The Washington herald., 1918-07-11
PROFITEERING
MOVES CLERKS
TOLEAVE D. G.
Department Chief Phones
Federal Employees He
May Lose Twenty.
FOOD AND RENT REASON
Drastic Action Demanded
From Control Heads in
Washington.

Constant complaints Of profiteer-
ing coming into the National Fed
Grafton of Federal employees head
quarters have made drastic action
by that body Imperative for the
war workers in Washington.
A committee with, a punch" IS
to be appointed at once, according
federation, to call on Federal Food
to Thomas Quinn, secretary of the
, Administrator Hoover. Local Ad-
ministrator Wilson and Secretary
Houston of the Department of Agri-
culture in an attempt to get action
on the resolution sent to them a
day or so ago. The committee will
act at once and vigorously. IL no
answer is Forthcoming from the first
appeal.
The committee is not yet named.
but it will consist of officers of the
union and others interested
Clerks Threaten to Leave.
The situation is becoming crucial
with the union. For instance, a
chief clerk of one of the depart
ments called up the Federal en-
ployes' headquarters a day or so
ago. Twenty of his employees had
told him that IL they did not re-
ceive aid in the food and rent sit
uation they would have to leave the
city.
The rent situation is still far from
satisfactory. according to Mr.. Quinn.
Abnormal prices are being charged
for rooms and houses, and the mat
ter is not Strengthened out, in spite
of rumors to the contrary.
The methods employed with the
food situation are to be applied to
| the congestion situation as well. The
matter will be discussed and action
taken at the regular meeting of the
Federation next Sunday afternoon at
the Masonic Temple. Thirteenth
street and New York avenue north
west.
! The matter Is to be put through
and satisfaction received as to why
the Labor Department does not carry
| forward the housing operations
which they began some time ago.
Meat Inquiry Under Inquiry.
Drastic recommendations will be
made to the District Food Admins
| tration by the committee appointed
" lHNColiSdtC thO
| prices of meat in the rtail markets.
| Constant complaints of the exorbi-
tant prices charged by local dealers
resulted in the appointment of this
! special committee to handle the ques-
| ton more than six months ago.
| Investigation has shown that In
most cases the prices were absolutely
| unwarranted. and that rank profiteer-
ing eexisted in many of the local meat
! markets. Reports made by the COM
mite are expected materially to
assist in reducing the present prices,
1t was stated yesterday at the ad-
ministration that one of the recon-
| mendations would be that meat be
placed on the fair price list, prepared
semi-weekly at a conference be-
tween the food administrator and To-
| cal grocers. The pie cling of meat
| quotations on this list would also
bring the prices Of meat more direct
| ly under the control of the authorities
| Three Bakers Cited.
The Food Administration announced
yesterday that three Washington bak.
ers would appear before the Food Ad'
ministrator tomorrow to answer
charges of violating the baking regu-
lations.
One baker is apt to lose his license
and be forced to close his business
until permitted to reopen by the au'
thorities. He is accused of failure tc
observe the wheat substitute regula'
tons and of making false statements
in reports required regularly by the
Food Administration. He has ap.
peared before the Administration sew
eraI times before on the same. charge
land at the last hearing was warned
THAT at his next offense his licens,
would be revoked and his business
closed. 1t is probable that the bust
ness will be closed for only a shor
time.
The two offenders are charged will
using more than the amount Of whea
-four permitted by the baking regula
tions. One has admitted that he hai
been using only II per cent whea
substitutes. when the law calls 70
IS per cent. The three cases will b
Judged by Food Administrator VII