Americus times-recorder., 1920-03-09
TO FIX MEMS
CLOTHINCPRICES
To Fix 35 Per Cent AS
Maximum On $4,000
Suits

ATLANTA, March 9.-John A.
Manget, Fair Price Commissioner for
Georgia, announced today that he
would issue an order Immediately es-
tablishing maximum profit of 35
per cent on mems suits selling for
$40 or less, the price ruling to apply
throughout the state, and to become
effective Immediately after it is is
sued.
This margin of clothing profit was
set at meeting of the Fulton Coun-
ty Fair Price Committee last fall,
and has resulted in a great saving to
the consumers of Atlanta. Mr.. Man
gets determination to have the stand
ard prevail throughout the state fol-
lowed recent meeting of the Fulton
County Fair Price committee, when
the price of the new standardized 16-
ounce bread loaf was set at IL cents
retail and 10 cents wholesale, the
price to apply only in Atlanta and
Fulton county.
According to data compiled by Mr.
Manget, the standard of 35 per cent
on clothing up to the minimum fig
ures of the governments luxury"
classification, will result in thou
sands of dollars in savings to the con-
sumers of the state.
To Organize Locally.
"Of course there are certain fea-
lures that force merchants of one
town to operate at a greater expense
than the retailers of another city,"
said Mr.. Manget, "but we propose to
have a fair price commission in every
town of the state before long, and
when that is done, the question of
prices for each section will adjust it.
self"
According to the provisions of the
ruling setting the clothing percentage
of gain, the profit applies to the sell
ing price of the garment and not on
the merchants cost price. Accord
ing to the state commissioner, until
Investigations of the costs of produc-
ton and manufacture are made,
price fixing with wholesale cost as a
basis is impossible.
! Marion NJ Jackson, assistant state
fair price commissioner, and promi-
nent attorney of Atlanta, announced
at recent meeting of the Fulton
county commission that the commit
tees authority to establish prices on
the commodities of life, regardless
of classification, was contained in GER
tain amendments to the provisions OF
the Lever Food Control Act, and
that more than seventy convictions
of profiteering had been secured
through the department of justice.
Mr.. Manget declared recently that
he had received few reports of gross
profteering in Georgia, and had beer
forced to report only one case which
resulted in conviction. The law pro
vides punishment on conviction o1
profteering of fine of $4,000 or five
years Imprisonment, or 10th.
Costs on Down Hill.
Mr.. Manget is of the opinion tha
the cost of living is displaying 1
downward trend.
81 can speak for Atlanta in thi.
connection said Mr.. Manget "Tht
prices of many commodities are mucl
lower than they were when the fail
price committee started its work, anC
| believe that the trend will continue
downward. l don't know whether Of
not this is result of the committee
work, but it cannot be denied tha
prices are lower than they were be
fore the committee took a hand il
the situation"
Reviewing the question of rem
profiteering, Mr.. Manget stated tina
the committee was powerless to re
lieve the distressing situation.
1--WE need state legislation to com
bat the evil" he said. "The fedora
government is powerless to aid in tbs
fight, at least no authority for TAX
ing drastic steps is contained in the
provisions of the act under which the
fair price committee operates