New-York tribune., 1919-07-07
Cuts in Food Prices as
High as 20 Per Cent
as Shopkeepers Seek
to Prevent Disorders
A Die, Many Hurt
In Three Outbreaks
Authorities Take Over
Stores and Sell Goods: (:
Mob Chiefs Recognized

ROME, July (By The Associated
Press).-Coincident with the spread of
disorders to the principal cities Of
Northern Italy, shopkeepers by con-
eerted action have reduced food prices
in some cases as much as 70 per cent
in the hope of checking the prevailing
unrest.
In the central part Of the country
the disorders have extended beyond
the Romagna district to Emilia and
other provinces. There is still unrest
in Sicily.
Trouble has been reported at Genoa
Milan. Pisa, Leghorn, Pistoja, Arezzo
and Palermo.
Three persons are said to have been
killed and many injured yesterday at
Inlola and Bologna.
IN renewal of the rioting at Flor
snee late yesterday one person was
Killed and seven injured. There was
much firing by the carbineers detailed
toskeep order in the city. The ran
sacking Of shops was resumed and
general strike order was issued.
Shopkeepers Cut Prices
The shopkeepers of Rome, learning
that the riots were spreading through
out the country, decided to reduce their
prices without being forced to do so by
non announcing the reductions as ga
nigh and unavoidable patriotic duty.
Win view to preventing any conflicts
0etween consumers and shopkeepers or
producers, which would be to the adj
vantage Of parties seeking to benefit bv
any trouble.' No reductions on luxuries
were announced.
An all the towns where disorders
occurred the people we're given a so
per cent reduction in the prices of
.ooo ana other necessaries. In Flor
ence the reductions were as high as 10
per cent on some articles.
IN nearly all the places affected the
MODS have become organizations rec
ognlzed in measure by the authori-
Nes, with whom they have often
worked in accord in the common strup-
gle against the speculators. who are
people" '"'
Chambers" Gain Control
Representatives of these orraniza-
ucns, termed chambers of Labor" NAV
ee seen hurrying along the straight. fiat.
aus'y Emilia road which runs from An
coma to Bologna through the affected
nomagna district. These representa-
.es .uves are distinguishable by the red or
Dlack ties and red or black arm-bands.
according to whether they are Repub-
means or Socialists. They rush from
sown to town and from village to village
oearng orders and giving instructions
iof carriages, carts and automobiles to
ee used for the transportation of food
and other goods
niany Of those who attempted to re-
sls1 tnelr orders have been badly treat
q. Through these energetic measures
.ae chambers of Labor" have succeeded
N gaming control Of much OF the re-
gion.
At Florence goods Of all kinds were
distributed yesterday to the people un-
ger the supervision of the Mayor and
me military command. The distribu-
sion was conducted at each store sepa-
Iateiy. Large crowds congregated so as
% De sure TO receive the benefits of the
new prices decreed at 10 o'clock in the
morning by the Mayor. Prices of all
commodities were reduced from so to 10
per cent.
Stores Sold Out
Inc plan followed was for the May
ors commission to open store, sell
everything in it at the new prices, then
siose IT and open another store. The
sfowds, following from store to store,
sfased great confusion.
scores Of soldiers were needed to
asold too great confusion by the eager
people.
Inc new scale Of prices put wine,
sh,ch IS considered a necessary cf life
i.aiy, at Is cents quart and bread
= . cents a pound. Butter, sugar,
neat and oil prices were reduced one
salf by the Mayors decree. Other
commodities, considered as neces-
Aries. were ordered sold at 70 per
noon.
me most active buying was in the
IIs'oric Medici Chapel quarter, where
'ee new market house is situated.
dispatches in the last few days have
.sported disorders in Ravenna. Forli
AIcona and Vjterbo in addition IN ~.