Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-02-28
BEGINS PROBE )
Of MEAT STORAGE
TO FIX BLAME
Special CounciImanic Committee
to Investigate High Price
Conditions.

Large and small cold storage COM
panies and meat dealers are to be in
gestigated by the special Common
Council committee, appointed to in
pestigate the high cost of living, which
will hold its first meeting tonight. The
resolution providing for the committee
was adopted February 4 on the motion
bf Alderman James Bray, who declares
that he believes the Council has the
right and is better fitted to conduct
such a probe than the grand jury.
Although President William Penning-
ton, Of the Council, was empowered to
appoint the committee early in the
month, the members were not named
hntil February %. The delay may have
given the storage men time to get
things into a better condition than is
customary. but 1t is believed that there
Is still evidence enough to furnish cause
for action.
Alderman Bray asked Chief of Police
Michael Corbitt on February 5 to have
3 mar stationed at each of the cold
storage plants to note whether there
was any wholesale carting away of
meat or dairy products. The alderman
says that he received no answer TO
this letter. but expects, that IL the chief
granted his request. some interesting
facts will be forthcoming.
Said Mr.. Bray last night:
I'm New York and Chicago the au-
thorities did not bother the Legislature
or Grand Jury about their investiga-
lions: but started off to do the work
themselves, with results that were
highly gratifying. We expect to do
the same thing here, because believe
Common Council has the power to go
clear TO the bottom of affairs, and l
don't believe that any of those against
whom the probe may be directed will
attempt to balk us. l dom believe they
have a right to stand in our way any
more than they have, the Grand Jury.
We are the direct Representatives of the
Voters, elctd by thin, while the Grand
Jury Is the appointment of the sheriff,
voters, elected by them, while the Grand
and | believe We have equal powers
With the, county authorities.
u nave reason to believe that there
Is as much food In cold storage in New
ark as there is in any other city of
rs size because of the many manu-
featuring plants, the employees of
which must have meat at whatever
price those in control may be able to
demand. That prices OF foodstuffs are
SO outrageously high is undoubtedly due
70 rtorage. and If this form of pillage
y being carried on in Newark we will
uncover and root ii out.
IF U investigation reveals condl-
tions which I fear exist will intro
duce an ordinance in Common Council
making 1t a misdemeanor to Keep food
N cold storage more than sixty days.
This would not only insure natural
prices. but proper condition of food
when 1t reaches the consumers table"
Alderman Elmer A. Day. who is also
a member of the committee, has sew
sral points on which he wishes light
from the meat dealers. 1t is his inten-
don to find out, if he can. how 1t is
rabbits are on sale at I o'clock on
the morning the rabbit season opens.
Mr.. Day says that 1t is either a ques-
ton of their having been killed out of
season or being kept In cold storage
from the last season.
Just now" said Mr.. Day. when
more of the commodity is being used
than at any other time of year, fish Is
sky-high. Almost every variety is five
or SIX cents higher than in the past,
with no apparent reason except a con-
spiracy to create an artificial scarcity.
I'VE purpose inquiring into all of
this, and in our investigation whole
saler and retailer alike will be ques-
toned, that we may find out what the
situation is"
The members of the committee, be-
sides Messrs. Bray and Day. are Alder
men Fischer, Hopping, Baum. Schwartz
and Wohlfarth.