Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-09-16
Food Inquiry Given
1O-Point Program
By Boston Housewife
By the Associated Press

BOSTON, Sept. 16.-The congress
sional subcommittee conducting
hearings on high prices was urged
today by a pretty housewife to do
something about it quickly because
the health of the Nation is at
stake"
Mrs. Hazel Sagoff, chairman of
the Boston Chapter Of the National
Association of Consumers. told Sem
ator Flanders, Republican, of Ver-
mont and his fellow committeeman
not to look for profiteers because
there was mo such bad man in
peacetime."
She charged that business recog-
nized no such thing as unconscion-
able profits and offered the follow
ing suggestions to relieve the high
cost Of living:
Il. Call an immediate session OF
Congress for the purpose Of declaring
moratorium on all further price
increases, pending other congress
sional action.
20. Reimpose excess profits tax.
49, Regulate exports so that COM
modities needed abroad will reach
the needy people and not the foreign
black market.
Roll Back Prices.
a. Roll back prices of essential
foods mad make up the difference
to the producer by subsidies where
necessary.
IS. Review farm parity prices with
the intention of lowering. artificially
high support prices on all agricul-
tural commodities. cotton and wool.
Is. Remove the taxes and restric-
tive legislation on margarine.
~. Eliminate minimum retail
price-fiXing of milk.
IS. Keep the remaining controls
on consumer credit which are
scheduled to be lifted November /.
g. Start a Nation wide publicity
campaign to stop wasting food, espe-
cially wheat products.
Consumer Wants Spokesman.
10. Establish in Washington some
department or individual who will
speak for the consumer-one who
is familiar with the problems and
needs of the average family. We
feel that a knowledge of consumer
needs will help the family, since
essentially what is good for the
great number of consumers is good
for business"
you are the DOCTORS" she told the
committee. The patient is suffer-
ing from deep-seated malady. - :"
Do not hesitate to use the 7scalpel."
Mrs. Mary Higgins, mother of six
children, told the committee that
the attorney general of Massachu-
sets should investigate milk prices.
1--WE cannot allow an important
commodity like milk to be exploited
at the expense of little children"
she declared. "1f the attorney gen.
eral fails to probe the milk prices
then J. recommend that the Federal
Government conduct an investiga-
ton"
Senator Flanders, Republican, of
Vermont, chairman of the subcom-
mittee, said on his arrival here for
a three day session that a hearing
in Providence, r. l., yesterday "obvi-
ously cleared the consumers, retail
ers and distributors" in that area.
Three Alternatives.
He told a Public Accountants
Convention there were three ways to
solve the problem:
Il. Give up the idea Of full en-
ployment and depend on reservoir
of unemployed for regulation, of
wages and prices, or
IS. Go back to Government con-
trolls, or
g. The right way-develop a
craftsmanship on wages with labor,
and on the question of prices with
industry"
Stressing the key position of
grains, the chairman said:
1--WE can't hope for anywhere near
a normal crop of corn, and the
prospect of getting a reduction in
the price of meat, poultry and eggs
is rather dubious"