Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1919-11-05
HOUSES
HOLD UP PRICES
FOR FAIR WEEK
Profiteering U n d er Law
May Be Charged; Con-
duct Of Responsible Per-
sons Disgusts Phoenix
People

1t was brought to the attention of
the federal and state authorities yes
terday that three of the restaurants of
this city, acting in concert, have sum
marily and sharply increased the prices
of food from SO 1-3 to so per cent. For
instance, the price of ham and eggs
which had been 40 cents, was raised to
so cents. This increase runs through
the whole menu
This first came to the notice of
George H. Smalley, the governments
fair price administrator, but as it did
not appear in the form of a complaint,
Mr.. Smalley hoped that nobody would
be so foolish as to act in open def
ance of the federal regulations.
In the meantime, though, the action
of the three restaurants had been for
merly complained of to Attorney Gen
eral Wiley E. Jones by members of the
American legion. The attorney general
then addressed the following communi-
cation:
Phoneix. Ariz.,
Nov. 4.
Frank Luke Post No. l,
American Legion,
Phoenix, AriZ.:
A committee of your organiza-
ton has just called on me, advis-
ing that some restaurants and
boarding houses in Phoenix are
charging exorbitant prices for
meals during fair week. Your or
ganization is hereby authorized to
advise all restaurants and board
ing houses that if they charge any
higher prices for meals during fair
week than they do at any other
time, they will be deemed to have
engaged in prof ring and will
be dealt with acc. Iingly by this
office.
Most respectfully,
WILEY E. JONES.
Attorney General, State of Arizona
1t was frankly stated by at least one
of the restaurants that the increase
was made in order to take advantage
of the crowd during fair week and
| that at the end of the week, the for
mer prices would be restored. The
restaurants involved are said to be the
Commercial Cafe, Gass Bros. and the
| st. Francis. 1t was reported that the
American Kitchen was asked to joiu
in the campaign against the visitors
to the fair, but that the proprietor de-
clined.
Impose on Old Customers
A member of the American legion
said that he had been eating at one
of these places for three years and
that his meals had cost him about STE
a month, so that he thought he was a
pretty good customer. He was notified
on Monday night by one of the walters
that the prices had been increased and
he paid it. He was surprised yester-
day morning at breakfast to learn that
the former price only had been charged
and he was encouraged thereby to take
a party of five to lunch This time
though, the new prices were applied so
that his bill was a dollar more than
1t would have been under the regular
scale.
There is the most shameless prot
iteering on the part of many persons
who have rooms for rent. Regular
rents have not only been doubled, but
in many cases more than trebled. One
man with little shack, without lights
or water, is asking s45 for the week
While many persons have thrown theit
homes open to strangers at very rea-
sonable rates, in many cases much less
than the normal reasonable rate
charged at the rooming houses. the
cases Of profiteering are so numerous
and outrageous that incalculable harm
has been done to the town.
There is no recourse against lodgina
house keepers and hotels, for the fed
eral government had released then
from the restrictions of the legislation
against profiteering. But purveyor,
of food are still subject to it and tn.
authorities announce that violators o
the regulations will be proceeded
against.