Show Living Cost to Drop I 1 After First of Year I Ii i Attorney General Says i WASHINGTON D Dec c. c 2 l Expectation of ot decline in retail food tood prices price beginning between January 1 and March 1 if was expressed ed last night by byA A Attorney Horne General Palmer In a statement summing up the efforts of ot the government to date dale In forcing down the cost of living J I The cost coat of living already under control said the attorney general can be reduced If it everyone who produces es will produce his utmost if th thI those j I who buy and consume will save and eliminate extravagance and if all hone honest hones t tI I people will Join with the department of justice In stamping out profiteering I and hoarding I Explaining that a downward trend In retail food tood prices ordinarily was J I shown during the first two months of a year Mr Palmer said it was the hope of the government that this I trend will be accelerated this year ear by the campaign initiated by the government government govern govern- ment which Is just now getting setting well under way I NO INCREASE THIS HIS FALL Although statistics compiled annually annu annu- t j ally b by the government show that In previous years retail food lood prices Increased in increased increased In- In creased during the fall fail months Mr Palmer said that since August this year such sueh prices had been maintained practically station stationary a Only since Octo October r 22 when necessary necessary necea- necea sary amendments to the Lever Le food control act were passed the attorney generals general's statement said has it been possible to deal effectively ely with all aU leases cases of profiteering and hoarding I From October 22 to date prosecutions prosecutions prosecutions have been Instituted and prosecutions prosecutions pros pros- and seizures have covered I eighteen states it was added Due to cooperation between the government and various retail merchants merchants' merchants merchants' merchants merchants' mer mer- chants' chants associations the statement said prevailing profits of clothing had been reduced from 5 j to 50 SO per cent REPLY TO BROTHERHOODS The statement which was issued with the authorization of the government government government govern govern- ment officials associated with the attorney general in the campaign t to force torce down living costs including Director General of ot Railroads Hines was considered in some quarters as a summary of the governments government's position in the face faco of ot the recently renewed demands of railroad workers for tor an increase in pay The Tho railroad shop shop- men publicly and the other railroad I crafts tacitly agreed in August with the suggestion of President Wilson Vilson to postpone their demands for tor in increased increased increased in- in creased pay for tor ninety days to awaIt awal efforts cf of the government to bring brins down prices WILSON PROMISED DROP i I In August said the attorney generals general's generals general's gen gen- I eral's statement in connection with demands for increased wages by railroad railroad railroad rail rail- road based on the increased cost of living the president announce announced to the public the view that the cost o ot of living would be lowered as soon aspro as there were settled conditions of production production pro pro- and of ot commerce as soon as asI I the treaty of peace was ratified andas and andas andas as soon as merchants manufacturers farmers and miners had a certain basis of calculation In a a. statement to the themselves the president de declared declared declared de- de that the primary step was to In Increase increase In in- crease production and facilitate transI trans- trans I 1 porta lion so as is to make up the destruction de destruction destruction de- de wrought by the w war and the I terrible scarcities it created The I president added that the go had taken up with all possible vigor th the task of bringing the profiteer to book bookmaking I making the tho stocks of necessities In the country available at lower prices price stimulating production and facilitating I distribution dl r rI The movement Inaugurated at that I time to gain control over the cost of living has been largely In the hands o othe of t the department of justice It should b bt beI be e t I helpful to point what has already bee been n accomplished and what further steps step s I ire are In contemplation To assess th the e situation it is necessary to look back hack and ascertain what tho the trend of prices price a I has been In past years UPWARD SINCE 1911 Taking retail food tood prices as a a. basis the index numbers of ot the United State States I bureau of labor statistics from 1311 1911 t to 1919 indicate that up to 1919 thee the has been a noticeable trend upward i in n such prices In the fall of the year ear whereas since August this year ear such h retail prices have hac been kept practically practical y stationary By way of ot illustration during the period August to November November Novem Novem- ber inclusive in 1916 there was an all advance in retail food prices as Indicated Indicated Indicated Indi Indi- by the bureau of labor statistics statistic I I lof of 13 points In 1917 15 points and i in 1918 16 points as compared with n no nc Increase whatsoever