(Continued from last week. Mrs. Herman
on "Price Ceilings”).
If ceiling prices have not been posto<
conspicuously in the store* the customer
should ask the merchant why they are not
posted. Every inquiry made will serve
warning on the merchant that his opera
tions are being watched, If» after one
inquiry* tho customer does not find the
coilings posted, he should writo to hio
nearest OPA office or Local Rationing
Board and givo full particulars.
The importance of asking for sales
slips in making purchases of goods that
seem unduly high is also emphasized by
tho Alaska Director, Under OPA regula
tions, tho merchants are requirod to give
sales slips if the customer asks for
thorn, Tho slip should show tho amount
of tho goods purchased, as well ae the
sum paid for it.
Serious penalties are provided for tho
violation of any part of the Offioa of
Price Administration regulations,"Mrs.
Herman stated, "The merchant may bo
fined in an amount up to $5,000 or sen
tenced to as much as a yoar in prison. He
may have hio license revoked for a period
of months, and civil redress is provided
wheroby every customer may reoovor three
times tho amount of each overcharge, or
$50, whichever is the larger amount,
"However, do not try to be a price po
liceman, Loavo that to the enforcement
staff of tho OPA, Be vigilant, but do
not be a vigilante. If you think you
aro being overcharged, ask your morchant
about it. Ho may hare a parfoctly good
explanation. If ha hasn't, than ask for
your sales slip and forward your complaint
to the proper authorities. It will re
ceive prompt and efficient consideration,"
Tlie prioe of consumer services is reg
ulated by therGenoral Maximum Price Regu
lation , which provides that the highest
price that may be charged for consumer
services is the price charged during the
month of March, 1942,
"We do not eat or wear consumer servi
ces," Mrs, Herman says, "Wui'vre do pay an
enormous amount of money for them and they
constitute an important part of our oost
of living,"
"Consumor servicos include suah servi
ces as laundry and dry eloaning; repair of
autoraobilos, boats, and electrical house
hold appliances; shoe repairing; film de
veloping, commercial printing; rental of
cold storage lookers, and many othor ser
vices performed for hire. If those pri
cos go higher than the March level for the
same services, the oustomor should immedi
ately protest to tho seller of the service
If he persists in his higher price, the
transaction should bo reportod to the Lo
cal Rationing Board or nearest OPA office.
Remember, Price control has been estab
lished as a weapon against inflation. In
flation is tho great menace to our Nation
al eoonomy, and as dangoroue a weapon as
any used on the real battle fields of the
war. The fight against inflation is just
• as much a part of tho war effort as the
(Continued on page 6),