Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1919-08-21
FEDERAL AGENT
SAYS CITY HAS
N 0 PROFITEERS
Department Of Justice Gives
Brownsville Merchants
a Clean Bill.
PRICES REASONABLE

E. H. Parker, agent in charge of
the Brownsville district for the fed
eral department of justice, received
telegraphic instructions Monday from
the United States district attorney to
make a thorough investigation OF
conditions here in connection with
the campaign now being waged by
the department of justice to root out
the profiteers and food hoarders in
all parts of the country.
Mr.. Parker, assisted by L. F. Shell
ton, special agent of the department
has made thorough investigation of
the wholesale firms and practically
all of the retail stores in the city
have found that no profiteering IS
being carried on in Brownsville. The
various business firms they have visit
have given them all the aid possible
in carrying out the investigation, and
Mr.. Parker summed up the result of
his three days work with the state
ment: II find that competition here
Ii so keen that many of the mer-
chants; in fact, practically all of
them, are doing business on an ex-
tremely small margin Of profit. Il
can find absolutely no evidence of
profiteeriHg or of attempts to take
advantage Of stock shortage But
have found in several cases the mer-
chants selling various commodities at
less than present wholesale prices,
this being due to their purchase of
large stocks when the market was
lower, and they are now giving their
customers the benefit of the low price
they obtained tiAn instead of taking
advantage Of the raise"
The department of justice agents
found the sugar stock in the city is
exceedingly low. but they found no
one attempting to take advantage
of this in order to increase the price.
The prevailing price of sugar is l2
cents per pound. and it is absolutely
impossible for the retailer to ssl; it al
o lower price and "break even"
There has been much talk among
c, nsumers r rrofiteering, and if any
case can - found it should j. me
d'ately b. reported TO the department.
of Justice a-eEts, and tn: prcfitecr
will be given an opportunity to talk
in court. In fact, most of the ru-
mors of profiteering and food hoard
ing are without foundation, and are
due to the general lack of knowledge
of prices prevailing in all parts Of
the country. Practically all commo-
dities can be purchased as cheaply
in Brownsville as in any other part
of the country, and some can be pur-
chased much cheaper. Prices here
have not advanced as sharply as in
many of the larger cities of the north,
where profiteeering and food hoard
ing has been practiced to an extent
never before realized, and where the
consumers have had TO pay the extor-
wolves of commerce. A comparison
of prices charged by Brownsville mer-
chants with those charged in any
other city will show the fallacy of the
rumor that profiteering is being prac-
ticed here.
Mr.. Parker stated that wholesalers
had informed him the sugar situation
would soon be remedied, as shipments
are expected within a short time.
They are preparing to distribute the
sugar with practically no profit TO
themselves, and state that fair price
for this commodity will be ~ cents
per pound, the price now being charg-
ed at practically all the stores in the
city.
The various wholesale firms are al
carrying fair stocks of canned goods
and other foodstuffs, but no evidence
of boarding could be found, the
stocks being no larger than are need
ed to ssRly the immediate demand,
of the fNpns' patrons.
Mr.. PaNer's instructions from the
United StAes district attorney were
to make most thorough investiga
ton, and he is confident he has done
so. There are still few retail es
Establishments to be investigated, bu
the department Of justice agents fee
assured from the Investigations al
ready made that the few remainin,
firms will show as clean records a
those they have already visited.