The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1919-08-22
CALLS ON CITIZEN
VIGILANCE AIDS
Nationwide Plan Devised by Gov
eminent to Curb Undue Food
SURPRISES.
SET TRAPS FOR HOARDERS.
Federal Attorney In Every Section to
Show No Mercy to Gougers-Fair
Price Bodies All Over u. s.
to Collect Evidence.

Washington.-CoOp by c1ti-
zens Of every walk Of life is urged
by Attorney General Palmer as a
natural adjunct to the administra-
TONS campaign against altitudinous
prices for the necessaries Of life.
A scheme of prodigious scope and
apparent unity. which the attorney
general advocates includes the or
ganization of "fair price committees"
in every community who will discuss
profits and seek means Of restricting
undue and unfair SURPRISES in costs,
both in the primary and secondary
markets. These fair price commit
tees. 1t also is suggested, will CO.
operate with the federal prosecuting
officers throughout the land and report
with substantiating evidence all in
stances of violation Of existing laws
against boarding, restraint Of free
markets and similar offences.
With this general object in view Mr..
Palmer has despatched the following
traitors throughout the United States:
"In order to secure accurate infor-
nation relative to charges of prof
tteering by dealers in necessary COM
modities it is the desire of the govern
ment to ascertain whether or not such
dealers are making more than fair
margin of profit. Will you assist in
your state by requesting those persons
who have been county food admins
traitors under your Jurisdiction to ap-
point fair price committees, including
one retailer of groceries, one of dry
goods, a representative Of the produ-
GERS, Of organized labor, of housewives,
two or three representatives of the
public generally, also a wholesaler
when practicable?
please request them to pursue ap-
proximately the same inquiries with
reference to food products and the
ordinary necessities of dry goods and
clothing that were pursued by your
fair price committees under the food
administration act. This committee
power to summon witnesses or fix
prices. 1t is requested, however, to
ascertain the cost prices, determine
a fair margin of profit and if retail
prices are in excess of what the COM
mittee regards a fair price to have
published it's list of fair prices, re-
porting to you for review.
"Any evidence of boarding or other
violations of the food control act
which may be developed in the work
Of such committees should be turned
over to the United States Attorney,
who will be instructed to employ all
his resources as well as those Of the
bureau of investigation to cooperate
with you and your committee in seek
ing out and Furnishing all violators
of the law.
"There is pressing necessity for
the restoration Of normal conditions
and it is believed that through the
same organization which you had as
federal food administrator you and
your county administrators together
with their appointees can render a
valuable service to the country at
this time, and your cooperation and
theirs, without compensation will be
greatly appreciated.
1.-THE widest publicity of this move
ment and the results obtained by the
county committees it is believed will
be an important factor in it's success.
Please wire whether the government
can count upon your active co-opera-
ton"