Evening star., 1941-07-07
Furniture Dealers
Warned 10 Help
Price Control
Stronger U. S. Action
Promised if Mild
Curb Fails
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, July IA Govern
ment price official told a group OF
furniture dealers today that it was
directly contrary to national pol
icy" to urge consumers to buy mer-
chandise Immediately because OF
threatened price increases.
In a speech prepared for delivery
at a luncheon at the Chicago Fur
niture Market, James F. Bogardus,
Of the Federal Office of Price Admin
istration, said that stronger means
than Government cooperation in
price problems would have to be
taken unless speculation and price
rises were checked.
Opposes Scare Tactics.
He said he had heard rumors of
retail price write-ups and of fright
merchandising tactics in the furni-
ture business, but added the hope
that these rumors were unfounded.
IF they are true" he said, "the
situation should be corrected i'm
mediately, 1t will bring consumer
reaction which will have detri-
mental effect on the entire in
dustry.'
Bogardus asked furniture men
voluntarily to abide by June %
request of Price Administrator
Leon Henderson that price boosts
be withheld. He also asked an end
to what he termed the "dangerous"
policy of some retailers In building
up big inventories in anticipation
of future price advances.
He added that shortages of alum
mum. chrome. copper and other
metals would necessitate the use of
substitute materials for metal fur
niture.
Big Shows Open.
The International and national
homefurnishings shows opened a
tWo-Week run today with many
manufacturers undecided as to Just
what prices they should put on their
displays.
While the vanguard of an ex-
pected 10000 buyers began making
the rounds of exhibits in the Amer
lean furniture mart and the mer-
chandise mart, the men who make
the goods conferred with price Off
cials to find out just how much of
a price raise was considered justi-
fable
The manufacturers viewpoint.
presented yesterday when 400 of them
met with Peter A. Stone. O. p. A.C.S.
deputy. was that materials costs
were rising, possibly not enough to
warrant general price boost. and
labor costs may increase, especially
if prices of food and other COM
modities were not controlled and
workers require higher wages. More
substitute materials also may be
necessary as shortages develop, and
the cost of these substitutes may be
higher than the original items.
L. S. Policy Outlined.
The 0. P. A. c. S. attitude. as eX-
pressed by Stone. was that once
manufacturing hits its capacity
stride, the decrease in overhead for
each furniture item produced would
make up largely for any labor in
creases Thus only the cost of ma
terials would influence the price OF
the manufactured article-and the
o. P. A. c. S. was in a position to
keep check on prices of these
materials.
I'VE really want to help you man
ufacturers, Stone told the group.
Il believe all of you agree with our
objectives. Those of you who re-
piled to our recent letter regard-
ing price CONTROL expressed a will
lngnesS TO cooperate in bringing
about these oblectives.
Since it is you who are pricing
the goods. the burden of stopping
such price increases rests on your
shoulders. The failure to do your
part means that We must step in
and take action that you don't like
and that We don't like"