Evening star., 1947-04-30
lk ~ ~ ."
Merchants Accelerate
-SIashing Drive;
One Dealer Cuts Milk

Merchants of Georgetown, Hyatts-
vile and Alexandria stepped up
their efforts today to enroll more
businessmen in the program of re-
ducing retail prices 10 per cent. At
the same time, plans were being
made by one large distributor here
to reduce milk prices / cent quart,
starting tomorrow.
The Highs ice cream stores an
nouncement that its milk price was
being reduced was considered the
most significant development on the
price front since several communi-
ties announced their adoption of
the Newburyport (Mass) plan for
cutting prices of non-food items.
There was speculation that the
Maryland and Virginia Milk Pro-
ducers' Association, which has held
fast to its price line despite pressure
from consumers and dairies here,
might reconsider it's stand that
wholesale prices cannot come down
SO long as labor and feed costs re-
main high.
1u-Ddy IldH NutCus
The Alexandria Retail Merchants
Association voted yesterday to give
the Newburyport plan 10 day
trial, starting Saturday.
This drew commendation from
Alexandria's City Council at its
regular meeting last night.
Falls Church merchants, however,
rejected the 10 per cent reduction
plan at a meeting last night. In
stead, they went on record as
pledging themselves ito continue
to sell merchandise at the lowest
possible prices consistent with sound
business practice.
Another cheering piece Of news
for consumers was the Agriculture
Department announcement that
farm product prices had declined
about l per cent between March Is
and April Is Leading in the down.
turn were meat animals, dairy
products and food grains.
Highs Cuts Milk Price.
The price of milk in Washington
and Maryland stores of Highs will
be 16 cents as against II cents for
other milk SOLD in retail stores and
1872 cents for home delivered milk.
I'VE think, as the President does,
that prices have reached the limit
and should be reduced so the public
can buy what we have to SELL" said
v. o. French, general manager of
Highs stores
The Associated Press quoted a
New York dress manufacturer as
saying the existing price panic is
stampeding top merchandise execu-
tives' into lowering quality stand
ards and upsetting the industry.
Retailers, he said, are in danger of
"overbalancing their stocks with
low-priced merchandise this fall
much as they were overstocked with
high-priced merchandise last sea-
SON.
Hyattsville Drive Gains.
In nearby Hyattsville, four-man
committee, headed by Samuel Said
man, announced that about 80 mer-
chants have signed up for the price
reduction program which went into
effect there Monday. He said an.
other 20 businessmen, including
some in West Hyattsville, have
promised to join.
He said the committee is tryin,
to interest barber shops, cleanin
establishments and automobil
dealers, insofar as accessories ar
concerned, in the plan.
Harry Hall, who operates a sery
ice station at 1894 Baltimore boule
ward, reported he is giving the
per cent reduction on tires, tube
and accessories.
Several store operators reporte,
encouraging results, but most agrees
it will be the end of the week be
fore the results really" will b
seen
Merchants Adopt Policy.
The Falls Church merchant.
meanwhile, adopted the followin
statement of policy: THE mer
chants of Falls Church pledge them
selves to continue to sell their mer
chandise at the lowest possibl
prices consistent with sound bus
ness practice. They have been pass
ing on to the public every redus
ton that it has been possible /
make, and they have already passe
ON all reductions which have bee
made by wholesalers and manufat
surers. Tnev wish to point out
the public that present reduction
In prices are sound only if Who'll,
salers and manufacturers also pa
ticipate."
An example Of how the Fal
Church plan has been working ws