Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1919-08-13
FORCE FOOD
PRICE DOWN
Thousands Of Thrifty Chicagoans
Buy U. s. Canned Goods
at Cost.
ARMY BLANKETS AT COST
Congress and Government Authorities
Resume Study Of, Food Problems
big Drop in Vegetables
Fruit Prices to Drop In
Week.

same brand that gave tine punch to
the a. E. F. and made d woodworker
of the kaiser-today brought Chicago
food prices tumbling about the heads
of the profiteers who had boosted
them.
Sixty thousand cans Of vegetables
were sold at two loop stores in the
first day Of the governments CAM
paign against local living costs. with
a plentiful supply in sight and a tot
tering condition in competing markets
because Of the cut prices.
Promises of still further reductions
as the retail market reacts We're made
by officials Of the United States food
administration.
Meanwhile sugar prices were fixed
for the Chicago district ut II cents a
pound by Henry c. Rolopp, in charge
OF the local sugar bureau, who deciar-
ed that any price higher than that
was rank profiteering.
An influx Of vegetables caused a
drop In wholesale prices In South Wa
ter street, with potatoes leading In
the descent. A collapse Of fruit prices
for similar reasons is forecast for the
coming week.
The largest influence on the local
market was exerted by the army
canned corn that never saw service
in France. Thousands Of cans Of 1t
were sold by the surplus food Ofiicer
to local dealers at q reduction OF al
most 80 per cent from the prevailing
prices.
Y. s. Cuts Prices In II. G. I. War.
| Washington, Aug. 13.-Problems Of
the high cost Of living continued to
absorb chief attention of congress and
government authorities.
While congress went ahead with the
consideration of various bills and sug-
gestions for legislative relief, Attor-
ney General Palmer continued nego-
tiations with representatives of his
department and state, city and county
agents throughout the country for CO.
operation to bring about lower prices
for the necessities of life.
Coincident with the announcement
by the war department that prices of
surplus army food would be readjust-
ed from time to time to conform to
reductions in the retail market on
similar commodities, which was taken
here as an indication retail dealers
already were beginning to feel the
effects Of the governments action in
placing the vast quantities Of stores
on the market, 1t was announced that
the war department also would offer
to the public 100000 surplus blank
cts. These include practically all
grades and range in price from SO for
the best all wool to $1.25 for reclaimed
cotton blankets.
ARsvive War Time Conscience" Plea.
New York, Aug. E.-Revival of the
American housewives wartime con-
science in administration Of the fam
lily table and substitution of bread for
meats, eggs and butter to reduce the
cost Of living were advocated in n
statement issued by julius II. Barnes,
United States wheat director.
Commenting on the government crop
report for July, which shows the I'M
precedented loss in crop prospects of
221, 100000 bushels. Mr.. Barnes de-
clared that any further reduction in
flour prices must be based frankly
upon a policy Of food subsidy" not
authorized In the wheat act.
Bill to Stop ProfiteerIns.
A 'necessaries control act' provid-
ing for regulation and control Of food,
foodstuffs and feed in interstate COM
merce, was introduced in the house
by Representative Gard Of Ohio. The
bill is framed to meet the recommen-
dations Of President Wilson.
1t provides that "necessaries'' in
clude food, feed, fuel. wearing APP
parel and all other commodities neces-
sary for life and defines commerce be-
tween states territories, possessions
and foreign commerce.
: Under the measure punishment for
unreasonably restricting supply, Gre
ating monopoly, selling at unreason-
able profit, destruction. boarding, en-
gazing in discriminatory or deceptive
practices, etc, would be not more
than $4,000.
.