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Show I COST OF LIVING j CEING REDUCED PRICES BEGINNING TO TURN DOWNWARD, DECLARES ATTORNEY GENERAL Slump Has Not Yet Gathered Momen-I Momen-I turn, But He Advises Public to Give Government Chance to I Show What It Can Do. Washington. Prices are beginning to turn downward In various parts of j the country, but the slump has net yet ' gathered momentum sufficient to af- I feet purchases for immediate use, ae- j cording to reports to the department of justice. Attorney General rainier, asked how- soon results could be expected from the campaign to reduce t lie cost of , living, said all the government wanted was a fair chance to show what could : he done to take the artificial inflation : out of the market. He said officials were well pleased with the success so ' far attained and that cumulative re- j suits were expected when congress enacts amendments to the food-control j law by which criminal penalties can ! be imposed on profiteers and hoarders. "We hope Hie public will begin to reap the benefit of our efforts before long,'' Mr. Palmer said.. "For instance, we are making progress in obtaining j promises from shoe manufacturers as : to fixing a limit beyond "which priciv shall not go." Propaganda which is apparently nation-wide, on the part of shopkeepers seeking to induce purchases now on ' - the pretext that prices will he mate rially higher next season, was con- " ''Ttciiiiied-b.v Mr. Palmer as one certain thing which would make prices continue con-tinue rising if heeded. His attention was called to advertisements in various va-rious papers stating straw hats, clothing cloth-ing and other non-perishable articles should he bought before next year's prices become effective. "It is very unfortunate that some merchants take that attitude, and wj have been studying the situation,1 the attorney general said "Extensive purchases pur-chases now, reducing the supply and increasing the demand, would make their predictions come true, whereas we hope for a normal price level if the people do not stampede Nto a buying hysteria." |