The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-20
GROCERS SELL NEAR
FAIR PRICE LISTS
Food Administrator Now Seeks
Similar Action by New
York Butchers.
JAIL THREAT EFFECTIVE
Palmer's Plans to Check Prof
iteering Expected to Give
Speedy Relief.

There were numerous lndicatlonS yes
terday that the talk which A Mitchell
Palmer, Attorney General of the United
States, had with members of the fair
nrice committee at the Hotel Biltmore
on Monday night will give a big impetus
t, the campaign to put the soft pedal on
food boarding by Spectators In partic-
ular and food profteering in general.
His assertion that he believes in Jail
sentences for profiteers in the necessi-
ties of life sent the ch]lls spinning down
the spnes OF dealers with the habit of
taking chances on, for instance, selling
sugar at more than IL cents a pound re-
tail. His declaration that fair price
committees are being organized through
gu. the country opened the eyes OF many
to the comprehenslveness OF the nation
vide plan to regulate fair margins of
prcht which may be made without any
governmental fixing of prices.
Arthur Williams, Federal Food Ad-
mristrator for this city, said last eve
ming his latest survey of grocery stores
shows that retailers are keeping near
the fair price list put out by his fair
price committee for the guidance of the
tr; de.
Plans are under way to get the master
butchers to agree to abide by fair prices
for meat. Sixteen delegates of the
master butchers organization will con-
fer with Mr. Williams and others of the
committee at o'clock tomorrow after
noon. 1t is believed a subcommittee of
the fair price committee to decide upon
maximum fair price margins for meat
will be created as a result of the meet
ing.
Women to Help the Fight.
The next step in the campaign will be
to get the New York retail grocers to
pledge themselves as a whole to observe
the committees fair prices for groceries.
Under the direction Of Mrs. Charles
c. Rumsey, chairman of the committee
on coordination of the community coun-
ellis, a campaign is being inaugurated
10 induce housewives. who do the family
marketing, to report to the fair price
committees all cases in which unfair
prices are charged and all instances of
Misrepresentation by dealers. The COM
mittee believes that If the women make
It their business to pay keen attention
TO what vitality interests their families
ana the family pocketbooks, unscrupu-
lous dealers will hesitate, a long time
before running the risk of getting in
volved in things unpleasant.
Mr.. Williams exhibited a photograph
OF a Check for $40 drawn by Hyman
Levin, a wholesale grocer of GAL Hud-
son street, Manhattan, as refund for
excess charges on 1000 pounds of sugar
he sold to the Albany Orphan Asylum
at IA cents a pound. The case came
before Ben A. Matthews, Assistant
United States District Attorney. as the
result of a complaint lodged by James
s. De Forest Hollenbeck, superinten-
dent of the Albany institution. 1t was
settled by Mr.. Matthews in a manner
highly satisfactory to those engaged In
the present campaign. According to Mr..
Williams. Mr.. Levin explained that he
didn't know the institution took care
OF orphans"
Mr. Matthews will go over Levins s
books to see If he has overcharged any.
body else" Mr.. Williams said. There
has been no decision as to what further
action will be taken in the case. The
check for the overcharge has been for
warded to the superintendent of the
asylum"
Dealer Makes n Refund.
The difficulty in which Miller & wir.
fel wholesale grocers, 3Sa Second ave
hue, found themselves by charging Gus
toners II and II = cents pound Tor
sugar was Strengthened out yesterday
charges, Mr. Williams announced, set
Ting on a basis ofA10 cents a pound
for sugar that cost it $40 a hundred
weight.
Bordens Farm Products Company
gave notice yesterday 1t will observe
the fair margins of 6 cents on a pound
Of butter, cents a dozen on eggs and
cents in addition when eggs are de-
iive-ed.
The range of costs in operating va
rious classes of grocery stores is 81
great" Mr.. Williams explained. thai
any margin of profit between the whole
sale and the retail price has got to bt
an average price. The results OF our in
designations among grocery stores snow
no profiteering margin. The prices now
being charged on the articles we have
listed are near our fair prices. Fol
Instance, our price on butter is 5S te
slI5 cents a pound. Prices in the stores
range from 81 to 60 cents Our LSice
for cheese is Al TO 40 cents pound
We found the stores charging Al an6
~ cents. Our price for eggs is from
IS TO 81 cents a dozen. The stores are
charging from IS TO 65 cents. Our price
for rice is 16 cents. In the stores ths
price ranges from IA to is cents.
1T is interesting to note that rice Il
delivered for Is and 10 cents a pound
as against 16 on the cash and carry
basis. Cornmeal is sold from TO 6 y.
cents pound when you pay cash fol
Il, and from to 9 cents when IL II
delivered. No. 2 tomatoes cost IL to Il
cents can cash and carry, and is to u
cents a can If delivered. Corn No.
IS cents cash and carry, and is L
10 cents delivered. Canned peas are IL
cents cash and carry, and from Is to 81
cents a can delivered. Butter, cash and
carry, is 81 to 68 cents, and deliveret
80 10 SIS cents. Eggs costing 68 to 81
cents cash cost from So to 70N cent
delivered"
Will Urge Two Price Lists.
Mr.. Williams says he proposes to asl
dealers II they will not make two set
OF prices for their commoditiea a prlcl