New-York tribune., 1910-02-02
AFTER STORAGE MEN
GRAND JURY ACTS.
Hudson County Body Begins
1ctiue Investigation.

The Hudson County Grand Jury began an
investigation Yesterday of the cold storage
plants at the request of Prosecutor Pierre
tSsrven. who had received informatio that
10000 crates. each containing thirty dozen,
in all Se. .eeaooo eggs. and about one hundred
thousand pounds Of poultry were IN 'he
cold storage plants in Jersey City.
The Prosecutor has had his staff OF de-
tectives and special men gathering evil
dence. and it is said that they learned
enough 10 warrant inquiry by the grand
inquest and il promises 10 be thorough
as the jurors viii personally visit the stor-
age plants The Prosecutor thinks that an
Indictment for conspiracy viii lie under the
state laws II Il is found that unusually
large quantities of food products are now
and have been in storage during the last
two years-for the intention is TO so back
zs far as the statute Of limitations VIII
pernit-in restraint of trade, to reduce the
supply and maintain high prices The
Prosecutor announced that he would confer
with Justice Swayze, OF the Supreme
Court to-day. II the justice agreed with
him. he said. that the storage of the 1000
products Was unlawful it was probable
that Justice SNayze would deliver spe-
cisl charge 10 the grand jury on Friday
II the Justice holds an opposite opinion
the Prosecutor Will submit the evidence he
has garnered to the federal authorities.
Il was learned. il was said, that there
we're in the cold storage plants eggs that
were consigned TO them last March and
poultry that has been frozen since April
cf last wear, and that large quantities OF
eggs and poultry had been shipped from
The West, during the seasons when they
we're abundant ard prices were low The
Prosecutor is endeavoring to find the pri-
Vste cold storage places. which, he says.
arc numerous and are, he believes, heavily
stocked
Three witnesses were examined Eester-
da~-James L. Brady, superintendent. and
John Manchie. auditor. OF Swifts big plant,
81 North and Provost streets, and ID F.
Mccarthy. superintendent OF the Union
Terminal Cold Storage Company, which oc-
cUpies q block at Provost and 18th streets
The representatives of the Merchants Re
frieeratinE Company. the biggest plant in
Jersey City Will be examined at the session
OF The grand jury on Friday.
Retail meat dealers said fatty yesterday
that the downward movement Of prices
had been stopped by the big concerns. and
that by the end of the week prices would
cents a pound wholesale in the open mar
kct. and beef went up about half a cent.
The rise in the actual selling price, one
large retail dealer said was larger than
was shown by the quotations.
Friday afternoon he said. after the
market had closed for the week, 1 went
TO a dealer and bought beef at % per cent
lower prices than had been quoted during
the early part of the week. To-day tried
him again. and found that I couldn't buy
even al the prices Of q week ago-that Is,
for one-tllird more than I paid last Friday.
There is not the slightest doubt that the
big fellows are cutting down their ship
rlents of beef 10 New York. l have heard
fol one thing that they explain the light
arrivals by saying ;here was a snowstorm
and delays in freight I know for a fact
tnat at least three concerns had cars billed
for New York which were detained at Buff
falo Yesterday and turned into the mar
llet there Then they hold back the cars
Hlich would nave gone TO Buffalo, keep
in: them at Chicago. The receipts here are
much lighter than usual, just low much
i is hard TO say; perhaps one-thlrd-
There is a determined effort 10 hold the
market I'D at all costs. 1t has had effect
oil pork and mutton sooner than on beef,
because the smaller animals can be put
n cold storage reSQliE- Beer. on lliS ptIleI
hand is hard TO handle-deteriorates-an
then, too. it can be kept for ten days or
more. so that instead of storing what they
have the Wholesalers cut down their next
weeks supply"
Merton which was high last week at
- certs pound, wholesale. went yester-
dav 20 Iol2 cents Lamb was a cent a
pound higher than last week. Poultry kept
the high level which il has not broken for
two weeks.
Butter. however which has gone up in
price instead OF down during The agitation,
dropped suddenly IL cents a pound yester-
day in the wholesale market reaching the
figures which ruled on the same day a
year ago. Creamery special grades were
quoted at 3ola cents pound, extras at
coI7 cents and frsts at 2S cents. Eggs were
firm At the prices which prevailed on Mon
day Tie retail dealers have not, in gen
o. al. changed their prices since they made
their first cut Of to cents a dozen for
- eggs on last Friday and Saturday.