Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-12-12
.F!AlR-PR|CE COMMITTEE
DISCUSSES SUGAR SALES
Notc That Groccrs May Sell 10
Regular Patron if Supply
sstse' l. Short
DECLARES BOARD Is NusNAMED
Chairman Bethel Says Body Really
Fixes Profit Observation-Disclosures
Rates OF Charges to BE Made TO
- Consumers.

Groce-s may not force customers 10
( purchase other goods in order 20
secure sugar. and they arc granted
i'he privilege OF deciding to whom they
s Viii sell tho tootasomc sweet These
decisions were made by the Richmond
fair-pricc committee at "A meeting in
the Capitol yesterday afternoon.
Chairman j. T. Bethel put the mo-
ton calling for the prohibition of
combination sales after members Of
the committee had debated at icas;
Two hours on different aspects OF the
sugar shortage. The vote resulted in
SIN opposed 10 it. Chairman Bethel
cast the deciding ballot.
Defeat Combination sales
sentiment seemed TO favor combine
lion ION sales until Mrs. stuart Michaux
declared that II was unfair to the
poor man with only a small sum to
npena to require him to spend 81 or
sugar H 10 the SHcn are one or Two pounds OF
sale motion was followed by the pass
age OF the motion permitting Eroccrs
customers. when they had only a
limited supply on hand
n,ae,,a a short talk which opened the
tnat the Richmond falr-pricc comyni,
Ice was misnamed. He said ii should
nc alled the fairpronts COMMITTEES
settinE OF reasonable margins of proit
on the necessities OF life. In this way
s sa,f prices could be adjusted, he
Really Start Work.
Richmonds committee charged vii,
S.s duty OF running 20 earth the pro-
nteer has never really been ready for
his pr em'!t !od T.;a Sa!d NJ Ee,he in
i nroG, the necessity Of setting a fair
Pront on sugar.
o. II Ia pound OF sugar costs merchant
~ cents pound. he can only make a
pront OF l-2 cents on il. accorfin g.
20 ruling made by tho committee
sreoer Edward Schmidt retail
sIoCer' protested against setting mar
p pro although il had been worked
~. ny soverhmcnt experts, as he was
,1'it. ny chairman Bethel The com
i .tec voted TO set this profit. however.
y resolution was then passed by the
ttSo 'i embodying tho belief :hat
inns proht was TOO low
AFTER setting the sugar pront for
retailers: the committee passed 20 the
profit of tho Wholesaler and fixed as
cents hundred pounds as the maxi
Bethel tina; both the retail and who'll
sale profits had been fixed by the Fed
crai government and the committee
this action.
Fix Wholesale Fronts.
Alter settling everything about the
bought by the lowly consumer. the
committee then fixed a gross pro1t or
~ per cent barrel for Wholesalers
on hour and 81 net profit OF per cent
barrel for retailers. II was testified
by "A wholesale grocer present that the
average cost of doing wholesale bust
ness was per cent. BY tho commit
tees ruling the Wholesaler is allowed .
per cent net. \ comparison of the
wholesale and retail not profits shows
mat the retailer gained more laurcls
Mrs. Stuart MichauX was appointed
chairman of "A committee 10 furnish
suEaT 10 be H&cd with milk for babies
suffering for lack of the sweet and to
sick people who could not secure a
supply. Her committee will work only
for the benefit OF those in these two
classes. Mrs. MichauX was told by
Chairman Bethel that he knew OF a
place where She could secure sugar for
these emergency uses.