Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-12-21

at fixed prices. The prices on canned
ana cured meats were determined by
OF those meats to the government. The
prices fixed on the canned vegetables
were the average cost prices OF the
vegetables to the government. The
average cost price OF the vegeta bles
WAS approximately 81 per cent below
the then prevailing retail price on SINH
lar canned goods
Tried to Sell by Mall.
Later. complying with congressional
recommendations. the War Department
attempted To sell such of its subsist-
method of distribution through the
parcels post service. The prices which
had been established FOR the sale Of
both meats and vegetables to tho mu-
inequalities %crc taken as basic prices
for the sale through tho parcels post,
But since purchasers through tho t,ar
cells post strvic. were required TO pay
the postal cha on goods which ,hov
ordered. the War Department made an
from the municipal price sale This
discount. IT was estimated. would cover
the parcels ros. delivery charge and
cqualize the price at which the food :
stuffs would he delivered 10 tho homes
OF consumers throughout the United
me parcels post service were suspend
cd and army quartermaster retail
s st1reS w %Gre cat sn,ablishch those food
through the municipalities ana par
GELS post s"rvice were put on sale in
Inc refaI stores AT the same prices at
Mhich they had been offered for sale
through the parcels post service
IN determining prices on the other
conmodltios which have been placed on
. sale In the retail stores included in
W3ich are certain Items OF subsistence
tnat We're not sold through the parcels
post service, the War Department
agencies the average retail price on
commercial commodities similar in
character TO those which II offered for
sale. ON the standard CONNIE rcial com :
inodit les so offered prices were fixed
which ranged from II to IS per cent
below tho ikcn prevailing average re-
on IN" nonstandard commodities and
nose "thrrs which, from lack OF Labels
ana trademarks. would no, sell as
carried by the mercantile trade i
made additional discounts, with "A view
p % ss's 40 price that would
public as TO cause the commodities to
move readily.
Prices Not Advanced.
these prices were fixed on the ma
Pity OF the Items nov carried in the
retail stores about August J. The
stance D: advannea has no, in any in;
price, on some commodities carried in
n. army quarterrnastcr retail stores
n iHi,S aayanced sharply, as is the case
fruits. Tho result IL that the tlisparity
between the prices at which connod! :
ties are sold in the army stores and
by tho retail trade is today much
greater than 20 or 25 per cent.
In instances the War Department is
selling commodities through it's retail
stores At prices lower than those a,
which IN" retail merchant can acquire
similar STOCKS through trade channels.
Consequently, he cannot in every in
starcc afford TO sell at as low figures
as tho War Department is now selling
The army uuar;crnaster retail stores
appeared 10 be tho cheapest medium of
distribution that could he established
10 give the entire American public an
opportunity TO acquire the War De-
part'nentS surplus supplies. To have
attempted 10 make distribution Of
these surplus supplies through estab-
l!shed trade channels would have en-
tailed nominal commission at least
and this com ission would necessarily
have been addnd 10 the price which
he nublic would have been required
to pay.
The opcratinC c=ocnsc Of the stores
is approx irateiy So per cent They
have served their PURPOSES well. They
were ooencd on Seotcr,her %. At tho
close OF business December the
aggregate sa'cs made nv the stores
'oialcd Sl5713512l5. These stores Will
continue 10 Operate as long as the
War Department has su0nlics with
which 10 stock them and the volume
OF business transacted makes their
opcration economical.