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Show ULLu lHIiL) FOoScfs Attorney General Palmer Pal-mer Expects Drop to Come Between First of Year and March First. Campaign hy Government Govern-ment to Fight Excessive Exces-sive Profits Declared to Be Well Under Way. WASHINGTON. Pec. 22. Expectation of decline in retail food prices beginning between January I and March 1, was expressed ex-pressed tonight by Attorney General Pal- , mcr in a statement summing up the cf- , forts of the government to date in forcing down tho cost of living. i "The cost of living, already under con- j troi,' said the attorney general, "can bt reduced If everyone who produces will I produce his utmost, if those who buy and j consumo will have and eliminate extravagance, extrava-gance, and if all honest people will join with the department of justice in stamping stamp-ing out profiteering and hoarding. Kxplainiug that a downward trend in retail food prices ordinarily was shown during the first two months of a year. Mr. Palmer said it was the hope of the overnmnt that "this trend will be accelerated ac-celerated this v-tr by the campaign initiaf i by M.o go erm... h ;'hich is just now getting well under way." Although statistics compiled annuahy by the envernnvmt show that in previous years retail foo-j prices increased during the fall months, Mr. Palmer said that since August this year such prices had been maintained practically stationary. PROSECUTIONS MADE UNDER LEVER ACT. Only sineo October 22, vIkh necessary amendments to the. Ixver food control act were passed, the attorney general's statement said, has it been possible to deal effectively with all cases of proliteer-ing proliteer-ing and hoarding. Vrom October 22 to dale. iT'j prosecutions have been instituted, insti-tuted, and prosecutions and seizures have covered eighteen states, it was added. Duo to eooptrat ion between the gov-i gov-i eminent and various retail merchants' associations, as-sociations, the statement sail, prevailing ! profits of clothing had been reduced from 5 to ;.n per cent. The statement, which was issued with the authorization of the government officials offi-cials associated with the attorney general in the campaign to force down living costs, including Inreetor General of Railroads Rail-roads Hints, was considered in some quarters quar-ters a1 a summary of the government's portion in the face of the recently renew re-new i-d demands of railroad workers tor an increase in pay. The railroad shopmen publicly and the other railroad crafts taci'lv a ereed in August with the suggestion sugges-tion of President Wilson to postpone t:ie.ir demands fur in"-r?ased pay for ninety days to await efforts of the government to bring down prices.. TEXT OF PALMER'S OFFICIAL STATEMENT. "In August," said the attorney general's gen-eral's btatement, "in connection with demands de-mands for increased wages by railroad shopmen, based on the increased cost of living, the, president announced to the public, the view that the cost of living would be lowered as soon as there were ift i led ('(j.'ii iilions of production and of commerce, as oou as the treaty ol pe:iee was ratified, mid as booh ;is merchant.-;. liKinu fit i-t ) r.rt-. farmers and miners i;rd a certain busis of ciilculati'm. In a statement state-ment lo the shopmen them.-lves, the president declared that the primary tep was to increase production and facilitate transportation so us to lmtke up for the deslructlon -wrought by the war and the terrible scarcities it created. The president presi-dent added thiit the aovennnent had taken up with all possible! vigor the tusk of brinerine; the profiteer lo bonk, niakim; the s'oeks of necessities in the country available at lower prices, stimulating pro-ducliou pro-ducliou and facilitating distribution. '"The movement inaugurated at that time to yain control over the cost of living has been largely ill the bands of the department de-partment ol" justice. It should be hclplul to point out what has already been accomplished ac-complished and what further steps are in contemplation. To assess the situation it is necessary to look back and ascertain what the trend of prices lias been in past years. DEPARTMENT CITES TREND OF PRICES. "Taking retail food prices as a basip. the index numbers of the L'niied States bureau of labor statistics from 1911 to l'llO indicate that UP to 1919 there has been a noticeable trend upward in such prices in the fall of the year, whereas since August this year such retail prices have been kept practically stationary, ivy wnv of illusMalKin. clnrinK the period. An-ir-l