The Pulaskian., 1918-01-04
PUBLISH PRICES
 OF MERCHANDISE
CONSUMERS ARE TO HAVE IN SIDE DOPE ON WHAT RETAIL FRS HAVE TO PAY FOR GOODS
 THAT ARE OFFERED THEM.

Authentic information concerning prices that retailers and consumers should pay for necessary food com modities will be supplied regularly to the daily and weekly press in all im- portant centers in the near future through committees in each state formed by the Federal Food Admins trator.
 In New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and other cities, experiments in the publication of prices have already been made. The immediate results not only in checking excessive profits, but in quieting unjust criticisms of dealers by the public. have encourag- ed the Food Administration to recom- mend the adoption of the plan gener- ally. After a consultation with the Food Administrator in each state, defi- nite suggestions as to the method have now been formulated and placed in the hands of each administrator.
 The position of the Food Admins tration is that the ultimate consumer, having been asked to apply rigid con servation in the home, is entitled to l protection against high prices on i'm l portant food staples, and that there l should be in each locality a definite standard by which the housewife can judge whether prices charged by re- tailers are fair, and also by which she can from day to day adjust her buying by choosing commodities which are plentiful and low in price.
 In connection with the retail prices, the wholesale also are to be publish sd in order that the retailer may be informed upon market conditions and the public educated as to the prevail ing margins of profit.
 The prices will be simply express 1 ed and reduced to terms which the least experienced housewife can read fly understand and yet be sufficiently close to the regular quoted market grades so that the retailer cannot avoid actual and specific compliance.
 The publication of prices is in no way to be construed or stated as price fixing. It will in fact, be brought about through an understanding with retail distributors whereby they vol unteer to pass necessary foods on to their consumers at a reasonable mar gin over cost. In most commodities both minimum and maximum prices will be printed, the maximum operat- ing to prevent unreasonable profits, and the range between minimum and maximum constituting a natural field for competition.
 In this, as in most of the operations under the Food Control Law, there is no universal scheme adaptable alike to all states. In each state the prices to be published will be those of com modities in common use in that local ity, and the margins of profit in ac- cordance with equitable practice ac cording to the local situation.
 The method by which the prices to be published will be determined, is as follows:
 In each community, one representa- tive from each class of retailers, in, cluding fancy grQcers, chain stores corner groceries, suburban stores and others will be selected to meet in a general conference. From this con ference will be selected a small or ex- ecutive committee to determine just margins of profit upon the commodi- ties to be listed. These margins will be suggested by the retailers them selves, and those in each city will de eide only for themselves, taking local conditions into account.
 As the prices in different cities in the same state may differ materially the plan will be introduced only in the larger cities at first, and later be eX tended to the smaller communities It is expected that in most cities a limited number of commodities will be listed at the beginning and addi