Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-06-14
.FOOO PROF|TEERs
TO Be SHOWN UP
FEDERAL DEPARTMENT. TO PUT
OUT FAIR PRICE LIST EACH
WEEK.
EFFORT TO BE MADE TO
LIMIT RETAIL PROFITS
Published Lists to Outline Range Of
Maximum Selling Prices--Priee in.
terpreting Boards to BE Established
in Every Community - Consumers
Asked to Make Reports to Admin.
istrators.

DeS MONIES. June l4.-DeHnlle IHed-
sures to limit retail prices were an
nounced yesterday by the United
States food administration. Thru the
medium of standardized fair price
lists to be published in practically
every county. hamlet. town and city
in the country, food administration
officials expect to protect the con-
sulner- from unreasonable price adj
vances. BY bringing prices to a uni
form level the food administration
will not only protect the average
buyer, 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 ad-
ministration will establish price in
terpreting committees composed of
representatives of the wholesalers. re-
tailers and consumers. This inter-
preting board will ascertain fair retail
prices on the basic commodities that
comprise a large part of the peoples
diet.
To Establish Reasonable Charge.
The published lists will give the
range of maximum selling prices
showing a reasonable low price, which
will reflect charges that should rule IN
cash and carry stores, and high
price, representing fair charge at
credit and delivery shops.
Tradesmen on the boards will be, ap-
pointed by the trades and will serve
with representative Of the consum-
ing interests, the local food admins
traitor acting as chairman. Retain
memb ers of the committee will repre-
sent both the cash and carry ana
credit and delivery" stores.
Each board will have detailed re-
ports Of actual wholesale prices and
will ascertain fair margins of profits
that shoulud be made by the retailer
The final fair price will be widely pub
lished., Newspapers in every city and
county will be asked to cooperate
setting aside particular position In
prominent place on the same day eacn
week, running the lists with conspicu-
GUS headlines stsd interesting footnotes
on the food plAblem and the use OF
substitutes for the foods most needed
abroad.
Consumers Asked TO Report.
Consumers will be asked to report
TO their food administrator q basis
upon which to work IN separating the
patriotic dealer from the profteer. An
indirect control over the retail stores
may be exercised by cutting of sup
plies at the source instructing III
censed wholesale dealers to sever busi-
ness relations with the firms which
exact more than a reasonable Charge
Retail price reporters are being ap-
pointed in every county in the Unlced
States. They are expected to keep
close check upon the charges made at
the stores and to report to the local
administrators all dealers not keeping
within the limits prescribed in the
fair price lists"
Standardized System.
Wherever investigation shows that
any dealer has charged excessive
prices, the administrator will grant
hearing. If he can not show a JUST
case for his failure to keep within the
prices announced by the Interpreting
boards, he will be punished.
The food administration believes
that with the operation of this stan
dardized plan turnout the country II
can assure the consumers that the
price they pay represents no more
than the cost Of production plus rea-
sonable costs and profits of necessary
handlers. It has already, thru JUS
licensing system, put a close cnecA
upon the various classes OF retailers
and eliminated ali classes not perform
ing a necessary function in moving IN
the shortest possible line and with
least expense from the farm to the
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