The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-12
Stipulation Provides Cancella.
tion Topeka "Fair' List.
New Retail Schedule To Be SUBJ
stituted, Agreement.
KEMPER TO ACT PROMPTLY
Calls Meeting of Shawnee Com.
mittee This Afternoon.
Mistake in Making List Manda-
tory, His Admission.

The injunction suit against the
Shawnee county fair price COMMITTEES
was dismissed today by judge Pollock
In the United States district. court at
Kansas City, according to a statement
from the office of Fred Robertson.
United States district attorney. A
stipulation agreed to by the grocers
and the price committee provides.
that the schedule OF prices fixed by
the committee and complained of by
the grocers. be cancelled and that
other prices be substituted.
The authority OF the fair price COM
mittee to suggest fair prices is ac-
knowiedged by the stipulation. but It
further states that prices suggested
| by fair price committees are not bind
ing up any producer. merchant, manu-
facturer or distributor of commodities
as mandates of the law, finally deter
] mining the maximum prices at which
such commodities shall be sold upon
the market THE powers of said
| fair price committees are limited to
the investigation and suggestion of
prices that will be fair to the Dealers
the stipulation reads.
Meet for New List.
w. H. Kemper. chairman of the fair
| price committee, upon being informed
1
which he said his committee would
hold session this afternoon for the
purpose of carrying out the stipulation
entered into. Some Of the prices on
will be raised, he declared. There
VIII be no let up in the committees
| work
! We made the mistake" acknowi-
| edged Kemper, ''of making our list
Q. prices mandatory upon the mer-
! ChAnt4. nf i,,
/ gestions. but the action taken today
proves our authority to make investi-
salions and to suggest prices, leaving
| It to the federal authorities to see 20
their enforcement" Robertson previ-
ously had clearly indicated his atti-
tude in this regard-that he would
him.
The agreement entered into by the
PLAINTIFFS counsel and myself" said
Robertson over long distance feIe-
phone today, does not mean that the
shawnee county fair price committee
has gone on the rocks. 1t will con-
tfnue to function under authority pro-
vided by congress. i should like TO re-
quest the public to aid the committee
in every possible way in its campaign
to reduce the present high prices"
Kcmpcr Issues Statement.
! Kemper's statement. issued upon re-
ceipt of word of the agreement, fol-
| lows.
1.-THE fair price committee will hold
session this afternoon for the purpose OF
withdrawing and cancelling the schedule
Of prices fixed to become effective January
2. 1920. In compliance with the stipulntion
entered into by the attorneys for the plain
tiffs and defendants
ceded the authority of the committee. there
| seems to be no obstacle in the way Of Sc
The committee will Immediately take M
! the matter of suggesting prices that will be
/ fair and all action will be based upon the
| suggestions In the stipulation.
In order that the work of this commit
tee shall be entirely successful the CO.
operation Of merchants and consumers is
Desired II any consumer is required to
pay an exorbitant price for any article, the
committee asks that receipt be taken and
| turned over TO the committee"
The Compromise Agreement
A copy of the stipulation entered
! into by the lawyers on both sides fol-
/ lows:
1t is hereby stipulated that the above
entitled cause shall be dismissed upon the
ioiowing express conditions and under
L That the schedule of prices fixed by
The Shawnee county fair price committee.
| complained Of shall be withdrawn and can
ceied. and others may be substituted there
for which shall be prepared under the fol-
lowing agreed construction of the law
| 2. That the president OF the United
States. by proclamation of November 81
kolD. uHrtT thr pIoFlSious oA tue 1000 ana
fuel control net, has conferred upon the
| attorney general of the United States power
| to appoint fair price commissioners In the
| several states Of the union. and that said
state fair price commissioners nre author
lied to appoint county and city fair price
committees.
,. That the powers OF said fair price
committees are limited % the investigstion
and suggestion Of prices that will be fair
| 10 the producer, merchant and consumer
| and the prices advised by the fair price
committees shall be such as will Yield to
4 Tl1pr han ond ttteH Hafr
/! fContiuued on Page Two.I