Arizona republican., 1920-10-31
COUNTY TTORNEY ID
 FIGHT PROFITEERING
 DURING STATE FAIR

Answering communication from the housing committee of the state fair commission, l.. NJ. Laney, county attorney, declared yesterday that while it is probable that proprietors of hotels and restaurants will not raise rates during state fair week. yet his office, with which county and city officials are cooperating. is preparing to prosecute those who violate the room ing house and hotel regulations with all the severity possible, and in cases where the Arizona laws arc not as stringent as the occasion demands, information against offenders will be filed with the federal government for prosecution under the Lever act.
 At tIe same time that this deelara- tion was made, the county attorney also said hat the greater part of the hotel and restaurant men of the city city have made assurances that prices will not be raised, and it is anticipated that all of them will give this pledge before the opening of the state fair
 Laney has also issued a warning to the proprietors of lodging houses and hotels that they must post a statement of their rates as prescribed by law. l The regulation concerning this is to the effect that keepers of hotels and lodging houses must post in the public
 
 | houses a notice informing guests of the charges by the day. week, or month, as the case may be, for meals and | lodging. No charges are to be made for services so enumerated which are not rendered. Violations of this law are to be punished by forcing the of fender to forfeit to the injured party three times the amount of the sum charged above what he is entitled to.
 Any hotel or rooming house which does not comply with the regulation concerning the posting of the notices will be treated by the county attorney's s office as not having complied with the law and will be refused any warrant against guests who fail to pay for services rendered.
 The county attorney also declared in connection with the foregoing, that proprietors of restaurants and cafes are to be treated in the same manner as proprietors of hotels The county attorneys office will furnish to keepers of hotels, lodging houses. boarding houses and inns with forms from which they may have printed copies made of the regulations which they must keep posted in their places oi business.
 The city is already crowded with guests, according to G. D. Martin. sec retary or the housing committee, and Phoenix citizens must lend their as- sistance in taking care of the influs of tourists which will start with tho opening of the fair. Room and apart ment listings should be sent to ths chamber of commerce, room bureau where visitors to the city are already being accommodated
 Some people, according to Martin have attempted to list rooms at ex- orbitant prices, and while their listingl have been accepted by the chamber 0 commerce no effort has been made tt recommend these rooms to visitors
 The majority of hotels and roomin, houses, Mr. Martin said, have signeS up to maintain their usual rates fo fair week. Rooming houses hav agreed on a $1 day to $1.50 a da, rate, with no charge above sl nigh for cots, while the larger hotels hay have announced that they will no charge more than $1.50 a night fo cots. Both the Jefferson and Com mercial hotels have agreed to main tain rate of from $1.50 to $3.50 per son, depending upon the kind of ac commodation furnished.