Evening star., 1947-04-20
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Join D. {. Move
To Trim Prices
Douglas and SeidIer
And Sofewoy Stores
Reveal New Policies

A distributor of kitchen and heat
ing equipment and grocery firm
yesterday Joined District merchants
who have announced their intention
to reduce prices.
Donald G. Douglas, president Of
Douglas and Seidler, Inc, said his
firm now is reducing its operating
margin "well below OPA levels
although our costs of materials are
still rising"
Substantial price reductions" in
all lines the firm handles will be
announced Ito firms we supply dur
ing the next 10 days." Mr.. Douglas
said. He added the reductions would
lower costs of veterans housing and
home improvements.
"It is our firm belief" he said,
"that this is but the beginning of
q nationwide movement which must
extend from the supplier of the raw
materials to the ultimate consumer
We will gladly pass on any price
decreases which are extended to
us by the manufacturers we repre-
sent"
Deliveries Increased.
Part of the price cuts are possible
because of the recently increased
volume of carload deliveries which
mean lowered overhead and hand
ling costs per unit. The remainder,
Mr.. Douglas said, Is "our contribu-
tion towards more stable econ
omy."
Price cuts are going into effect
Immediately on kitchen cabinets and
one type of boiler the firm supplies
to retailers, Mr.. Douglas said.
Kitchen cabinets are reduced to
$3725 from s4150 and the boiler
to s345 from $372.
The other price cuts average 10
per cent with some items cut as
much as 18 per cent and others as
little as 3 per cent, he said.
The firm is the largest of its kind
In the East. 1t put in the kitchens
in darlington, Parkfairfax, Mclean
and Naylor Gardens.
Safeway Stores in a newspaper
advertisement announced policies"
which, the ad said, "can and will
contribute to reducing the cost of
living"
Two Policies Listed.
The first of these policies is to cut
retail prices on existing inventory
when merchandise cost is lowered.
The second is to aim "tfe COM
panys full resources and years of
experience" at reducing the Gin
between costs Of distributing foods"
Meanwhile, Griffith Consumers,
1913 New York avenue NV, an
nounced cuts of SO cents and $f00l
q ton In anthracite coal. - !
BY tomorrow other dealers are ex-
pected to fall in line with the re-
ductions, L. r. Potts, chairman of
the coal division of the Merchants
and Manufacturers Association
said.
The cuts in coal prices mark a re-
turn to the prewar policy dealers had
Of reducing coal prices each Spring
The Hecht Co. earlier had an
nounced price reductions, an action
that drew praise from John r.
Steelman, assistant to President
Truman.
Also considered significant as far
as the ultimate price paid for auto
mobiles Is concerned was the agree
ment of auto loan companies here
to operate under the Districts Small
Loan Act which limits interest
rates.
Food Prices Decline.
Under the act, licensed companies |
may charge up to per cent inter-
est per month on loans-the fee to
cover all processing costs.
Another sign of price reductions
was the report of special Bureau
Of Labor Statistics survey of II
cities which indicated food prices
dropped Il of l per cent between
March Is and April Is. This was
said to be the customary trend for
the period.
The cost of living rose 2 per
cent, between mid-February and
mid-March to a record high of 156
per cent of the 1935-1936 average,
the bureau reported.
Meanwhile OPA announced plans
to wipe out rent controls in parts
Of % States late this month. The
District, which has its own rent
control law. will not be affected.
Senator Tobey, Republican, of
New Hampshire said a blanket rent
increase "on top of the present cost
of living would be the last straw"
He described the rise in the cost
Of living as wrong and vicious"