Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-12-23
ATTORNEY GENERAL
SAYS DECLINE DUE
Price Situation Und Control
and Laws Hand Is Laid
on Profteers.
17s PROSECUTIONS BEGUN
Department of Justice Seeks to
Impose Jail Sentence on
All Violators.
IEy Associated Prcss.1

~ ''-H' Zee. 22-ENpcctation
I OF decline in retail food prices he
ginning between January and N,-c,,
was expressed tonight by Attorney
General Palmer in statement sum.
| ming up the efforts OF the government
TO date in forcing down the cost OF
! living.
coni ,,rhS n", cost Of living, already under
.cnn cca,,rG!, o.: said, said the AttorneyGeneral,
duces will produce his utmost, If those
MO %Mito ouy and consume will save and
eliminate extravaganza and if ali hon
est people will join with the Depart
naent ni OF Justice in stamping out pron-
| icSrlng ana boarding."
| Explaining that a downward trend in
retail 1000 prices ordinarily was shown
during M the first two months of year,
government that this trend will be
niciGGiera'ed ira d, this year by the campaign
just now getting we'll under way"
Prices Are Now Stationary.
~ AhlLnough hv ,n statistics compiled annual
creased p,, ,,s during the fall months. Mr.. M
year such prices had been maintained
practically stationary."
ansH sts0to so Tie whsH sHer fssd
GiengEal's Ges.ir, statement said. has il been
ErDm inDa oG!obsr hsse %a - 70 date l7s proseea
|
eighteen states, it VAS added ided covered
pae ae aoS between the
tenants associatlons, the statemens ]
said. prsWrllIng proits Of clothing had
been reduced from to 90 90 per cent.
| The statement, which was issued with
officials associated with the Attorney
General in the campaign to force down
Lying n. eostS including DireetoF oF-General
some quarters as summary of the
governments position in the face OF
road workers for an increase in pay.
rhe railroad shopmen publicly and the
August, at the suggestion Of President
| Wilson, TO postpone their demands for
Increased pay for ninety days TO await
| Efforts of the government to bring
In August said the Attorney-Gen
| erals statement, lin connection with
demands for increased wages by rail
| road shopmen based on the increased
cost OF living. the President announced
| living would be lowered as soon as
there were settled conditions of pro-
| the treaty OF peace was ratified and as
soon as merchants, manufacturers.
! farmers and miners had "A certain basis
| of calculation.
Primary Step Greater Production.
| I'm n statement to the shopmen
themselves. the president declared that
! the primary step WAS to increase pro-
duction and facilitate transportation so
10 Sy "p or an ls he terrbe
| scarcitics ii created The President
added that the government had taken
| bringing the prolitccr To book. making
the stocks OF necessities in the country
! available at ;he lower prices. stimulat-
iribuiion. i4R he%"u'''0" an" '"''''''''"s a's
The movement inaugurated at that
time TO gain control over the cost of
| living has been largely in the hands
! Of I he Department. Of Justice. II should
! he helpful TO point out what has al
ther steps are in contemplation. To as
scss the situation it is necessary to look
| back and ascertain what The trend or
prices has been in past years.
Taking retail food prices as basis.
bureau of Labor statistics from 1911 TO
| 1919 indicate that up to 1919 there has
! been noticeable trend upward in such
since August this year such retail food
prices have been kept practically sta
'ionary. By way OF llustration, dur
| bcr inclusive. 1916. there was an ad
vance in retail food prices as indi-
Of thirteen points; in 1917. eighteen
points, and in 1918. sixteen points, As
compared with no Increase whatsoever
IN the corresponding period Of 1919
! Other Years Compared.
"Considecing the four years from 1911
TO 1914. inclusive. retail. prices show
ibcr / to o&sberr !. U a greater ,aH' upward Upward
/ trend from october | 10 November |,
ana remained practically stationary
| ins the four years from 1915 to 1915 in
elusive. retail food prices show de-
cided upward trend from August 1 to
September and to October l, and
slightly iesscncl but decided upward
trend to November and to Decem
bcr l.
This year during September and oc-
tober actual reduction in the general
level OF retail prices was effected, as
ures for November. although slightly
above that OF October. show no increase
above the August returns. In other
words. the official data clearly shows
living. as indicated by retail prices.
was no greater in November of this
year than ii was III August, while in
former years. extending back to 1911.
siderable increase over the August re-
turns.
Way Expect Downward Trend.
This history of retail food prices in
dicates that n decided downward trend
ordinarily may be expected in the part
OF the year between January | and
March 1, and II is to be hoped that
this trend will be accelerated this year
by the campaign initiated by the gov
ernment, which Is just now getting well
under way. Isl. ~
The Lever food control act, under
which the food administration oper-
ated and through tho enforcement OF
which the Department OF Justice is !,
fortunately did not provide penalty
for certain acts declared to be un-'s
lawful, and. therefore. the Department
Gr 1"si,Se SiS WAS WINS unable TO sffsetiysiy
which came TO Its attention. 'Is6 &,
Itcalizils the gravity. of this .sitwa = sS