Evening star., 1920-02-25
PRICE |NQURERS
TO KEEP NO FACTS
/ FROM THE PUBLIC
Advisory Board Pertecting
Plans for Investigating High
Living Cost in D. c.

The people of Washington are tc
be taken fully into the confidence
of the newly formed advisory boart
which will investigate the high cost
of living in the District of Colum-
bia and work out remedial meas.
ures which. If successful here, will
be employed nationally.
This was the assertion made today
by Howard E. Figg. special assistant
to the Attorney General. in charge
of the drive by the Department OF
Justice against profiteering and high
prices.
Il am dead against holding back
facts from the public which the peo.
pie should be made aware Of" said
Mr. Figg 1.-The advisory board, COM
posed as it is of representative busi-
ness men, and the women's advisory
board. made up of public spirited
women Of the District of Columbia
win endeavor to seek a solution OF
the high cost of living. II there Is
a way discovered to cut down living
costs this advisory board will tell the
merchants how to do it. and the pub
lie will be taken into our confidence
Initial Meetings Held.
The central advisory board of busi-
ness men and the women's advisory
board held their initial meetings yes
terday in Mr.. Figg's office in the De-
partment of Justice and plans were
discussed. The following business
men comprising the central advisory
board were present: Robert N. Harper
president of the Washington Chamber
of Commerce; Capt James F. Oyster
president of the Washington Board OF
Trade; Philip King, president of the
Merchants and Manufacturers Asso-
citation; R P. Andrews. Of the r. p
Andrews Paper Company, John H
wilkins, of the John H. wilkins Com
0f C.l r. nv
Joseph A. Whitfield of the Old Dutch
Market. M. A. Leese, optical supplies;
l. 8. Ulman- Of Holmes & Co.. and
Miss Edith c. Strauss Of the women s
division Of the campaign.
The women's advisory board is COM
Mrs Whitman Cross, Mrs. Henry T.
Rainey. Mrs. Louis Brownlow. Mrs
Archibald Hopkins. Mrs. William E.
Chamberlin. Mrs. Howard L. Hodgkins
and Mrs. Charles s. Hamlin.
The mems board will meet Monday
afternoon to complete plans OF or
ganizatiOn. Tomorrow afternoon the
woman's organization will meet for
the same purpose.
Complaint Department Proposed.
Miss Strauss, who Is directing the
work OF the w0man's division of the
Department Of Justice campaign, said
today that a complaint department
Will be established to which house,
wives may report all instances Of un-
fair treatment by retailers. This will
be followed BY the publication Of an
honor roll" of merchants. The
honor roll' will be placed in con-
spicuous places in the churches and
schools Of the District and viii be
printed in the newspapers
The business men who arc serv-
Ing on this committee are highly
enthusiastic" said Mr.. Figg. They
think tho plan to mako Washington
= model city. In % fAr a. lowering
prices on Commodities n concerned,
viii be the solution Of the situation.
1T ID cur idea to call to confer
onoe0 from time to time representa-
tives Of the various shops and IN
dustries In Washington Definite
plans for the reduction Of present
operating expenses viii be discussed
Than these merchants, or mAnufac-
turef1 a the case may bo, will be
asked to Voluntarily cuTt1il their ex-
pen1e4
After the Investigation II at an
e14 the oAvtsosy board Wu say pub
liely what the Individual merchant
can Do to lover prices" . -. 80.