The Washington times., 1919-08-27
STORES
HERE NAY Be
MADEFINTURE
War Department in Dark Con-
Cerning Plan to Make Sales
Permanent.

u
The announcement that the quar-
termaster general OF the War De-
partment would establish retail
stores in various parts OF the coun-
try TO dispose Of the surplus stock
/ held by the War Department, raised
1 the question whether these retail
stores would continue to operate af-
I ter the surplus material was entirely
sold out to the public.
The surplus property division Is
concerned only with the disposition
Of the surplus goods on hand, II was
learned today at the War Depart
neht. Authorities in the Office OF the
director OF sales today knew OF no
intention on the part Of the quarter
master general TO establish the re-
tail stores as a permanent PROPOSE
tion.
Such arrangement may be made,
however, Il was said IL Congress
provides the necessary legislation 10
make the stores q permanent thing.
It was not known at the War Depart
ment today how long a time would
be required 70 sell the entire supply
Of surplus materials by the method
outlIaed in the announcement yester-
day.
The quartermaster general called
in his su. plus property officers from
the field yesterday to confer with
tail stores. .and to formulate definite
plans for their organization.
Five Cars Of Array Feed Gone.
The distribution Of the fve carloads
OF surplus army food, stored at the
Municipal Fish Market and tsmporar-
lily held up on account Of a shortage
in help. was resumed today. II Is
expected the entire fiye carloads viii
be distributed by tomorrow.
The sixty carloads OF army food
which were to be distributed by the
postoffice through the parcel post
have not arrived yet at the Govern
ment warehouse, although postohice
officials have been prepared for the
past two weeks to handle this supply.
@The situation IS very agsravating.
Assistant Postmaster kerlin explained
today. ave have appealed to the
War Department, and they. in turn,
have referred us to the Railroad Ad-
minlstration. We cannot go ahead
with our work until all the food ar
rives."
The fair price committee expects to
complete its work on a fair margin OF
profits list at a meeting to be held
tomorrow afternoon, Clarence r. VIII
son, chairman Of the committee. said
today. The list when completed will
be very similar to the list put into ef-
feet here last year by the food ad-
ministration, it was said. Printed
lists may not be ready for the pub
lie until next week. although the com
mittee Is making every EFFORT to pub
lish the result Of its meeting before
the end of this week.
Mr.. Wilson commented favorably on
the efforts Of the Citi8ens' Co-opera-
tive Buying and Distributing League,
saying that both his committee and
the league were working toward the
same end.
Asks Small Farmers' Sales.
The Board Of Commissioners of the
District will consider next Friday a
proposal submitted by George NJ. Rob |
erts, providing that farmers selling
produce at the Farmers Produce Mar
ket be required to sell to retail trade
in quantities specified by the proposal |
While II Is not the intention OF the |
plan to dictate to the farmers, il pro /
vides that they sell to the consumer |
in quantities that will prove advan- |
tageous to both parties.
This proposal, IL adopted, will su-
persede the one suggested last week 1
that a separate portion OF the Far
mers' Produce Market be set aside for |
retail trade.
The proposal submitted to the Com
designates the quantities /
under which the farmers may refuse
10 sell to consumers purchasing at the
market. The basis of determining the
least quantity of a given commodity
that should be sold, IL was said was
the advantage accruing from such
sales to both producer and consumer.
The suggestion includes a list Of
quantities on certain articles. Some
OF them suggested by Mr.. Roberts
follow: One dozen eggs, one dozen
one dozen ears Of corn,
one half bushel potatoes. one half
bushel tomatoes. six punches of beets,
Six boxes Of berries, etc.
Consumers may buy in larger guam
titles, il was explained, and produc-
ers may sell in small quantities, If
they so desire. The quantities desig-
mated merely indicate the amount of
which producers may not refuse to
sell to retail trade.
II the proposal is approved by the
board Mr.. Roberts plans to notify
the farmers Of Virginia and Mary
and. who are accustomed to visit
the market regularly, and to enlist
heir cooperation in the movement