stores
in the District had been sold under
the hammer. These grocers had not
been able to meet expenses and had
been forced to close.
You could buy almost any retail
grocery bushes In the city today.
he declared The grocers would be
glad to sell 1t Is the jobber who is
putting money In the bank, not the
retailer"
Mr.. Wolf stated that. while II was
true that Mr.. Wilson was not familiar
with the grocery business, he had
been the cause OF the low prices
charged In Washington. II O man
familiar with the situation had been
in power. he declared. the grocer
would have been permitted to ask
much higher prices.
Mr.. Wolf declared that 90 long az
the boys OF this country were willing
to give their lives in the crisis. II
was but a small thing to ask the
dealer to be content with a small
profit
4 lou Americans co not Know lDt
meaning of the word freedom" he
declared. 1T is not a word that the
dictionary can explain. I, who have
lived under oppression, can realize
what It means to die for freedom
Surely we can be content to give our
dollars when others are giving their
lives"
Prices Not Boosted.
j Food Administration officials denied
yesterday the statement published in
an afternoon paper that the carload
OF fish distributed to Washington deal
ers by the Food Administration had
been sold at prices ranging from
to 71-2 cents higher than the price
set by the administration.
1t was stated that an investiga-
ton had been made yesterday 5y
officials OF the Food Administration
and two dealers were found selling
above the set price. One Of these
dealers had been selling the fish in
steaks.
1t was stated that the fsh sup
posed to be selling at from u 20 Is
cents a pound had been sold in the
markets for Is cents up. Fourteen
OF the markets were visited. not one
of them was selling the fish at the
prices given in the papers the day
before.
Grimly determined to strike a body
blow at profiteering in the District
| Of Columbia today. the Punch
committee OF the unions Of the city
will interview the local agencies in
charge of food and rent
This committee was delegated by
the National Federation of Federal
Employees, which has a membership
Of 1000 in Washington.
1t has been augmented by repre-
sentatives from most of the other
unions in the city, and has the heart
felt sympathy and support of all the
union members in the city.
This committee will CAL on each
one OF the local authorities to ask
the cause of the profteering and
make suggestions where such are in
vited.
Il is probable that in the next few
days experimentation will begin n
cooperative buying for the members
Of the National Federation. Plans
are being pushed with this course
in mind.
The National Federation IS much
encouraged by the lowering Of prices
already seen in the District, and by
the investigations already being car
ried on by some Of the local au-
thorities, according to Thomas II.
J. Quinn, director OF publicity OF
the National Federation.
| The Employee Union.
ut has been repeatedly stated" said
Mr.. Quinn, that the Federal Employe,
Union has not been as effective as Il
could have been. that its actions ere
typical Of the average government
clerk This statement is easily re,
futed when the organization, iti
youth. growth. and accomplishment.
are taken into consideration.
Organized but two years ago wher
the Borland amendment was nrs
introduced. the union has grown IL
membership approximating 5000
100 local branches have been estab
lished throughout the United States
the Panama Canal and Canada
When IT Is considered that for ovel
fifty years no change was made 81
government employees salaries. tAa
since the union was started two in
creases in pay have been secured fol
them. that the Borland amen1mcn
has been twice defeated. and thai
these defeats and increases in pay arr
due entirely to the efforts Of the Fed
eral Employees Union, II can not b
stated in all fairness that the orSani
! zation has been slack in either III
4 efforts Or accomplishment.
ssIu q eouuaratfvely abort tim