lo November, inclusive ISI. there -,s an advance in retail food prices as irdicated bv the bureau of labor statistics of IS points, in 1317 IS points, and In 191 S ty points, as compared w'lh no increase whatsoever in the corresponding period of 1919. Considering tho four years from 1911 to 19M inclusive, l-ciall P'-ices show a slight upward trend from September L to October , the greater upward trend from October 1 to November I, and remained nr-ictlcallv stationary from November 1 to December 1. During the four years from 19b, to 191. inclusive, retail food priees show a decided upward trend from T(Contiiiuod oil Page II, Column 1.) SB EMLY DECUNE 1 1 FOOD PK rT.iHbor 1 l O.'tober A ''o cn.b.-r 1 1 to Iv,v,- ; T"'s Vmi'l if-lii'-l'"" '" 11:0 0 It ','. I ,.rl.v w:.s effivtrtl. as b "!!:' "uiriM.l. sli-lly .l ove ! r,-u.rn.. ES CONSIDERED '. TRY SIGNIFICANT. i 0.-,l-i tlx- official .lata cl.-ar-i t"';"!' .ifiVanl ,hi,t ''H' " ,1" 'nii-'lrtl tiv r tail pri.os I. ',( ,.vi-nil-cr of tills year iu-iist. while lurliiK for- W "io.'.U.iK l-a.'k 10 ll'H. ll.o X r7ov.-iiil'.''' .lio- a oonsaloral.lo lw , ... ,lv Ausnsl iTIurtts. txV.'.V of roK.il foo.1 price imli--K r.-d.'.l ilowinviirrl trn:.l or.i- 1 P ''i ' .,ii-.l'J i" t!"" iwrl of llio Jl i'.i.iiiI'.v I anil Mutvll I. i'- i1""1, j, luMH'ii tli.'l lins tib ial "lli ''' r ii this voar by tho oanipain t" ". ,,- ciiwrnmont. whi.-li is just :!,";, ,t mi'lor way. !" .vor UVl! .'Ouiro act. uinitT ,. i'-od ii.iiniii'siratioM operate'! t'ic en'ori'.'iiL'i-.t of whit h liie "?,",( Jusli.v is now trying to " .1, p-i.vs. unfortunately di.l nut !i",vnill for i-eriain a-ts tlc-V tlc-V uiil uvf'.il. ini'l tluTofuiv the ft ins'"'0 ':. uuablc to of-u of-u ' many '-f ( profit-,Miiit profit-,Miiit to its lUeuliou. dent's Action, tho gravity of this soUiatiou, iit ' appe.irei 1ei.-re tie eon-" eon-" viiut i anil urged an hum. rliiiU-- rliiiU-- y '"of tllC food OOtltrnl itit to ox- f l.'iv !- all Hie nooositi.s of life. - t'-V-vo-.'' ;i penally for iol.ttion of t v1M!ii ai't. 'Whioli HKnio prot'it-f'-vvi'il iin'l to oxtoiMi the E Vie pe;i'-e-tiim Tiie atioriu t 'i.i.oii l"-'i"ore the senate an- F, 'nv,ijt!oc in A'.; gust and nrg -:d .".i'ii?nts skeil by the president S:"'''" ' N1 Ui,t'' -'tbor 1', how- "Si r.icse anieiidnieius beioine a 3 I ly sirt-e that time haa U been A , -o'.-eal f tieetivoly with ail eu.iit.s M and hoarding. t tl'P enaotinent of addi- I ;..-iNitioti. however, the depart-did depart-did not remain inactive. '- l'v'l of tlio act provided a penalty "'.-:. .n:d teeiiun "" 1 1 authorized ' T - "-j:e Jii'-i Je f boarded m-.-esi-. t? Lever act was amended .. r renalty for profiteeruifr. 17! -j v.ilia-e been instituteJ. L'nder ,y- k ; of that aet'and in all cases V c trial thus far convictions have , 'ir.c-i. There have been nincty- -a i actual seizures under sec- , .?f the act. and in many of these "-r-rCJios are aleo eonteniplated -.j.-:ion VI. In addition, twenty-v twenty-v V'-' 1 '" a"'e-?f' hoarding ha e hoen fie Ht tent ion of United States ' v- for invtstiirritton. f"t' seizures y,! ; r ccu T 'o:i. ii tlie facta varrant. - .S; ires Are Noted. iiinres and prosecutions have fcr.z-teen states and the coinrnodi-i;ae coinrnodi-i;ae included etzzs, butter, ' k r:rk, p'.Miltry, lard. fish, suar, ' t h r ,s:;;,";i,i,Im h si,r"if"-" " t tho V ,,,! stalos attorneys. t ' .as, has ll. , ,,,,., ,)O01, f,,,,,,,, " olo.v.lo ,l,.-,Pr,,, of ,.,, Jail soiitrnoos ha.o boon iiupo.so.i I on,- rase a lino of moo was Imposed' a no lior a tine of ,, t.ue', inont Is in lull, and in a third oaso. a flno of .iHK. and tno ,,,o,hti in lail. This uu-,',v uu-,',v ,t';li!"' . ni0"1-tl. Results of "LJi""y '" tv,l Ustriots hihI .r , . v ,, h K ,"'lws of indlotinonts ar, tx .e, t, ,i ,u, w,lr futrc. hero-.Mr hero-.Mr possible. determined effort will bo made to obtain iall senteneeM H.oVe.?' 0,,l"" 'Ii"!1 to assist In ra-du, ra-du, ,k the eost of livhiK ,1 partleu-ar partleu-ar 1 to eliminate profiteering, rests upon honest and responsible business men of hrl"K ahout. cooperation lons t.piese.itlus the different trade interests in-terests have been approached. Yerv help. ill cooperation has been obtained" w hich lias had a inarU.d tendencv not onlv to stop tho upward trend of prices, but In some instances to decrease prices. Clothiers' Action. "The National Retail Clothing- Dealers-association Dealers-association have recently established their I renal- mavKilia of profit as holns fair and nave so ad.ised tiieir entire membership ; c escntms approximately ,io per cent ol the retail cloth, in; dealers of America. Amer-ica. They