New-York tribune., 1919-12-23
almer Expects
Drop in Prices
Before March /
Continued from page l

Continued from page I
living has been largely in the hands of
the Department Of Justice. It should
be helpful to point out what has al
ready been accomplished and what fur
ther steps are in contemplation. To
assess the situation it is necessary to
look back and ascertain what the trend
OF prices has been in past years.
Taking retail food prices as Il basis,
the index numbers of the United
States Bureau of Labor Statistics from
! 1911 to 1919 indicate that up to 1919
there has been a noticeable trend up
ward in such prices in the fall Of the
year, whereas since August this year
such retail food prices have been kept
practically stationary. By way of illus
tration, during the period August to
November, inclusive, 1916, there was
an advance in retail food prices, as
indicated by the Bureau of Labor sta
tistics, of 13 points: in 1917 18
points and in 1918 16 points. as COM
pared with no increase whatsoever in
the corresponding period of 1919
Considering the four years from
1911 to 1914, inclusive, retail prices
show slight upward trend from Sep
tember to October l, slight upward
trend from October l to November /
and remained practically stationary
from November to December |. Dur
ing the four years from 1915 to 1918.
inclusive, retail food prices show a
decided upward trend from August l
TO September l and to October /, and
slightly lessened but dec ded up-
ward trend to November l and to De-
cember 1.
Actual Reduction Claimed
This year during September and
October an actual reduction in the
general level Of retail prices was eff
fectod, as compared with August,
while the figure, for November, al
though slightly above that of October,
shows no increase above the August
returns. In other words, the official
Data clearly show the significant fact
that the cost of living as indicated by
'elall prices was no greater in No.
v'mber of this year than it was in
August. wrile during former years, ex,
tending back to 1911, the returns for
November show considerable IN
crease over the August returns.
The history of retail food prices in
dicates that decided downward trend
ordinarily may be expected in the part
OF the year between January ano
March |. and it is to be hoped that this
trend will be accelerated this wear bv
The campaign initiated by the govern
ment which is just now getting we'll
under way.
THE Lever food control act. under
which the food administration operated.
and through the enforcement of which
the Department of Justice is now try-
ing to reduce high prices, unfortunately
ca not provide penalty for certain
acts declared to be unlawful, and there
lore the Department of Justice was un-
able to effectively deal with many cases
of pTofiteerng which came to it's atten-
ton.
Lever Act Strengthened
Realizing the gravity of this situa-
tion, the President appeared before the
Congress on August and urged an i'm
mediate amendment of the food control
act to extend its scope to all the neccs-
s!tles OF life, and to provide a penalty
Tor violation of Section of this act
which mede profiteering unlawful and
10 extend the life OF the act into peace
time. The Attorney General appeared
before the Senate Agricultural Commit
tee August and urged that amend
ments asked by the President be
rassed, Not until October %, however.
old these amendments become a law
and only since that time has it been
possible to deal effectively with all
cases OF profitcering and boarding.
"While waiting the enactment of ad-
dltional legislation, however, the De-
partment OF Justice did not remain in
active. Section 6 Of the act provided
penalty for boarding and Section r
authorized the seizure and sale Of
boarded necessities. Since the Lever
act was amended to provide penalty
for profiteering, 179 prosecutions have
been instituted. Under provisions of
that aot and in all cases brought to
trial thus far convictions have been
obtained. There have been ninety
Section Of the act and in many of
these cases prosecutions are also con-
templated under Section 6.
Hoarding Charged in % Cases
"ln addition, twenty-five cases Of al
legged boarding have been called to
the attention OF United States atorueys
( for investigation, for seizures and
prosecutions, if the facts warrant
These seizures and prosecutions have
covered eighteen states and the COM
iHouitleS heiZeu nave lnCluCeu eggs
butter, cheese. pork, poultry. lard, fish,
sugar, potatoes, coffee, flour and canned
goods. Fifty-three Of the above cases
have already been disposed Of by re-
leasing the goods under bond Of agree
ment to dispose Of same within a
specified time and at reasonable
price under the direction of the United
States attorneys. In no case has the
market been flooded by the wholesale
disposal of such goods.
'In three cases involving boarding
sahes and Jail sentences have been i'm
posed. In one case a fine of 500 was
imposed; in another, fine of $3.50 and
three months in Jail, and in third
case fine of $4,000 and five months
in jail. This latter case has been ap-
pealed. Results Of Investigations are
now being laid before a grand Jury
in several districts and reports of a
large number of indictments are ex-
pected in the near future. Wherever
possible q determined effort will be
made to obtain Jail sentences
Public Cooperation Sought
"A very solemn duty to assist in re-
ducing the cost of living, and particu
iarly profteering, rests upon honest
and responsible business men of all
classes. To bring about cooperation in
this direction the national organiza-
tions representing the different trade