Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-11-08
SUBCOMM|TTEES
NAMED TO WATCH
PROFIT MARGINS

K Six subcommittee of the fair price
commit tee, charged with watching the
margin of profit made, on all necessi-
ties sold in the District of Columbia
were appointed today by Chairman
Clarence R. Wilson. following the first
meeting of the full committee at the
Department of Justice yesterday aft
ernoon. and these smaller groups will
hold their first meetings to review
market conditions and prices next
Tuesday
1t was also announced today that
two woman members of the fair price
committee have been appointed, Mrs
Charles S. Hamlin, wife Of the mem
Der of the Federal Reserve Board, rep
resenting the women at large, and
Miss E. j. Good. representing the Con-
sumers' League.
Personnel of subcommittee.
The subcommittee named today fol-
low:
Groceries. wholesale and retail
John H. Wilkins, Simon Gordon. N. C.
Sprague and Howard Moran.
Shoes-Joseph Strasburger, Edward
Atkinson and Mrs. Charles S. Hamlin.
Mems clothing-Howard Moran, Ed
ward Atkinson and a dealer yet to be
appointed.
Women's clothing-Philip King,
Miss E. ]. Good and Mrs. Hamlin.
Meats-Miss Good. DR.. w. C. Fowler
and a dealer yet to be appointed
Perishables-Dr. Fowler, N. c.
yet to be appointed.
Considering Milk Prices.
to
visibility Of appointing a special sub
committee to inquire into milk prices
in the District, and if this is done 1t
is understood that DR.. Fowler, who is
the District health officer, will be
chairman.
No chairmen of the subcommittee
have been named by Mr.. Wilson, and
these groups will complete their or
ganiZation next Tuesday.
The subcommittee will meet at diff
ferent hours. in the office of Mr. viii
son in the Department of Justice
building. Their findings and recon-
mendations will be reviewed by the
larger committee before any action is
taken.
The meeting of the committee at
the Department Of Justice yesterday
was coincident with the appearance
of Attorney General Palmer before
the House agricultural committee.
tension of the Lever food control
act. as amended last month. under
which fair price committees all over
the country are acting. The law be-
comes inactive as soon as preSi-
Dental proclamation announces a
state of war at an end.
Fair Price Committees Power.
The committee. which succeeds the
70 ~, ,r;co cono w ioI, OF
ly last summer, has no power to fix
prices, but it is charged to watch the
margin of profits made in coal, food,
clothing and shoe prices, and if these
are unjust or unreasonable to bring
the matter to TIE attention of the
federal district attorney.
The food control act as in force dur
ing the war declared that profiteering
and boarding were unlawful, but it
provided no penalty for violators of
the profiteering provision. The amend
ed act, however, makes both offenses
by fine or imprisonment.
1t is probable that new fair price
list will be put out by the committee
next week, covering the most i'm
portant items of food and clothing.
The law, however, is not confined to
the commodities which the committee
sees fit to price. and profiteering in
any Oh the lines CoVeTSu III the statute
may be made grounds for prosecution
Mr.. Wilson's Statement.
II feel sure that we have a very
capable committee" said Mr.. Wilson
today. land that the proper interests
of dealer and consumer-alike will be
l have tried to give every
interest concerned proper represen-
tation on the committee. and do not
doubt that we can eventually prohibit
any profiteering in Washington as
long as the present food control act
remains in force"