The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-16
FIRST. SERIOUS
STEP IS TAKEN
ON REGULATION
Price-Fixing Committee
Has Informal Discus
sion and Takes OFF It's
Coat for Battle Royal
With the Profteer.

That the Richmond price-ndng
committees viii not confine lIs Activ-
tiles To food products was stressed by
Colonel c. r. Kelley In an informal
talk at the hrst meeting OF the COM
mittee, called by the colonel shortly
after publication OF the personnel
yesterday. Colonel Kelley. who 10
secretry OF the state council OF de-
Tense, said that while New York city
had made no effort to reach profteers
In any product but edihiea, he was
strongly IN Havor OF extending its
ssconex9& atuA1uGx euerJA neesssity al
life.,
Seven members 81 the oommitt4
were present at the initial meeting,
Miss Lucy Witt not having been no.
tined and the labor members not hAv-
ing been appointed r. G. Dashiell
was appointed chairman and the 9TH
er members are as follows Edward
Schmidt retail grocer; Hugh Antrim,
wholesale grocer: r. w Merchant
and Mrs. John r. Anderson, Renters
and Consumers League; Mrs. stuart
Michaux. Housewives League: w s.
Drewry. public-at-lArge. Thomas B,
Morton will be the labor representa-
tive on the committe ii was announc-
ed hast enfgiYt- '''' :" - go
No attempt was made to start the
work of the committee yesterday. as
Chairman Dashed said that none
OF item had been connected With the
work long enough to.%farmulate even
the haziest plans as to the most eff
ficient way to proceed.
Colonel Kelley told the committee
what its duties would be and read
communications from various author
tiles on the subject. including a long
49, 49, ly~an
and another from the New York price
fixing commissioner.
The virtual instructions OF Colonel
Kelley. including vital attractions
from AttorneyGeneral Palmer's let
ter. were as follows: 1.
Fair prices should be fixed IN foods
fuel. feeds and wearing apparel.
Two lists should be compilations
based on cash and carry purchases
and the other on deliveries and long
time payment.
In fixing prices. the actual costs
and the replacement values should
both be taken into consideration.
Never raise prices. When an ar
ticle lis sold low, pass 1t by
Use discretion in starting criminal
proceedings. Never resort to this
means until judicial publicity and ed
vocational methods have Saileu.
Where law must be invoked. Appea!
to local authorities whenever possible.
Appoint subcommittee to handle
various phases OF work. Wig. one for
groceries one for butcher, hArdwaree,
ladies' clothing. millinery. and 10 on,
Hugh Antrim, OF the Arm Ut c. w.
Antrim & Co. Wholesale grocers
mentioned the fact that the govern
ment confined Its attentions during
the war to strictly groceries. no 9th II
commodities being controlled. He
said they took their medicine during
the war, but that they would now In
sist on having other lines OF business
placed on = parity with grocers.
Edward Schmidt mentioned that his
Arm, estimated their own overhead Al
present at twenty-one per cent and
fixed prices on all articles accordingly
Chairman Dashiell expressed some
doubt ~ TO the ability OF the com.
mittee to M prices on clothes. In view
OF the enormous range OF prices due
to differences In quality and cut.
Colonel Kelley was firmly OF the opin
ION that this could be accomplished
by arriving at basis for calculation
furnished In food-stuffs by liour, meal
butter and lard.
The committee viii be called to-
9gother the latter part Of the week for
further organization, when sub-coTn-
mittees will be appointed and the
real work undertaken.