Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-20
WANT FAIR PRICE
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Ia this and other cities that nearly every
thiny costs more in Wilmington than 1t
DOES nearby The members of the COM
rnittce have visited and written to many
cities TO secure the data that would
enable them to come to some decision.
Purchasers made many complaints but
did not desire publicity, hence we could
not work up definite concrete cases OF
profiteerlng
While this committee has no power
70 investigate financial condition oil
local dealers as to seeing what they pay
for articles and what they sell them for,
IL has tried 70 do as instructed and think
that we have accomplished that purpose.
For many food commodities, especially
meats the prices In Wilmington average
from 10 per cent to 10 per cent higher
than those in other cities. In comparing
prices we have endeavored to try to get
prices on the same articles and quality
OF food. We give below list of few
prices. showing what articles cost In
Wilmington and what they cost in nearby
cities. OF course these are only q few items
but they will show the trend OF prices
bv which 4 comparison can be made. In
first example we give three large critics
and ono small one. OF course the large
cities should have better purchasing
facilities.
DEALERS DENY CHARGE.
The wholesale meat dealers and whole
sale grocers who were appointed on the
committee insist that As far as they are
concerned they can find no profiteering
In this city and that the retailers are only
getting a legitimate profit on the prices
charged by the wholesalers and the whole
saicrs are only getting reasonable
profit on their purchasers. The whole
salcrs claim especially that they arc
not prohteering and that If they were not
able tn turn their money quickly there
would be very little profit IN the business
fo- them at the present prices.
We have learned from men who
formerly have been 10 the grocery or
n,ca; business that the big wholesale
houses of the countr have special prlcc
lists for articles in different vicinities.
Nearly all the lists covering the Whining
tou territory are higher than those fur
nishcd to other places, for instance, IN
Baltimore territory. OF course, men In
business at the present time claim TO
their knowledge that there is no material
difference IN the prices furnished VIII
miugton, and other cities. IL woul d
naturally be expected that they would
not give any information that would
injIIrc them with the big national whole
sale houses, and information OF the
character must naturally be secured from
men who are no longer In the business
and are not afraid to talk, knowing that
the wholesaler can hold no menace
against them now. These men, however,
IN more or less of friendly spirit towards
their former fellow members of the
business. do not wish their names quoted
Your committee has heen In close touch
with the Fred 7. Bell interests Of Phiia-
tlelphia relative 10 establishing a ten
per cent above cost store IN this city.
The committee has cndeavored 10 give 10
the Bell interests the locations Of proper
ties that it considered dc esirable for such
a store. The repre- sentatives of MIR. Bell
have been IN Wilmington at least eight
times and looked over many Of the loca-
fionS but a yet have not determine
upon a permanent one. Such a store
would no doubt help relieve the high cnSt
of living situation In this city. The Bell
investigation was ut the suggestion OF
YOUR committee.
Your committee has also been In COM
municatiou with the Department OF
Justice, Bureau of Investigation 1T Wash
ington, which controls the Federal Fair
Price Commissioners Of various cities,
and this department is naturally OF the
opinion that there is great deal OF prof.
Their idea is TO cooperate with the mer-
chants, manufacturers and others SO SIS
TO find out what is n fair gross profit,
and after this price has been settled upon
they issue lists showing what fair price
for certain commodity should be. After
this price is settled they endeavoI to have
the merchants accept and abide by the
prices. OF course, In the case OF these
Federal Fair Price Commissioners they
are not only taking up food products, but
clothing and other articles beside. Pennsyl-
vsnia and Maryland have such comnis-
SONS. The papers from time to time give
ideas OF the " ork of the commiss ions.
Some weeks ago Federal INSPECTORS
were In this city, but how long they
stayed or what was the outcome OF their
investigation has never been learned.
SUGGEST LEGISLATION.
We would suggest, now that the Legls-
lature is about to have a special session
that some movement be made whereby
Fair Price Commission could be ap-