The sun., 1919-08-27
US. WILL0PEN 4
GREATCHAIN0 OF
RETAILSTORES
Government to Establish
"Supply Centres" Begin
ming September Is.
HOPE TO LOWER PRICES
Palmer Believes War on Prof
iteers Has Shown Marked
Effect.
HOPE TO LOWER PRICES
Special Dsspe.cA to tn. Sun.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2s.--The War De-
partment to-day announced plans
whereby the general public may pur-
chase household commodities direct from
retail stores to be established by the
Government On September rs, Stores
will be established in New York. Boston.
Philadelphia, Baltimore and other large
cities, there being at first fourteen 30
called supply centres, with the pros
pect of the entire country being prac-
tically covered later on.
The plan will continue after the SUR
plus now on hand Is exhausted, for the
Government will continue to purchase
necessaries as part Of the campaign to
bring down the high cost Of, living.
President Wilson is convinced that
the cost Of living has already begun to
come down in response to the Govern
ment's drive against 1t. Attorney Gen
eral Palmer said to-day after the Caoi-
net meeting that figures already showed
these results.
Coincident with the establishment OF
retail Government stores goods will con-
tinue to be sold through the parcels
post. But persons desiring to buy by
mail order will send their order direct
to the stores instead Of the post once
stations. To expedite and facilitate
mail order sales the War Department
e.
rnent to establish parcels post sub
stations In each Of the stores opened.
The War Department will prepare cata-
logues quoting prices and enumerating
the location of stores to which mail Or
ders in each district should be addressed
public to Get Catalogues.
These catalogues will DO made availa-
Bile to the public at every post once
The stock of each commodity, the sur
plus of which is sufficiently large to
Justify such procedure, will be reds
tributed throughout the country and al
located to the selling centres on the BASIS
of population.
THE public will be able to purchase
from the War Departments large sur
plus stocks OF underwear, shirts, SOCKS,
blankets, gloves raincoats, tobacco, soap
and ether household commodities
Prices will be fixed on all commodi-
ties offered for sale in the retail stores,
The price fixed upon commodity VIII
be the sale price for the article delivered
to the consumer anywhere In the United
States
Prompt investigation into the prices OF
six basic commodities Is planned by the
Federal Trade Commission, II Congress
grants the appropriation OF 100000 re-
ouested for part Of this work. Chairman
". b. Colver and Victor Murdoch OF the
commission told the House Appropr IA
tions Committee to-day. The inquiries
contemplated will include FOOD, tuei'
leather, lumber. steel and textiles Sir'
Colver said. The results Of the invesu-
cations. he believes, will bring lower
prices Of these commodities in the near
future. t-'A' r.
wouId Restrict Storage.
The Federal Government should not
allow foods to be held in cold storage
fo- longer than twelve months DE-
Harry w. Wiley, former chief OF the
Bureau of Chemistry and author OF Ma
tional Pure Food Laws, told the House
Agricultural Committee to-day during Its
consideration OF legislation to prevent
boarding Of commodities through
storage.
Many products, DR.. Wiley said. should
never be allowed to be put in cold stor-
age, others could be kept only few
months. but the maximum limit of all
should be placed at one year. All stor-
age. the pure food expert said. means
higher food prices, but II is necessary
IL the people desire a balanced diet dur
ing all the year.
The present system of cold storage Is
being used more to enhance prices than
10 provide food in seasons OF scarcity
and demands strict Government regula-
ton. he said.
.-The vast amounts of food stored in.
crease the price of commodities thre'
or four times during the seasons OF
plenty, and there =, not a corrective de-
crease during the period when the foot
Is not produced" he said
isn't that necessary to proven
waste?" he was asked.
well, very little would be wasted 4
eggs could be bought at ID cents dozel
during the season Of greatest supply
because everybody would eat them
he replied.
Food that is available from the pro
Queer the year around should not b.
allowed to enter storage, because II
such cases, DR.. Wiley said, the mali
purpose is to enhance the price. II
this class he mentioned veal. severa
varieties of game-and hsh. poultry
with the exception OF spring chickens
and sweet corn
Beef improves by a short period o
storage, but 1t should not be kept longe
than four or five months" he said
Eggs, Of course, must be stored t
provide a supply during the season o
scarcity, but their palatabflity decrease
with the storage.
Butter should not be kept ionge
than ten months. and likewise all store
should be on the market by June of tn
following year in which it Is stored
Flour is better as soon as It Is milled.
DR.. Wiley strongly advocated the NOR
extensive use of powdered milk in plac
OF fresh milk.
Every housewife. DR.. Wiley told tn
committee. should store eggs in he
home In seasons Of plenty for the period
of scarcity. He recommended the US
of water glass.