in the corresponding correspond correspond- ing period of 1919 Considering th the th e four lour years from 1911 to 1914 inclusive I retail prices show a slight upward trend from September 1 to October 1 a greater upward trend from October 1 to November 1 and remained practically practically practically cally stationary from No November ember 1 t tc te o December I 1 1 During the four yean year from 1915 to 1918 inclusive retail food prices show a decided upward trend from August 1 to September 1 and t to October 1 and a slightly lessened but bu t decided upward trend to November 1 and to December 1 This year durin during g September and October an actual reduction reduction re- re In the general level of retail prices was effected as compared with August while the figure for tor November I although slightly above that of October October October Octo Octo- ber shows no Increase above the August August August Au Au- gust ret returns Tn in other words the official official cial data clearly show the significant fact tact that the cost of ot living as Indicated by retail prices was no greater in November November November No No- vember of ot this year than it was in August August Au Au- gust while during former year extendIng extending extending extend extend- ing back to 1911 the returns for lor November November November No No- vember show a considerable increase over the August returns SPEED UP DECREASE The history of bf retail food prices in indicates indicates indicates in- in that a decided decided trend ordinarily may inay be bo expected in the part of the year between January 1 and March 1 1 and It is to be hoped that this trend will be accelerated this year yearby yearby yearby by the campaign Initiated by the government government government gov gov- which is just now getting well wen under way The Lever food control act under which the food administration operated and through the enforcement of ot which he tho department of ot justice is now trying trying try- try ing ng to reduce high prices unfortunately unfortunately unfortunately did not provide a penalty for tor certain acts declared to be unlawful and therefore the department of justice justice jus- jus tice Ice was unable to effectively deal with many cases of profiteering which came cameto to 0 its attention Realizing the gravity i ot of f this situation the president appeared ap- ap eared before the congress on August 8 1 and urged an immediate amendment I ap-I of f the food control act to extend its scope cope to all the necessities of life lite and ando to o provide a penalty for violation of ot I section 4 of this act which made profiteering pro- pro unlawful and to extend the I life ife of the act into peacetime The attorney attorney at- at torney orney general appeared before belore the senate agricultural committee in August and urged that amendments asked by the tho president be passed Not until October 22 however did these amendments become a law and only since Ince that time has it become possible to o deal effectively with all cases o 01 profiteerIng and hoarding 79 PROSECUTIONS BEGUN While waiting walt the enactment of additional additional additional ad ad- legislation however the de department department department de- de of justice did not remain in inactive in- in active Section 6 of ot the act provided a penalty for tor hoarding and section 1 I authorized th the seizure and sale of hoarded necessities Since the tho Lever I act ct was amended to provide a pen- pen Ity for tor profiteering prosecutions have been instituted Under provisions I of that act and in all cases brought to to I trial thus far convictions have bave been obtained There have bave been ninetynine ninetynine ninety ninety- I nine cases of ot actual seizures under section 7 of ot the act and In many of these cases prosecutions are also contemplated contemplated contemplated con con- under section 6 6 In addition two twenty-two cases of ot alleged hoarding have been called to the attention of ot I United Stat States s attorneys for Investigation tion for seizures and for prosecutions If the facts warrant These seizures have havo and prosecutions eighteen covered states and the commodities seized have eggs butter butler chees pork poultry poultry poul poul- try lard fish sugar coffee flour and canned goods three Fifty I of the above cases have already been disposed of by releasing rc the goods under bond of agreement to dispose oso of ot same within a a. specified time and at a reasonable price under the tho direction of ot tho the United States attorneys In no case h has the market been flooded by bv bythe bythe j the wholesale disposal of such goodsIn gOOdS goods In three cases involving hoarding fines tines and jail sentences have ha been blen imposed im- im Im Im- posed In one C case 8 a fine tine of was 1 Imposed in another r a fine tine of and three months In jail This latter case I has hM been appealed Results of ot investigations investigations I are now being laid before a I grand jury JUI In several districts and re reports reports reo re- ports of large numbers of ot Indictments are expected In the near future Wherever Wherever ever er possible a determined effort will b made to obtain Jail sentence MANY MERCHANTS HELPA HELP i A ATY vry vey solemn duty to assist in re