The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-08-11
MAYOR NAMES
FOOD PROBERS
J. n. Anderson, C. S Petersen
and Mrs. J. L. Meek Form
Committee.
U. S. AGENTS AT WORK
Government Makes New Of
fer Regarding Surplus
Army Supplies.

II
Mayor A. w. chambiss Monday
morning appointed J. H. Anderson,
C. s. Petersen and Mrs. J. L. Neck
az a committee to represent tho city
in the audit Of the books Of leading
grooers to determine whether or not
they are guilty Of proHteering and
are in any way responsible for the
high cost of foodstuffs in Chatta-
nooua.
J. II. Anderson will act as chairman
Of the committee and C. S. Petersen
will serve as auditor. The business
of the committee will be to go over
thoroughly the books of various gro
GERS for several years back with the
idea of determining what per cent. of
profits they are now enjoying as
compared to other years, especially
previous to the war. Mrs. Meek win
represent the housewives on the COM
mittee and go thoroughly into the
matter from their viewpoint
Appointment of this committee
comes as a result of the decision
reached at the public hearing on the
II. G. of l.. last Friday afternoon at
the city hall, to which grocers. job
bers and consumers were invited.
Comparison Of grocers' prices with
wholesale prices will be made by the
committee and also they will be COM
pared with prices at the local mar
kethouse.
Mayor Chambliss will present the
appointment of this committee to
the board Tuesday and it's first meet
ing will be held some time after
Tuesday. when plans for the cam
paign will be discussed and started.
Government Investigating.
While this committee will go thor
oughly into the situation, govern
ment agents here will conduct a SIM
liar investigation with the same idea
in mind. They began their efforts
Saturday, but Monday had nothing
definite in hand as yet. They pro-
nose to make their investigation as
thorough as possible to the displac-
ing Of all other business now under
way.
Postmaster T. Charlton Howell re-
.ceived Monday morning from e. F..
Squire, director of sales for the war
department, with offices at Washing
ton, a communication in reply to the
telegram sent by the postmaster re-
Gently to Judge John A. Moon re-
questing a large quota Of foodstuffs
offered for sale to the public for
Hamilton county. The letter stated
that all available information could
be secured by communicating with
Capt. A. J. Graham, of the quarter
master corps, at Atlanta. Postmas-
ter Howell stated that he intended
writing to Atlanta Monday afternoon
asking for further plans Of the war
department in it's offer of foodstuffs
to the public through the postmasters
of the country.
Where charter restrictions prevent
some cities from purchasing in the
manner prescribed by the war depart
ment In it's original offer OF the surplus
subsistence to municipalities. provision
has been made now by the government
where such restrictions exist. to ship to
cities upon consignment subsistence
stores In not less than case or carton
lots, the goods TO he paid for or re-
turned within thirty days from the date
of receipt.
III this offer the government would
have the mayor act as agent and super
wise the distribution OF food, or ap-
point some one to act. Mayor Cham
hut did not comment on 1t.
Subsistence stores will be sold to civic
bodies, groups OF citizens or individuals
who present credentials from local
government certifying that they are au-
thorized to distribute food under the
supervision of the local government,
states the letter to Postmaster Howell
Shipments will be made to such broups
OF individuals on the same terms as
those offered to municipalities. To
to make these surplus foodstuffs more
readily available to the municipalities
or individuals the war department has
reduced the minimum quantity in which
supplies are offered from a carload lot
of 10000 pounds. to a case or carton
lots.
Prices quoted In the letter received
by the postmaster are somewhat lower
in many respects to those originally
quoted. Corned beef 1t now quoted in
one pound cans al $3.50 per dozen. Bean
baked, one-pound cans. at S1.62 per
a dozen; two pound cans. at $1.62 per
dozen; and three pound cans at S2.l4
per dozen. Corn. peas. tomatoes. pump
kin and squash are quoted from "a cents
a dozen TO $l,60 a dozen.