Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-19
TEST OYSTER LAWS NEEDS OF THE POOR
First Step of AnFood Trust Increase in Cost of Living
League. Bears Heavily.
RIGHT TO BUY AT WHARVES EXTRA CALLS FOR CHARITY
Exclusion Of Public by Dealers Associations Find
Be Combated. Worse Than Formerly.
WOMEN STATE DIRECTORS SAVINGS FUND OBLITERATED
Organizations o to the General
the
Of Public by Dealers to
Be Combated.
WOMEN STATE DIRECTORS
Many Applications Received From
Organizations to Affiliate With
the National Body.

Fresh impetus was given to the war
upon high food prices last night at the
first meeting of the board of directors
of the newly organized National Anti
Food Trust League. 1t was decided that
the initial labor Of the league should be
directed to determination of the legality
Of the proposition advanced by the oys-
ter dealers Of the city that the general
public should be excluded from the oys-
ter wharves along the Potomac river,
The dealers pay a license tax, and
1T is the sense of their argument that no
person who Is not duly licensed should
be permitted to go to the oyster boats
and purchase the bivalves in bulk. Since
the protest Of the dealers was addressed
to the Commissioners of the District, the
matter has gone to the corporation coun-
sci for an opinion, but the league will
hold itself in readiness to precipitate
testscase and to combat the issue in case
the law should be SO construed that the
general public would be debarred from
the privilege OF buying oysters without
submitting to the eXactions OF the mid
dlemen.
Suggested for Directors.
Many applications from different organ
izations desiring to affiliate with the
league were received, and In order that
the board may keep in close touch with
all allied bodies it was decided to select
women Of countrywide reputation to be-
come state directors. Among those sug-
gested were Mrs. Sarah Platt Decker of
Denver. Mrs. Elizabeth +. Pierce, Yer
mont: Mrs. Theodore c. Bates Massa-
chusetts: Mrs. Donald Mclean, New
York city: Mrs. Truman p. Avery, Buff
falo, N. Y; Mrs. Eroy NJ Avery, Cleve-
land. Ohio, and Mrs. Ellen Henrotin, Chi
cago
After state directors are secured the
next step will be to appoint organizers in
every congressional district in the conn
try. Little difficulty will be experienced
In securing large membership of active
workers, because persons in every walk
of life are interested in securing reduc-
tons in the cost of the necessities of life
and as soon as the lists are opened it is
expected hundreds of men and women
will join. In the local organization it is
proposed to leave registration blanks at
all drug stores In the city. Representa-
tive Henry NJ. Coudrey of st. Louis, who
is a member of the board of directors
will look after the interests of the league
In Congress.
Statistics on Live Stock.
The House census committee yesterday
ordered a favorable report upon the
Crumpacker bill for the enumeration at
the coming census of all cattle. calves.
hogs, sheep. lambs. goats and kids
slaughtered. In commenting upon the
measure Chairman Crumpacker said:
The increased cost of living has made it
important that We know relatively the
number of animals slaughtered and the
hides produced in the large packing estab-
lishments and the number of animals
slaughtered and hides produced on the
farm and in the small butchering estab-
lishments. It is also important to know
whether there lis a shortage of food ami
mails and hides or whether the price of
the products may he affected by the per
centage that is slaughtered and controlled
by the large establishments. This census
can be taken by special agents at com
small cost
Census Director Durand has suggested
that there be speedy action on the meas
ure.