Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-13

Dill to prevent prof1teering, which was
adopted unanimously by the Commits
sioners today. The measure was framed
by Corpration Counsel Conrad H.
Syme. who held frequent conferences
with the Commissioners, especially
Brownlow. Copies of the bill were sent
to the chairmen of the Senate and House
District committees today. with the re-
quest that it be introduced at once.
Be it enacted. etc.
Section l. That whereas. because and
by reason of conditions resulting from
the existence of state Of war, 1t is es-
sential to the national security and the
efficient conduct of the government to
man food. fuel and wearing apparel in
the District of Columbia. therefore. un-
less and while the President of the
United States shall suspend this act by
public proclamation when. in his judg-
ment. the necessity for its operation
shall not exist, it shall be unla wful for
any person. firm or corporation in the
District of Columbia, directly or indi-
rectly, at wholesale or retail, to charge
or receive more than reasonable price
for any article of human food. fuel or
or as class the fair price admins
traitor hereinafter provided for shall
nave liked a fair maximum price.
Section 2. That any person, firm
or corporation who boards any article
suitable for human food or fuel, or
destroys the same for the purpose Of
affecting it's market price, shall be
deemed guilty of felony and upon
conviction thereof shall be fined not
more than $4,000 or Imprisonment of
not more than two years. or both.
Hoarding shall be deemed to be hold
ing, whether by possession or by any
contract, arrangement or agreement.
from the market. by any person, firm
or corporation of any article suitable
for human food, fuel or wearing APP
parel in excess of the reasonable re-
quirements of his business. 1t shall
be the duty of the fair-price admin
istrator. hereinafter provided for. to
determine what constitutes holding
in excess of the reasonable require
ment of the business OF any person,
firm or corporation selling human
food. fuel or wearing apparel, and
his determination shall be prima facie
evidence of such excess holding. He
is hereby given authority to order
any person, firm or corporation hold
ing any such articles in excess of
the reasonable requirements of his
or its business to Immediately offer
the same for sale at a maximum fair
price to be fixed for him, and, in the
event of a refusal so to do. he is here
by authorized to seize such excess
holding and sell the same at public
auction and return to the person,
firm or corporation whose goods have
been so seized and sold the proceeds
of said sale less the expense of SELL
ing the same at public auction.
Section 3. All persons, firms or cor
porations engaged in the business of
selling at wholesale or retail articles
Of human food, fuel and wearing ap-
parel in the District of Columbia at
the date of the approval of this act
shall be deemed in law to have a
license so to do, as though such IL
cense had been specifically required
by law before they could lawfully en-
gage in such business; and no person,
such business at that time shall
thereafter do so without having been
licensed by the fair price admins
traitor hereinafter provided for.
of the District of Columbia be and
they are hereby authorized to ap-
point a suitable person. who shall be
known and designated as the fair
price administrator of the District OF
Columbia, who shall hold Office dur
ing the pleasure of the board of
Commissioners at an annual salary of
3. 1t shall be the duty OF the
fair price administrator to fix fair
maximum retail or wholesale price.
or both, on such articles suitable for
human food. fuel and wearing apparel
as, in his judgment, are necessary for
the health, comfort and well being
of the people in the District OF Co
lumbia, and he shall have, and he Is
hereby given, power and authority 70
change the price or prices SO fixed
by him as conditions may Justify.
The prices so fixed by the said fair
price administrator shall be taken
and considered to be prima facie the
fair maximum and reasonable prices
at which such articles may be sold,
and any person, firm or corporation
selling any articles or class of arti-
cles at a higher price than the price
so fixed shall be subject to the pen
alties of having his or its right to
do business suspended or revoked, as
hereinafter provided.
Section s. All persons. firms or cor
porations dealing in the articles upon
which the public administrator has
fixed a fair maximum price as afore-
said shall keep publicly displayed in
their place or places OF business q
to which said fair maximum price
applies and the fair maximum price
thereof fixed as aforesaid, and, where
required by the fair price administra-
tor, the cost price of such article to
the person selling the same, said cost
price to be marked on the article 1T
self or on the price list thereof as
designated by him.
Section 6. The fair price admits
traitor Is hereby authorized to publish
as an advertisement in daily news
papers in the District Of Columbia
his findings and decisions, from time
to time, including the name and ad-
dress of any person, firm or corpora
ton that sells or offers for sale any
article of human food, fuel or wear
ing apparel at price higher than
the fair maximum price fixed as
aforesaid.
Section Z. The fair price administra-
ttr shall have, and he is hereby
given, the power to suspend or re-
woke, after reasonable notice, the
for of any person, Arm or corpora
ton that sells or offers for sale any
article OF human food, fuel or wear
ing apparel at higher price than the
fair maximum price fixed for the
same by him, and 1t shall be unlawful
for any person, Arm or corporation
whose license or right to do business
notice Of such suspension or revoca-
ton to resume such business until
such license or right shall have been
restored by said administrator, and
any person, firm or corporation re-
sufning such business after such no
tice and before such right or license
shall have been restored by the fair
guilty Of a misdemeanor. and upon
Conviction thereof be punished by
fine not exceeding 800, and each day
OF such unauthorized operation shall