The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-23
Immediate Drop tn Retail Prices on Food Is Latest
 Expectation" Of Palmer

tion 6 In addition, 9 cases of alleged
 hoardipg have oeen called to the atten- tion 5f, United states attorneys for sei8-
 ures and prosecutions covering IS states
 and the commodities seized have included eggs, butter, cheese. pork. poultry lard.
 hsh, sugar potatoes, coffee, flour ana
 camel goods.
 i ''Fifty-three of >>s above cases have sal- | ready been disposed of by releasing the
 goods under bond on agreement to dis ] pose of same within specified time and 1 at reasonable price under the direction of the United States attorneys. Tn no case has the market been flooded by the wholesale disposai of such goods. Tn three cases involving hoarding, fines and jail sentences have 1een imposed. In one case a fine of sl0 was imposed; in another 8 fine of s250 and three months in iail and in third case fine of $500 and five months in jail.
 INDICTMENTS EXPECTED
 ''Tnls latter case has been appealed. Re- suits of investigations are now being laid before grand jury in several districts and reports O. large number of indict- ments are expected in the near futr q.
 Wherever possible a determined effort will be made to obtain jail sentences&
 "A very solemn duty to assist in re- ducing the cost of living and particularly to eliminate prcfiteering rests upon hon est and responsible business men of all classes. To bring about results in this direction, the national organizations rep. resenting the different trade interests have been approached. Very helpful CO., operation has been obtained which has had marked tendency not only to stop the upward trend of prices, but in some instances to decrease prices.
 "The National Retail Clothing Dealers association have recently established their pre-war margins of profit as being fair and sS advised their entire membership, representing approximately 90 per cent of the retail clothing dealers of America They have also appointed diligence com- mittee to hunt Up profiteers within their membership and report to the United States attorney in their respective dis tricts violations of margins of profits as set up by their organization. These profits show from to 90 per cent reduc- tion over prevailing profits of past few months.
 SHOE DEALERS JOIN
 ''Tke National Retail Shoe Dealers association have appointed an execu- tive committee to confer for the pur- pose of re- -esta ablishing a similar rule within their organization. The Ma tionaI Retail Dry Goods association, representing some 10000 department stores In the On1teu states, are CO-up- eratng with. the department of justice in establishing prominently economic departments during Jandary and Feb ruary. Several of the larger manu- lecturers associations, as well as wholesale and retail merchants associa- tions, have appointed committees to confer with agents of the department of justice and are putting their entire machinery at the disposal of the de- | partment to carry out programmes to the membership. Such efforts will be extended to other like organizations to 1 cooperate toward reduced profits.
 Beyond this the department of jus 1 tice has instituted thoroughgoing and | campaign, participated in | by thousands Of men and women, to 1 bring about regulations in the cost of | living through education and through | moral suasion. In A states this cam paign is progressing actively. The 1 work in all of them as directed from l Washington is being done by fair-price | of United States attor- l neys. Very soon organization of the | states will be completed | Three states have passed laws creating | or other machinery for the l protection of their citizens against 1 profiteers.
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