The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-12-26

section 7 of the act, and in many of
these cases prosecutions are also con-
templated under section 6. In addi-
ton, % cases of alleged boarding have
been called 10 the attention of United
States attorneys for Investigations,
| for seizures and for prosecutions, if
the facts warrant.
'These seizures and prosecutions
have covered eighteen States and the
commodities seized have included
eggs, sugar, potatoes, coffee, flour and
canned goods.
"Fifty-three of the above cases have
already been disposed of by releasing
the goods under bond of agreement to
dispose of same within specified
time and at reasonable price under
the direction of the United States at
torneys.
"In no case has the market been
flooded by the wholesale. disposal of
such goods. In three cases, involving
boarding, fines and Jail sentences have
been imposed. In one case a fine Of
500 was imposed; in another a fine
of $3.50 and three months in Jail and
in a third case fine Of $4,000 and five
months in Jail. This latter case has
been appealed.
Results of Investigations are now
being laid, before a grand jury in sew
eral districts and reports Of large
numbers Of indictments are expected
in the near future Wherever posi-
BILE a determined effort will be made
to obtain Jail sentences.
Citizens Aid Needed
"A very solemn duty to assist in re-
ducing the cost of living, and particu-
larly to eliminate profiteering, rests
upon honest and responsible business
men of all classes. To bring about CO.
operation in this direction the nation
al organization representing the diff
ferent trade interests have been ap-
preached. Very helpful cooperation
has been obtained, which has had a
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 es-
tablished their prewar margins of pro-
fit as being fair and have so advised
their entire membership, representing
approximately 80 per cent of the re-
tail clothing dealers of America. They
have also appointed a Diligence Com
mittee to hunt up profiteers within
their membership and report to the
United States Attorney in their re-
spective districts VACATIONS of mar
gins of profits as set up by their or
ganization. These profits show from
to 80 per cent reduction over pre-
vailing profits Of past few months.
"The National Retail Shoe Dealers
Association have appointed an Exec
utive Committee to confer for the pur-
pose of re-establishing a similar rule
within their organization.
"The National Dry Goods Associa-
ton, representing 10000 stores in the
| United States, are cooperating with
the Department of Justice in estab-
fishing prominently economy in the
departments during January and
February.
Several of the larger manufacture
ers' associations as well as wholesale
and retail merchants associations have
appointed committees to confer with
agents of the Department of Justice
and are putting their entire machin-
cry at the disposal of the department
to carry out programs to the member
ship.
"Such efforts will be extended to
other like organizations to cooperate
toward reduced profits.
Beyond this the Department Of
Justice has instituted a thoroughgo-
ing and nationwide campaign, parti-
cipated in by thousands of men and
women, bringing about regulatios in
the cost of livig through education
and through moral suasion.
"In forty-four States this campaign
is progressing actively. The work in
all of them, as directed from Wash
ington, is being done by Fair Price
Commissioners or United States att
torneys.
every soon organization of the re-
naming States will be completed.
Three States have passed laws Great
ing commission and other machinery
for the protection of their citizens
against profteers. The women of the
country, in whose hands rests the pow
er to largely control the cost of liv-
ing through purchase, have been or
ganized to carry certain educational
facts to the consuming and buying
public as we'll as to determine fair
prices in local communities and to
hunt out the profiteerS and report
violations of the Lever act.
"The women's organization of the
country have already done splendid
work in this direction and are ex-
pected to cooperate still further. 1t
has beena thought advisable to work
through organizations already set up
and functloning in the different States
rather than to set up separate or
ganization solely for this purpose.
primarily the notable factors in
volved in the cost of living are the
needed increase in production, the
elimination of extravagant buying and
the determined hunting down of prof
iteers of all classes. | believe that
the time has now come when the or
ganization of the country has been
completed to the point where real re-
suits can be shown. The cost of liv-
ing, already under control, can be re-
duced if every one who produces will
produce his utmost, if those who buy
and consume will save and eliminate