The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-11-04
KYSER CONFERS
WITH SHOE MEN
They Evince Every Desire to
Adjust Business to New
Federal Act,

A reasonable profit such as would be
charged in normal times and based
on the average high and low cost Of
shoes will not be considered az prof.
teering, William ID. Kyser, United
States district attorney, told represent
atives OF the retail shoe dealers OF
Memphis Tuesday morning. Mr. KY
ser explained the manifestations OF tina
recently amended profiteering and
boarding law 10 the shoe men at their
regular monthly meeting In the Cham
Der Of Commerce.
A very friendly attitude on the part
OF the shoe dealers was apparent ac-
cordng to Mr.. Kyser after the meet
ing. and he expressed the belief that
shoe dealers in Memphis were not only
willing but anxious to comply with all
the requirements OF the recently amend
ed law and for this reason the district
attorney, has little fear OF being forced
10 take drastic action to keep local
prices within tho limits prescribed by
law.
The amended act brings within the
jurisdiction Of the federal authorities
foodstuffs and wearing apparel and also
the manufacture Of articles used In the
production OF foods. feeds and wear
ms apparel which are cassed by con-
gress as necessities. The penalty tor
charging All excessive price for necsssi.
ties Is fixed at not more than $1,000
fine and not more than two years i'm
prisonment or both, The law has been
characterized az bristling with teeth
and to the department. OF Justice under
the leadership and direction OF A,
Mitchell Palmer attorney general, has
been assigned the duty OF enforcing
THE law, In the governments fight
against the high cost OF living,
Grocery Prices Right.
~
Jackson, Tenn, tho latter part OF last
week Immediately took up the matter
OF investigating prices OF necessities
In Memphis with view Of applying
tho new Law, He has expressed the
belief that local merchants would will
ingly cooperate with the government
provided they clearly understood the
with this idea in mind he has sought
conferences with local merchants IN
| order that he might have the 0ppor-
tunity to point out 10 them the pro-
visions OF the law and state his own
position In the matter % enforcing IT,
Prices OF groceries, the district at
| torney believes are not out OF line
| locally, the current prices being held
| down to a great extent because Of the
| presence In Memphis OF numerous chair
stores. He stated upon his return from
| Jackson that he would dclve thorough,
into the retail prices Of shoes, clothing
and fresh meats, In making this state
| ment he did not charge that merchant
| In those lines were profiteeriug bu
expressed ar unfami'iarity with retail
prices on those commodities az com
pared with other cities, Previous In
vestigation had furnished him with tn
facts concerning prices being charges
for groceries
Further conferences between the dis
trict attorney and retail merchants Y
other lines viii be deferred temporaril
ewing to the absence OF Mr. kyser fror
the city. He left shortly after moo
Tuesday for Cincinnati where he ha
several cases pending before the Unite
States circuit court OF appeals, upo
his return TO Memphis the latter par
of the week matters pertaining to N
enforcement OF the profiteerIng act vi
be taken Up again.