reducing re- re dur during the cost of living and I to eliminate profiteering rests upon hon honest st and responsible business I businessmen men of ot all ca eaI cases e I To bring about on cooperation co- co I operation In this direction th the national Mon Ih diff differ n nit tIt i it t ii hoi h tn t been bron appt ap- ap i in n pt WM Pt 1 01 nt i I i itin h tin n 1 hens f Mi 11 or norl nd bl h I h li h. h i i h h. h i l m. t tinn nn n n 11 n. n no lo to uy 11 upward trend of prices but In some instances to decrease prices The National Retail Clothing Dealers Dealers' Dealers Dealers' Dealers Dealers' Deal Deal- ers' ers association have recently established established established their prewar margins of profit as being fair tair and have so advised their entire membership representing ap approximately approximately approximately ap- ap proximately 90 per cent of ot the retail clothing dealers of ot America They have also a diligence committee committee committee com com- to hunt up profiteers within their membership and report to the United States attorney in their respective respective respective I I tive districts violations of margins of profits as set up by their organization These profits show from 5 S to 50 60 per percent percent percent cent reduction over prevailing of past few months The Tho National Retail Dealers association assocIation association asso asso- has appointed an executive committee to confer for the purpose of reestablishing a similar rule within their organization The National Retail Retail Re Re- tail tan Dry Goods association representing represent represent- ing some stores in the United States Is cooperating with the department department department depart depart- ment of justice in establishing economy economy my mv departments during January and February Several of the larger manufacturers manufacturers' manufacturers manufacturers' man man- associations as well as I wholesale and retail merchants' merchants assocIations associations associations asso asso- I have hava appointed committees to confer conter with agents of the he department department department depart depart- ment of justice and are putting their entire machinery at the tho disposal of the to carry out programs to the membership Such efforts willbe will willbe willbe be extended to other like organizations to cooperate toward reduced profits NATIONWIDE CAMPAIGN Beyond this the department of justice justice justice jus jus- tice has instituted a thoroughgoing and nationwide campaign participated in by bv thousands of men and women bringing about regulations in the cost of ot living through education and through moral suasion In four forty-four states this campaign is progressing actively The work in all an of them as directed from Washington is being done by fair lair price commissioners or United States attorneys Very soon or organizations organizations organizations or- or of the remaining states willbe willbe will willbe be completed Three states have p pa paired fd aed laws creating committees or other machinery for tor the thc protection of j I their citizens against profiteering The Tha j I women omen of the tho country in whose hands rests the power largely to control the I I cost of ot living through purchase have i been organized to carry certain educational educational facts to the consuming and I buying buy huy- buying ing public as well as to determine fair prices In local communities and to hunt out the profiteers and report violations violations violations viola viola- of th the tho L Lever ver act I WOMEN'S HELP VALUABLE The women's organizations of the country have already done splendid I work in this direction and are expected expect expect- ed to cooperate still further lurther It has I been thought ht advisable to work j through organizations already f fi set t up I j jand and functioning in the tho different states state rather than to set up as organization organization organization organ organ- solely for Cor this purpose Primarily the notable factors in involved involved involved in- in in the cost of living are the needed increase fn In production the elimination of extravagant buying and the determined hunting down of profiteers profiteers profit profit- of all aU classes I believe that the time Ume has now come when tho the organization tion of th the country has been completed to the point where real results can be shown The cost of living already under under un un- un- un der er control can be reduced If it every everyone everyone one who produces will produce his utmost utmost utmost ut ut- ut- ut most if it those who buy and consume will wilt save and eliminate extravagance and if it all honest people will join with the department of justice in tn stamping out profiteering and hoarding The officials attending the conference conference conference confer confer- ence as which the statement was authorized and who it is understood are arc prepared to make the statement the basis for solution of any problems within their Jurisdiction Involving the cost of living in addition to Attorney General Palmer were Secretaries Daiv Dary- leIs and Alexander Chairman Murdock Murdock Mur- Mur Murdock dock and Commissioner Colver of ot the federal trade commission Assistant Secretary of the Treasurer Leffingwell I Assistant |