The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-11-03
KYSER CONFERS ON
PROFITEERINGACT
Satisfied as to Groceries, Is
Looking Carefully at
Wearing Apparel.

proiitcers and hoarders, n there be
any In Memphis and vicinity, are face
20 face with a situation that Is any
Thing hut encouraging, A fight TO the
finish rs the outlook with the United
states government the state OF Ten
nessce and the city OF Memphis lead
ing the attack for that vast army-the
public.
With the recent passage Of amend
ments 20 the food control act under
she terms Of which wearing apparel
foodstuffs and an array Of articles
classed as necessaries, are brought
within the jurisdiction OF the new law.
officials are planning an active cam.
paign here to enforce the provisions OF
the act
The forces Of the government are
headed by VIM n, Kyser, United states
district attorney, and the entire local
force Of the department of justice I'M
der his leadership is participating in
the fight,
Upon his return from a session Of the
federal court at Jackson, last Saturday,
Mr.. Kyser plunged into the local situa-
ton He made public last week the
provisions Of the new law and since
that time has gone further into the
matter. lie has stated that he will try
gentle methods first and n these fail
prosecutions viii be resorted TO,
The presence IN Memphis Of large
hummer OF NhhlU NlhItos ANNblhtAH "
the district attorney, has had tend
ency 70 hold down prices Of foodstutts
and MIR kyser has stated that he Is
very well satisfied that there Is very
little, IL any pronteering in foodstuffs.
His principal activities between now
and the cOnVening of the fan term o.
federal court viii be devoted TO other
lines OF business The new law in
cudes wearing apparel as necessity
of life and consequently within the lurs
isdlrtion of the government to couuro'
as to price. The Investigations to be
conducted by the department OF justice
win be with a view TO ascertaihlis
whether or not wearing apparel IN
Memphis II being sold at an excessive
price Clothing OF every description tor
men. women and children, together with
shoes and all articles Of wearing ap'
narel, win be brought under the search-
ing eyes Of the department OF Jusucs
representatives.. 49, -,-.,,,,,
Of an excessive price shall be deemed
violation Of the law, Mr. kyser was
asked who would determine when
price became excessive and IN reply
stated that jury would be called upon
TO determine that question, .-..
Charges have been made that sons
merchants Of Memphis have used lVV
per cent as a minimum profit whlls
others are said to have been SATISFIED
with less very prominent otiiciai
who IL thoroughly familiar with mat
ters OF this kind has expressed me
opinion that q maximum profit OF oV
per cent should be the limit ana that
anything above 80 per cent should DC
considered excessive under the terms OF
the new law.
Some local merchants have, accord
ing TO one source OF information, made
a practice Of charging the same price
for old stock as for new For instance
an article that last year cost the mer-
chant 81 and was sold for $3.50. II cost
the merchant this year IS 10 secure the
same article and according 10 the m
formant the merchant Is now selling
both the old and new stock for ~,
thereby realizing profit OF 100 per
cent on leftover stock from last year
and 30 i-S per cent on the new stock.
Such practices as these are being
investigated by the department OF JUS
lice and officials whose duty II Is TO
enforce tho provisions of the new law
have pledged themselves TO put forth
their hest efforts to bring down the
high cost Of all necessities.
Mr. kyser has expressed the nope
that II win not be necessary for him
10 prosecute local merchants and has
stated that he believes that Memphis
merchants are not only willing but anx-
| ious TO cooperate with the government
in the matter Of prices conferences
| viii be held by the district attorney
| with representatives of the various
merchants handling the lines that come
| within the Jurisdiction Of the new law
| with u view to exchanging ideas and ~
| the hope that matters can be alleviated
| without reaortlng 70 the more drastic
measures that the congress has given
to the department OF justice for use
where necessary.