Evening journal., 1919-08-27
GPEhFEDERALCHAIN
OF RETAIL Stores
Government to Establish
Chain Of Supply CenIers
Beginning Sept. Is
WHINING TON NOT IN
LIST TO HAVE ONE


Department has announced plans
whereby the general public may pur-
rhase household commodities direct
from retail stores TO be established
by the Government on September 25
stores Will be established in New
York. Boston. Philadelphia. Baltimore
and other large cities. there being al
lrst fourteen sO-ealled supply centres,
with the prospect Of the entire coun-
try being practically covered later on
The plan viii continue after The sur
plus now on hand is exhausted, for
the Government VIII continue 10 pur-
chase necesssries as part OF the cam
paign to bring down the high cost Of
living
President Wilson is convinced that
The cost Of living has already begun
70 come down In response TO the Gov
ernmenis drive against 10. Attorney
General Palmer said after the Cabinet
meeting thst figures already showed
these results.
Colncident with the establishment
OF retail Government stores goods
viii continue 20 be sold through the
parcels post But persons desiring TO
buy by mail order will send their
order direct 10 the stores instead OF
the pOst0fnce stations To expedite
and facilitate mail order sales the War
Department has requested the Post
once Department 10 establish parcels
post suh-smtious IN each OF the stores
opened The War Department viii
prepare catalogues quoting prices and
enumerstins the location OF stores to
which mail orders In each district
should be addressed
These catalogues VIII be made avail
able to the public at every post-oftlce.
The stock Of each commodity. the
surplus OF which is sufficiently large
TO Justify such procedure. viii be
redlstributed throughout the country
and allocsied to the selling centres on
the basis OF population.
The public viii be able TO purchase
from the War Department large sur
plus stocks Of underwear. shirts,
socks. blankets. gloves. raincoats, to-
bacco. soap and other house hold COM
modiiies
Prices will be fixed on all commod
tiles offered FOR sale In the retail
stores. The price nxed upon com
modify will be the sale price for the
article delivered 10 the consumer any
where IN the United States.
Prompt invcsiisation into the prices
Of six bssi, commodities Is planned
by the Federal Trade Commission, u
Congress grants the appropriation OF
lJ00Oo0 requested as part OF this
work. Chairman w B. Colyer and
Victor Nurdock Of the commission told
NE House Appropriations Committee
The Inquiries contemplated VIII In.
.iude food. fuel. leather lumber. steel
nd textiles. Mr. Colver said. The
esuiis OF the Investigations. he be-
ievc-. wfl bring lower prices Of these
ommOdiies in the near future.
The Federal Government should not
lil0N foods TO be held in cold storage
Tor longer than twelve months. Dr.
Harry ". Wiley, former chief Of the
Burclu OF Chemistry and author OF
National Pure Food Laws. told the
House Agricultural Committee during
Ms consideration Of legislation 10 pre-
vent boarding Of commodities through
storage
Many products. Or Wiley said
should never be allowed 20 be put in
,old storage others could be kept only
few months. but the maximum limit
OF all should be placed at one year
Al storage. the pure food expert said,
means higher food prices. but IL isl
necessary II The people desire a bal
snced diet during nll the year
The proper system Of cold storage
Is being used more 20 enhance prices
Than % prov Dc food in seasons Of
scarcity. and demands strict Govern
ment regulations. he said.
The vast amounts o' food stored
increase the price ~ commodities
three or four times during The sea-
sons or plenty. and there Is not a cor
receive decrease during the period
when the food is not produced, he
said
Isn't that necessary 20 prevent
Wasieg7 he was asked
"Well, very little would be wasted
II eggs could be bought Tor s. cents
dozen during the season Of greatest I
supply. because everybody would eat
them. he replied
Food that Is available from the pro- (
Queer the year around should not be I
allowed 20 enter storage because In 4
such cases, Dr. Wiley said. the main !
surpose is 20 enhance the price. In Z
this class he mentioned veal. several /
varieties OF game-snd fish. poultry /
with the exception OF spring chickens, I
and sweet corn.
Beef improves by a short period oi l
storage. but 10 should not he kept /
longer Than four or five months" he /
said Eggs, OF course. must he stored /
70 provide a supply during The season !
Of scarcity. but their pahtsbiliiy de- |
cresses with the storage.
Butter should not be kept longer !
than ten months. and likewise all 1
stored should be on the market by
June OF the following year in which il
IS stored. Flour is better as soon as
it is milled."
Or. Wiley strongly advocated The