The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1918-06-13
RETAIL PRICES TO BE KEPT
WITHIN THE LIMIT

A Washington dispatch to the Com
merclal Appeal under datae of June
Z, says:
Definite measures to limit retail
prices were announced today by the
united States food administration.
Through the medium of standardized
lair price lists, to be published in
practically every county, hamlet, town
and city in the country, food admin
istration officials expect to protect
the consumer from unreasonable price
advances. BY bringing prices to a
uniform level the food administration
will not only protect the average buy
Ter, but will also protect the patriotic
merchant who has followed its sug-
|gestions from the INSCRIPTIONS dealer
who has attempted to take advantage
of the situation.
In every community the food adj
ministration will establish price inter-
|preting committees composed Of rep
resentatives Of the wholesalers, retail
ers and consumers. This interpreting
board will ascertain fair retail prices
on the basic commodities that COM
prise a large part of the peoples
diet. The published lists will give the
range of maximum selling prices
showinr a reasonable low price, which
will reflect charges that should rule
in "cash and carry" stores and
high price, representing a fair charge
at credit and delivery" shops.
each board will have detailed re-
ports Of actual wholesalers and will
ascertain fair margins Of profit that
should be made by the retailer. The
final fair prices will be widely pub
lished. Newspapers in every city and
county will be asked to cooperate,
setting aside a particular portion in
prominent place on the same day
each week, running the lists with con
spicuous headlines and interesting foot
notes on the food problem and the
use Of substitutes for the food most
needed abroad.
Consumers will be asked to report
to their food administrator any stores
charging more than the announced
prices. Investigations of these reports
will give the food administration a
basis upon which to work in separat-
ing the patriotic dealer from the prof
iteer. An indirect control over the
retail stores may be exercised by cut
ting off supplies at the source--in-
structing licensed wholesale dealers
to sever business relations with the
firms which exact more than rea-
sonable charge.
"Retail price reporters are being
appointed in every county il the Uni
ted States. They are expected to.
keep close check upon charges made
at the stores and to report to the local
food administrator all dealers not
keeping within the limits prescribed
in the fair price lists
Wherever investigation shows that
any dealer has chsreed excessive
prices, the administrator win grant
hearing. If he cannot show a Just
cause for his failure to keep within
the prices announced by the inter-
preting boards he will be punished.
"The food administration believes
that with the operation Of this STAN
dardized plan throughout the country
it can assure the consumers that the
price they pay represents no more
than cost Of production plus reason
able costs and profits Of necessary
handlers. 1t has already, through its
licensing system. put close check
mon the various classes Of retailers
and eliminated all classes not per-