Evening star., 1946-07-10

was reported to be imminent here
today, but on other price fronts
hotel and restaurant association
spokesmen renewed pledges to keep
meat menu charges at previous CELL
! ing levels despite 10 to Is per cent
rise in the local wholesale market.
Only one ma jor ice cream pro-
ducer, the Brewer Co, has an
nounced that removal of subsidies
has necessitated an increase in the
/ wholesale price TO dealers in this
area. Several others said they
might have to fall in line and that
an increase probably could be ex-
pected within q few days.
! A representative of the Breyer
company said notices will be sent
| its dealers today concerning the in
| crease. He said he was not at
/ liberty to disclose the extent OF the
increase until all had been notified
From other sources it was learned
that manufacturers calculate that
a 10 per cent increase over the pres
ent average 81 80 gallon wholesale
price would be established.
Meat Supply Improves.
Such an increase probably would
have to be passed on by retailers to
consumers. in the opinion of officials
of some of the larger drug and con-
fectioner stores. A Liggett Drug Co.
official said he has not been notified
that the producer from whom he OBJ
ta1ns ice cream intends to increase
the price. His company, he eX-
planned, is absorbing the recent 3
cents quart milk price increase,
but might not be able TO absorb a
further rise on ice cream.
The head of another retail drug
store chain here said he would not
be surprised" if a wholesale price
increase became general here, but
if it were no more than 10 per cent
1T might possibly be absorbed by
some retailers. He said he was
notified that the wholesale price has
been advanced 20 cents a gallon in
the Ohio area today. but there is
no indication that such an advance
will occur here.
The meat supply here continued
to pick up so far as most supply
houses and independent wholesalers
were concerned but the larger
packing house units here still re-
ported no substantial arrivals. A
! spokesman for one of the biggest
hotel and restaurant supply houses
said he is receiving five times as
much meat, better in quality as well
as assortment. than he had a week
ago He asked that his name not
be disclosed because the increased
supply is still inadequate to care for
his $50 regular customers and he
already has been "swamped" by
requests from at least 200 others.
Shoppers Aid in Survey.
A group of women shoppers. CO.
operating with the New Council of
American Business. Inc. 1735 H
street NV, in. a, survey of meat
prices today is buying various kinds
of meats from Is Washington re-
tail markets which were the sub
ject of similar survey several
weeks ago. it was learned
The study, according TO an Off
cial OF the council, has no connec-
ton with activities of any other or
ganization investigating food prices
or planning public demonstrations
In favor of price control legislation.
The council is composed of repre-
sentatives of small businesses and
stands for retention of effective
price controls to protect merchants
as well as consumers, it was ex-
planned
Results of the survey will be
published within day or two, the
council announced. A scientific
comparison between current and
previous ceiling prices will be made
on the same items and in the same
markets and neighborhoods. The
volunteer shoppers met with council
officials at the Jewish Welfare
Board headquarters, 1887 Massa-
chusetts avenue, for discussion of
the shopping campaign and pre-
| liminary study of the results.
AS the newly established citizens
clearing house for complaints" began
operation today, it received two
early calls from shoppers who de-
clared a market near Eighteenth
street and Columbia road asked
$1.20 pound for porterhouse steak
and that chain store on suburban
Georgia avenue listed a 20 per cent
increase in the price of strawberry
preserves.
Clearing House Criticized.
The clearing house. sponsored by
the Washington Chapter of the
American Veterans Committee at
8O8 Seventeenth street NV. as well
as the buyers strike and down.
town picketing scheduled for tomor-
row afternoon by so organizations
affiliated with the Citizens Price
Defense Committee. came in for