The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-23
PRICES STATIONARY

. previous years prices increase dur ing the fall months, MT Palmer said that since August this year such prices had been maintained practically stationary"
 Only since october 22. when neces- sary amendments to the Lever food control act were passed, the Attorney Generals statement said, has it been possible to deal effectively with all cases of profiteering and hoarding From october 22 to date l7s prosecu- tions have been instituted and prose cutions and siezures have covered IS states, it was added.
 Due to cooperation between the gov ernment and various retail merchants associations, the statement said. pre- vailing profits of clothing had been re- duced from to 30 per cent.
 The statement, which was issued with the authorization of the govern ment officials associated with the At torney General in the campaign to force down living costs, including Di- rector General of Railroads Hines, was considered in some quarters as sum mary of the governments position in the face of the recently renewed de- ruslsds of railroad workers for an in- crease in pay. The railroad shopmen publicly and the other railroad erarts tacftly agreed in August at the sug- gestion of President Wilson to post pone their demands for increased pay for ninety days to await efforts of the government to bring down prices.
 THE SHOPMEN'S CASE
 Tn August" said the Attorney Gen erafs statement, fin connection with de- mands for increased wages by railroad shopmen. based upon the increased cost of living. the President announced to the public the view that the cost of living would be lowered as soon as there were settled conditions of production and Of commerce. as soon as the reaty of peaca was ratified and as soon as merchants, manufacturers, farmers and miners had a certain basis of calculation. Tn statement to the shopmen themselves the President declared that the primary step was to increase production and facilitate transportation so as to make up for the destruction wrought by the war and the terrible scarcities 1t created. The Presi- dent added that the government had taken up with all possible vigor the task of bringing the profiteer to book, n1ak- ing the stocks of necessities in the coun- try available at lower prices, stimulat ing production and facilitating distri7 button.
 ..The movement inaugurated at that time to gain control over the cost of liv- ing has been largely in the hands of the department ofsjustice It should be help fui to point out what has already been accomplished and what further steps are in contemplation To assess the situation it is necessary tolook back and ascertain what the trend of prices has been in past years.
 RISE IN FALL
 "Takjng retail food prices as a basis, 4t,. nf the TIpited States bureau of labor statistics from 1911 to 1919 indicate that up to 1919 there has been noticeable trend upward in such nrices in the fall of the year. ewhereas since August this year such retail food prices have been kept practically sta tionary.
 oBy way of illustration, during the pc- road August to November, inclusive. 1916, there was an advance in retail food prices as indicated by the bureau of labor sta- tistics of 13 points; in 1917, IS points, and in 1918, IS points. as compared with no increase whatsoever in the corresponding period of 1919. Considering the four years from 1911 to 1914 inclusive. retail prices show q slight upward trend from Sep tember to october 1, a greater upward trend from october 1 to November i, and remained practically stationary from No vember 1 to December l. During the four years from 1915 to 191S inclusive. re- tail food prices show decided upward trend from August to September and to October i, and a slightly lessened but decided upward trend to November 1 and to December 1. e
 REDUCTION EXPECTED
 This year during September and Oc- tober an actual reduction in the gen. eral level of retail prices was effected as compared with August. while the figure for November. although slightly higher than that of October, shows no increase above the August returns. Tn other words. official date clcarly shows the significant fact that the cost of living as indicated by retail prices was nc greater in No-
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