Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-11
RETAILERS PRICES !.
. TO Be SCRUT|N|zED
BY LOCAL PROBERS
Attorney General Palmer
Calls for Help of Former !,
Hoover Aids. &
COMMITTEES TO PUBLISH
"FAIR" CHARGES FOR FOODS
Investigators Have Power to
Learn Cost and Reveal Differ
ence to Public.
HOPE TO UNCOVER PRoF1TEERs
HOPE TO UNCOVER PRoF1rEERs
Officials Believe Step Will Curb
Excessive Quotations by Dealers
Throughout Country.

=,
WASHINGTON. August 1o.-Attorr
ney-General Palmer started out to-
day to ascertain how much of the high
cost of living is due to excessive profits
by retailers.
In telegram to all State food ad-
ministrators who worked with Ad-
minstrator Hoover during the war,
the Attorney-General requested the aps
pointment of a fair price committee
in each county to investigate whit
is being charged for retail necessi-
ties. and II in excess OF what the COM
mittee considers just, to publish a list
of fair prices for the guidance Of the
public. Tyr..
This is the "extra-legal" means of
recently Indicated was H- under Ter .constd-
GRAFTON. He has frankly admitted from
the start that there was no meansato
In dafey prses sny xho sfs
have to be disciplined by public senti.
sufficiently alert to the situation now
to act officially in clear-cut investiga-
ton ProtitSeess' on the othe- hand;
Palmer requested the State food al.
ministrators to transmit to him any
tions of the law which they might en-
counter in their work. with the pronnl
Use that the governments law
enforcement machinery would act
No Compensation Provided. 80
There is pressing necessity for
the restoration OF normal conditions,
MI ME- paimer,s Fan telegram said, request
work during the g war to TAI take euIetlhe up 'tSe
serve without compensation. the At.
iiiorneS.General iin ne ,in believing that the pub
important as when the country was
engaged In hosti!ities. and that no
patriotic citizen would refuse the call
telegram follows. '''et
In order to secure accurate fnfor.
nation ma on relative TO charges OF profiteer-
tes, IT is the desire OF the government
70 70 ascertain whether or not such
dealers dealers are ar making more than a fair
your State by requesting those persons
who have been county food adminis-
1ra.ors under your jurisdiction to ap-
one retailer Of groceries,, one of drv
GOODS. representative of the pro-
mucers' OF organized labor. of house.
the public generally. also a wholesaIsr
when practicable?
Asked to. Make Inquiry.
Please request them to pursue an
refSlsnes PefGXimasely the be- same Inquiries with
ordinary necessities in dry goods ana tnS
clothing that were pursued by your
aair- ,dl price committees nnder the food
VIII be an extra-legal body without
power to summon witnesses or fix
prices. 1t is requested. however. to
fair fair man nnre;n tne cost PRICES. determinesa
prices are in excess of what the COM
@riistec @ regards fair price to have
Puoiished Imx its list of fair prices. report:
qnested to report to the Department OF
Justice a general review OF the situa.
ton in your State.
Evidence of Hoarding. tF
any evidence OF boarding or other
which may be developed in the work
or such committees should be turned
over To- the United States attorney.
S;n Wno WIN be instructed to employ ali
ms resources, as we'll as those OF the
bureau of Investigation. to co-operats
win you and your committees in seek
ing out and Furnishing all violatots Of
tho There rerfos,,a is pressing necessity for
sams sna IT ors, Is heiieysd that through the
Federal food administration. you ana
your administrators, together with
shelr appointees can render valuabl
and Your TO me GsIn,ry at this time.
out compensation, will be greatly an
preciated pres The widest publicity OF
this movement. and the results oh.
tanned by the county committees. n is
believed Will be an important factor
IN It's success. Please wire whether
'ne government can count upon your
active co-operation."
To Post Fair Prices.
once fair prices are arrived at and
posted by the food administrators. ali
OF the strength OF the Department OF
Justice viii be used to maintain OBJ.
servance OF these prices by wholesaleya
and and retailers Of foodstuffs. Any vio-
iations OF the fair-price lists VIII be
rseported Immediately to the nearest
United States district attorney, and sha
VIII be vested with authority TO pro.
ceed at once against the proflteer -
Meantime. investigators OF the Ds.
partment OF Justice have reported that
large quantities OF foodstuffs haya
been stored in various parts OF the
country, and the United States dis.
trict attorneys are investiEattng thess
accumulations OF supplies to deteY.
nine whether prosecutions for viola
tons OF the food control act shaiIsb sba
begun in accordance with Attorney.
General Ps!mer's Instructions.
Cover Food Destruction. -
The general Instructions issued aby
the Attorney-oeneral to tho United