The New York herald., 1921-08-29
CHEAP FOOD FORCED
in MASSACHUSETTS
Necessaries Commission to
Make Lunch Dealers
Tell of Profits.
HAS WON MANY FIGHTS
Rents and Clothing Prices
Lowered Frequently
by It's Action.
COAL LESS EASY TO CUT
Federal Inquiry Is Needed to
Handle This Problem, Com
mission Finds.
COAL LESS EASY TO CUT

Special Despatch TO TIN, New yogK HERALD
Boston. Aug. 2S.-The State Com
mission on the Necessaries of Life
which two years ago succeeded the
High Cost OF Living Commission. the
wartime body, continues it's fight on
the high prices OF essentials. 1t is
seeking to bring into line certain one
arm lunchrooms which have scarcely
shaded their previous top prices.
When complaints from every section
of the State poured in, the commission
formulated 4 set of questions for the
one-arm lunch dealers, with the order
that early response be made.
AS has been the case with dealers in
the many lines tackled by the commits
sion, some lunch men have cut prices,
but others show disposition to hang
back, apparently to make the commits
sion show its hand. 1t is apparent
that the commission will order public
hearings to which the lunch men will
be summoned. The publicity attached
TO the hearings on the coal, rent and
other situations was distinctly unde-
sirable TO many dealers and the lunch
men probably do not relish a similar
proceeding,
Lacking power to punish fiagrant prof
iteering I'm any line, the commission, set
up by the General Court and headed
by eugene G. Huffman, has had an
arduous struggle. Huffman il aggres-
sive and capable, however. and consid-
ering the handicaps under which he
works he has accomplished immeasura-
BILE relief In thousands of specific cases.
particularly in rents and housing. The
commissions guns always have brought
down some birds in every investigation.
These inquiries have been numerous,
including rent and COAL a grim problem
for New England in recent winters: ice.
food, including meats, milk. bread and
other staples. and mems and womens
clothing. not even emitting underwear
and corsets.
One of the toughest problems Is that
OF housing. by 10 means solved, as com
plants of continued cxoroitant Increases
in rent will cause the commission 10
turn again TO the l,rates FOR renewed
correction
Long and bitter public hcai ings were
held ON the rent and housing situation.
1t WAS shown that scores OF the largest
apartment houses OF Greater Boston
were controlled BY a rinS which sold
around in a circle: each transaction
at a higher price, with the attending
jump in the rents OF the suffering ten
ants.
Since last March the Boston sub-com-
mittee has handled more than 5000
cases and in many has drawn the land
lord and tenant into anicabe confer
cnce. usually with some relief TO the rent
payer.
Hundreds of families faced with de-
rnands for Increases ia rent are being
advised to refuse to stand for any hold
tp. The commission. in taking this at
iItudc, says that in the last year repair
and replacement costs have dropped 80
per cent. in contrast with rent increases
epproxinatiny 100 per cent. The COM
mission asserts amy action on the part OF
landlord TO boost rents now is an ava
iicious attempt to take an unfair adj
vantage of the tenant while houses con-
tinue to be scarce.
The commission advises tenants con-