The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-05-01
NEW PRICE CIRCULAR FOR M|SSSS|PHANS Fixes Profits and Retail Prices of All Necessary
 Commodities

Columbus Miss, April sO.-(special)-
 Thomas J. Locke, fair price commmis-
 sioner for Mississippi, today issued Fair
 Price Circular No. 9, which practically
 covers all prior circulars and fixed mar
 gins of profit and retail selling prices of
 standard necessary commodities by which
 merchants are to be governed. In his
 statement released today Mir. Locke has
 the following to say:
 Committees should carefully study this
 circular, maintain close observation and
 promptly report to my office any viola
 tons thereof Prosecutions will be insti-
 tuted against all merchants who do not
 strictly adhere to the margins as fixed
 Most merchants in the state honestly de-
 sire to cooperate. Our business is to look
 after those who do not.
 Some violations of the regular sugar
 prices have been reported. The infexible
 ruling of the department of justice on
 sugar prices and which may not in any
 instance be varied from, is: One cent per pound profit above cost to the wholesaler; 2 cents per pound above cost to the re- taller. The department of justice is un- reservedly behind us; our energetic and
 constant effort, will destroy prohteering
 or the profiteers.
 Fair price committees are advised that ! the commissioner for Mississippi has this 18th day of April fixed and does here by promulgate the following maximum 1 prices and maximum margins of prom which retail merchant handling the 1oi- lowing named articles of merchandise may charge, and these prices and margins ' of profit are based on actual, original cost, plus freight or express and war tax, and they are maximum; merchants may sell for less:
 Mems and boys suits, costing up to sa5, margin of profit B Is per cent; cost ing from $25 to $5o inclusive, margin or profit. s per cent The commmissioner i fixes no margins on suits costing mer- chant above $50.
 Ladies and misses suits and dresses, same margin of profit as on mems anu boys suits
 Mems, ladies and children's shoes, costing up to s. margin of profit Q per cent; costing from B to s, margin or profit 90 per cent; costing from B to slo, inclusive, 8 1-S per cent. The commmis- Sioner fixes no margin on shoes costing merchant above $1o.
 l .Men's and children's hats costing up to s. margin of 90 per cent; costing rom s to $1O, inclusive, 40 per cent; all straw hats. margin of profit, 70 per cent. No margin fixed on hats costing merchant above $f0.
 Ladies and misses hats, costing up 10 s margin of profit 30 per cent costing from s to sl5, margin of profit 40 per cent. : No margin fixed on ladies' hats costing merchant above s15.
 sDry goods: The margin of profit on
 rsf staple dry goods is B 1-3 per cent; the
 margin of profit on all fancy dry goods
 is 4Y per cent.
 sMen's collars: The maximum of pront
 which may be charged for men s s1n coi- lars (standard brands) is 25 cents. Meats: Maximum price to be charged Nor meats are as follows: Beef, choice cuts, s cents per pound; beef, other cuts 20 cents per pound; mutton, 35 cents per pound; veal, 35 cents per pound. +~MfIk prices, in restaurants and cares: 2ure, sweet malk, cream not skinned off
 kul1A glass. per glass, cents; smeet
 lk. creamed skinned off, 5 cents; but
 milk, per glass, cents
 v~Sweet potatoes: In Circular No. a. un- der heading Groceries margin of profit on sweet potatoes should be 90 cents per bushel instead of 60 cents. Communities are requested to report any exhorbitant charges made by res tanrants, furnishing all data available. Tn making other reports of prof1teering. it is important and very desirable that all information and available data be furnished with report"