Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-12-23
Attorney Gefera| Declares
Peak of H. c. L. Has Been
Reached and Predicts De-
cline Within Short Time.
URGES elimination
OF ALL EXTRAvAGANCE
Requests All Honest People to
Join With Department Of
Justice in Stamping Out
Profiteering and Hoarding.

Washington, Dec. 22.-Expecta-
ton of decline in retail food prices
beginning between January and
March was expressed by Attorney
General Palmer in statement sum-
ming up the efforts of the govern
ment to date in forcing down> the
cost of living.
"The high cost of living, already
under control" said the attorney
general, "can be reduced if every
one who produces will produce his
utmost, if those who buy and con-
sumo will save and eliminate ex-
travagance and if all honest people
will join with the Department OF
Justice in stamping out prohteering
and boarding"
Explaining that downward trend
in retail food prices ordinarily was
shown during the first two months
of a year, Mr. Palmer said it was
the hope of the government that
this trend will be accelerated this
year by the campaign initiated by
the government which is just now
gettlng wen uHdel way.
National Emergency.
New York, Dec. 22.-Business
men throughout the country were
invited to follow the example of the
New York restaurant keepers, who
recently decided not to increase
their prices, in a telegram from At
torney General Palmer, received by
Arthur William, local federal food
administrator. The telegram de-
clared that "tllere is national crher-
gency which necessitates all busi-
ness interests operating on the low
est possible margin of profit"
Prices Now Stationary.
Although statistics compiled an
nually by the government show that
in previous years retail food prices
increased during the fall months, Mr..
Palmer said that since, August this
year such prices had bsen main
tanned practically stationary.
Only since October p. when
necessary amendments to the Lever
food control act were passed, the
attorney generals statement said,
has it been possible to deal effec-
lively with all cases of prohteer,ng
and boarding. From October p to
date l79 prosecutions have been in
stituted and prosecutions and seiz-
ures have covered Is states, it was
added.
Due to cooperation between the
government and various retail mer-
chants associations, the statement
said, prevailing profits OF clothing
had been reduced from to 50 per
cent.
The statement, which was issued
with the authorization Of the gov,
ern4nent officials associated with The
attorney general in the campaign to
force down living costs, including
Director General of Railroad Hines,
was considered in some quarters as
summary of the governments po-
sition in the face of the recently re-
newed demands of railroad workers
tor an increase in pay, The railroad
shopmen publicly, and the other
railroad crafts tacitly, agreed in
August with the suggestion of Presi-
dent Wilson to postpone their de-
mands for increased pay for 90 days
to await efforts of the government
to bring down prices.
Presidents Statement.
"In August" said the attorney
generals statement, "in connection
with demands for increased wages
by railroad shopmen based on the
increased cost of living, the president
announced to the public the view
that the cost of living woul be
lowered as soon as there were
settled conditions of production
and of commerce, as soon as
the treaty Of peace was rati-
fled and as soon as merchants,
manufacturers, farmers and min
ers had a certain basis of cal
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