New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-11
NEW ANGLE ON MARKETS
State Food ProberS End with
Merchants, Hear Consumers.
A CITY DEPARTMENT URGED
Mrs. Heath, Mrs. Nathan, CALVIN
Tomkins and City Club Off
cial Give Their Views.

Tho "corulron people" had their day IN
court yestcrday at the investigation pelhS
conducted by the marketing committee OF
tho state of New York Food investigation
Committee into the cost Of foodstufs at
No gG2 Franklin street For the last three
months the committee has been examining
busiueys mon who handle foodstuffs. nut
Yesterday it had just the ordinary citizens
who have shown interest in the investiga-
ton
Lawrence H. briggs. chairman of the
city club committee on marketing, vas
the first witness. lie expressed himself I'm
avor of the establishment Of depart
meri Of markets i'm this city. with com
missioner AZ its head. Mr. briggs also
outlined = plan for the upkeep and con
duct Of such a department, including the
licensing II auCtUneers. to have complete
control Of the terminal market facilities
Frank Tucker. director of the Provdent
Loan Society, proposed a plan Of capital
Ting large corporation, with chain OF
stores. the profits to the persons providing
tho CAPITAL limited to per cent. He nd
yorltcd the establishment of retail distrib-
rtlrg stations throughout the city, win
facilities for handling all foodstuffs and
milk. coal and ice
Mrs Julian p Heath, president Of the
housewives League. was tho next wit
ness. She explained that the women 81
tho country wanted numerous markets.
under such control that the abuses now
existing i'm retail stores should be cor
rooted, such as a sliding scale of prices TO
different classes Of customers
~. f.. Fullerton. director of the Long ISL
and experimental station, was the first wit
ness at the afternoon session. He stated
that bumper" crops, especially In potatoes.
wore a great deal worse for the producer
than sCanty crops. He said the reason for
this was that prices were based on reports
from the Department Of Agriculture, and
when such reports forecast bumper
crop the price was set low that there
was no profit In marketing them. The only
salvation for the consumer, he added. was
closer connection with the producer.
Calvin Tumkins. Commissioner Of Docks.
said that foodstuffs came to New York at
lower price than any other city on &C.
count Of its natural location. but that they
wer" higher ~ the consumer here than In
almost any other city because Of antique
methods Of distribution.
Mr. TomkIus said the fulcrum Of high
prices WAS the wholesale receiving station,
and that city control of the wholesale mar
ket would minmiz" the danger Of cXorbi-
taut prices. The commissioner then went
into details regarding his plans for the pro-
posed municipal terminal wholesale mar
kcts. which he has been advocating several
months
Mrs. Frederick Nathan, president Of the
Consumers League discussed the problem
OF making food sanitary. She said that
women could do little To remedy present
conditions unless they had tn" franchise.
II think YOU underestimate the influence
OF women" said Commissioner Ezra futile,
while the other women present applauded.
Numerous other persons gave their opln-
ions on present conditions. and then the
session closed. Yesterdays meeting was
the last one to toe held IN this city prior
10 a preliminary report by the committee,
10 Dc made next month.