Norwich bulletin., 1919-12-23

Washington, Dec. 22.-Expectation of a decline in retail for prices begin ming between January 1 and March was expressed tonight by Attorney General Palmer in a statement sum- ming up the efforts of the govern ment to date ill forcing down the cost of living.
 "The cost of living, already under control" said the attorney general ''can be reduced if every one who pro duces will produce his utmost, if those who buy and consume will save and eliminate eXaravagance and if all honest people, will join with the de- partment of justice in stamping out profiteering and hoarding." Explaining that a downward trend in retail food prices ordinarily was shown during the first two months of a year. MT. Palmer said it was the hope of the government that this. trend will be accelerated this year by the campaign initiated by the govern ment which is just now getting well under way"
 Although statistics compiled an nually by the government show that in 1918 retail food prices increased dur ing the fall months MT. Palmer said that since August this year such prices had been maintained practic- ally stationary.
 Only since Oct. 22 when necessary amendments to the Lever food control act were proposed, the attorney gen oral statement said, has it been pos sible to deal effectively with ali cases of proiiteering and hoarding. From October 22 to date 119 prosecutions have been instituted and prosecutions and seizures have covered eighteen E;ates. it was added.
 Due to cooperat ton between the government and various retail mer- chants associations, the statement said prevailing profits of. clothing had been reduced from five to fifty per cent.
 The statement which was issued with the authorization of the govern ment officials associated with the at torney general in the campign to force down living costs, including Di- rector GeneTl of Railroads Hines, was considered in some quarters as a sum mary of the governments position in the face Of the recently renewed de- mands of railroad workers for an in trease in pay. The railroad sopmen publicly andZ the other railroad crafts tiscitly agreed in August at the sug- gssiiou of President Wilson to post pNne thei- demands. for increased pay for ninety days to await efforts of the government 10 bring down prices.
 fakfng retail food prices as a baiis," said the attorney generals s statement. the index numbers of the United States bureau of labor sta tistics from 1911 to 1919 indicate that up to 1919 there has been a mo- ticeable trend upward in such prices in the fall of the year whereas since August this year such retails food f1HtsaG 11,, stationary. By way of illustration, du-inG the period August to Novem- ber inclusive, 19te. there was an ad- vFnce in retail food prices as indi- cated by the buraau of labor statistics o' 1S points; in 1917, Is points and in 1'lS, l6 points as compared with no increase whatsoever in the corre- spending period of 1919. Considering the four years from 1911 to 1914. in- elusive. retail prices show a slight up- ward trend from September 1 to Oc- tober 1. a greater upward trend from October 1 to November l. and re- mained practically stationary from November l to December 1 During the four years from 1915 to 1918, in elusive. retail Food prices show a de- cided upward trend from August 1 to September 1 to October 1. and a Slightly lessenad but decided upward trend to November 1 to December 1 This year dUiing September and De- tober an actual reduction in the gen eral level of retail prices was effected hs compared with August. while the figure for November although slightly above that of October, shows no in crease above the August returns. Tn other words the official data clearly show the significant fact that tho cost O. living as indicated hy retail prices was no greater in November of this Scar than it was in August. while during former years extending back to i9tl, the returns for Novenbei show a considerable increase over the August returns.
 'sThe history of retail food price. Indicates that a decided doWnwart re Trend ordinarily may be expected ir fhe part Of the year between Januar, ] and March 1 and it is to be hoped that this trend will te accelerated this year by the campaign initiated bN fhc government which is just now get ting weA under way
 The Lever food control act, undo which the food administration operat cd and through the enforcement O which the department of justice i now trying 10 reduce high prices. un fortunately did not provide a penal
 
 Joyful, and therefore the departmen of justice vas unable 10 effectivel deal with many cases of profiteerinl which came to its attention. Realiz ing the gravity of this situation. tn president appeared before the con gress on August and urged an imme diate amendment of the food contrC act to extend its scope to all the ne cessities Of life. and to provide
 penalty for violation of Section Fou or this act which made prohteerin unltwful and 10 extend the life of tn ect into peacetime.
 The attorney general appeared be fore the senate agricultural commit tee in August and urged that amend ments asked by the president b passed Not until October 22 how ever, d.d these amendments becom 2 law, and only since that time has been possible 10 deal effectively wit al cases Of p.ohteering and hoard Ing.
 While waiting the enactment ( additional legislation. however. tn department O Justice did not renal inactive. Section Six of the act pro vided a penalty for .hoarding an Section : authorized the seizure an ea'e of ho1rdc1 0-~~ .-'''4e. Since th Lever Act was amended to provide penalty -or rrS- -,i4ng, li9 prose cutions have been instituted. Unde provisions Of that act and all case have been obtained There have bee brought 10 trial thus far conviction go cases Of actual seizures unde Section of tho act and in many ( these cases prosecutions are also con lcrTlate ted under Section Six. In ad