lme also appointed a dlil-Senco dlil-Senco committee, lo hunt up profiteers within their membership, and report to the L'uited Slates attorney in Uieir respective re-spective districts violations of martins of pror.ts as set up by their organisation, organisa-tion, loose profits show, from to per cent reduction over prei ailing profits oi least lew months. "The National Uetall Dealers' association associa-tion have appointed an executive committee com-mittee to confer for the purpose of re-cslahlishin re-cslahlishin a similar rule vitai,, their "i Saiil.a, ion. The National Kclail Hrv i.loo.is association, represent iui; some "0 -, ,i0 stoics in the L'uited States, are "cooper., "co-oper., tim.- with the department of Justice in establishing prominently econouiv depart, de-part, ncuts during Januarv and Kehruarv. Several of the larger manufacturers' associations, as-sociations, as well as wholesale and retail re-tail liier, luints' associations, have appointed ap-pointed committees to conrer with agents of tile department of justice and are putting put-ting their entire machinery at the disposal dis-posal of the department to earrv out programs pro-grams to tin- membership. Such efforts will be extended to other like, organizations organiza-tions to cooperate toward reduced profits. Thorough Campaign. "Beyond tiiia the department of justice has instituted a thoroupthRolns and nation-wide campaign, participated In bv thousands of men and women, bringing about regu.ations in t ho cost of li. ing through education and through moral suasion. In forty-four states this campaign cam-paign is, progressing effectively. The woi k- In all of llieui, as directed from Washington, Is being done by fair-price commissioners or l'uited States attorneva. Yei-y soon organizations of the remaining states will be completed. Three slates have passed laws creating committees or other machinery for the protection of their citizens against profiteering. The women of the country. In whose hands rests the power to largely control the cost of living through purchase, have been organized to carry certain educational educa-tional facts to the consuming and buying buy-ing public as well as to determine fair prices in local communities and to hunt out the profiteers and report violations of the Lever act. "The women's organizations of the country have already done splendid work -:vAi;.', ::' ::;r;i!-:v '':':''-':V "'.":'.' : ..''Vr' '""': . ..... " r;.5 v jj: . ;. "y . '' -' " -'. - . ''; "SV :" . ! -'-'. : ' :' ' - 'V :,i,l:V : ; , V . , . : . ; - v'-'f. ' K p-::y-,, ; ,:. ' ' I , : V ..',:V '' eiT ' 1 "CV i-'V-i,;.:.-' : :: '. . MiMmBBA : "; W -. m'B: . ' is .'-' '. X.C. ' X -!5;?:..,X;.. . ;CC.:(J V V. .; f. . . "f ! ii? . ' '!. : . - s ,; ' : ..' jo ', ,. :;. : ' .:-:"":f" ''' ' : j V'. ' C ' " . , . ' .' ." -:..:'r ' -: ; , ' . ' 'f ' . j Mitzi. star of Henry W. Savage's musical comedy, "Hoad Over Heels," Salt j Lake theater, three days, starting Christmas night. Special Saturday matinee. in this direction ;c.d arc expected to cooperate co-operate .still further. It h: 1-ecn thought advisMhlo to w urk through orani.utinns already set up and fiinctiniiin in the different dif-ferent states, i it t her t ha a to pet up a separate organization solely for this purpose. pur-pose. Increase Production. "Primarily the notable factors involve in the cost of living are the needed in-crea in-crea se in production, t ho elimination of extiavauant l.iuing and the determined nun tint; down of profiteers of all clashes. I believe that, the time has now cmne when the organization of the country has been completed to the point where real results can be show n. 'The cot of living, liv-ing, already under control, can he reduced if every one who produces will piodnee his utmost, if tho.' who huv and consume, con-sume, will save and eliminate c;rawi-pance. c;rawi-pance. and if Hi I honest people will join Willi the department of justice in -tamping out profiteerini; and hoarding." The officials attending the conferenee, at whteh the statement was authorized and who. it is understood, are prepared to make the sULtcment the hafi fo;- -..h-tion of any problems within their .juri- diction Involving the cost of living, in addition lo Attorney General lJalmer were Secretaries l:miels und Alexander, ("haii -nian Murdoclt and Coinmissioii-r ''olver, of the federal trade commission; Assistant Assist-ant ScerctHry oi the Trensury Leffing-w Leffing-w ell. .Assistant Attorney ( le.neral Ame, liree(or tjeneral I lines and Special Assistant As-sistant to the Attorney General tig?. |