Evening star., 1923-05-24
Reports That Prices Have
Already Advanced Are
Being Investigated.
INCREASE IS JUSTIFIED,
SAY ICE CREAM MAKERS
Declare Cost of Manufacture Has
Gone Up-0ficials Ready
for Drastic Action.

Charges that a group of Washing
ton restaurateurs and other COM
mercial establishments have already
embarked upon a campaign of goug-
ing brought from officials at Shrine
headquarters today a promise of an
immediate investigation and the es-
tablishment of a boycott upon any
house or organization that attempts
to exact unfair prices during the rush
Of Shrine week.
Oficial cognizance was taken by
both Shrine officials and the Mer-
chants and Manufacturers Associa-
tion today of persistent reports that
certain ice cream dealers, bakers and
restaurateurs have already an
nounced increases in the price OF
their commodities ranging from 20
cations inaugurated Investigations
through their proper officers
Ice Crcam Prices Up.
An unofficial inquiry among ice
cream dealers today showed that ice
cream prices in Washington have
been increased 20 cents on the gallon
in the last week. bearers explained
the increase by increased cost Of pro-
duction.
l. p. Steuart. potentate OF Almas
Temple, said today: Washington
cannot permit any unscrupulous mer-
chants to take unfair advantage of
its guests. They are going to leave
everything that is decent give them
their moneys worth. at least"
The food committee of Almas Tenn
pie had a corps of investigators can
vassing every restaurant in Washing
ton this morning. demanding to see
their list of prices for Shrine week.
Other workers were sent TO call upon
the bakers and ice cream manufac-
turers. Nothing has created more of
a sensation around Shrine headQuar-
stantly increasing number of reports
concerning prospective gouging.
Boycott Fayorea.
Every official questioned declared
himself ready to stand behind a gen.
uine boycott upon all articles for
which excessive prices are asked.
The Shrine made IL plain, In addi-
forcing such d ban. and IL was even
suggested that every member Of the
order coming to Washington would
be pledged not to touch any article
declared UNFAIR.
BY this means. the Shrine committee
here asserted. IL could make a definite
promise that the 100000 visitors to
Washington during the meeting OF
the Imperial Council will not be
asked to pay exorbitant prices for
any article-food. clothing or hous-
ing. In this connection 1t was pointed
out that the city's warehouses have
submitted official reports showing
that they have on hand right now
enough staple foodstuffs to feed
Washington and all Of its visitors for
sixty days. With this information in
hand, the Shrine officials made 1t plain
there could be no excuse for gouging
and that none would be brooked. ,
Investigation Ordered.
Gen. Anton Stephan. president Of
the Merchants and Manufacturers
Association. today directed the secre-
diately institute an investigation to
determine the truth of reports of
gouging here. The investigation will
begin Immediately and. until the re-
port Of the facts is in. II will not
be determined just what will be done
found.
Specifically. Gen. Stephan had be-
fore him newspaper clipping from
a New York newspaper and sent to
IL from It's " dsninEtOn bureau, WnICn
told OF alleged profiteering here. The
story said that people would have to
sleep fifteen in room. that certain
classes of business men were smack
ing their lips over the prospective
high profits they were planning to
make. 1t has also been called to
President Stephan's attention that
there Is absolutely knowledge of at
least one firm which has Increased
the sale price of It's product.
Gen. stephan made 1t known that
he was wholly out of sympathy with
such moves. and expressed regret
that articles should be sent over the
country announcing profteering IL
the facts did not bear them out 1t
is for the purpose of determining the
truth Of the reports that he has
directed a thorough investigation of
the matter.
Increase Declared Justified. ~.
Ice cream manufactured by the
Chaplin Sacks corporation Is selling
in Washington today at the wartime
peak price. as a result OF an increase
of 20 cents a gallon in the wholesale
last Saturday. when notice was served
on the retailers that the cost of the
cream would be s1.40 a gallon instead
of $1.20.
Retailers in turn raised the price
of the cream proportionately. Some
advanced II 5 cents on the quart and
others 10 cents. Fifty-five and so
cents a quart are the prices prevail
ing at the stores handling the
Arthur A. Chaplin. president of the
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