The Penn's Grove record., 1914-08-21
SEEK LAW TO
HIT FOOD PIRATES
Fielder Orders Prosecutors to
Deal With Price Lifters
WRITES Acknowledgement
Also Sends a Letter to the Prosecutor
of Every County in the State
Will Help to Stop Extortion-
Refers to Seven Sisters Acts.

Especial Trenton Correspondence.)
Trenton-Governor Fielder took
the initial steps toward prosecuting
dealers in New Jersey who use the
var as an excuse to raise the prices
of foodstuffs and articles of daily con-
sumption.
He has taken it up with Attorney
General John w. Wescott and has
written a letter to the prosecutor of
every county in the State notifying
them that the State stands ready to
help wipe out this unjustifable ex-
tortion.
With increased crops in New Jersey
and other increases in foodstuffs on
this side of the Atlantic, Governor
Fielder says, there is no reason why
prices should go up here, especially
when the European markets are prac-
tically closed to our exports. His
letter to the prosecutors follows:
During the past week we have
found our home expenses increasing
through a rise in the cost of standard
commodities, and news items warn
us that we may expect a further in
crease in price of all the necessities
of life.
There has been no marked change
in business conditions, and with the
great abundance of our crops and the
closing of many European markets, it
does not seem that any general and
material upward movement in prices
of articles of daily consumption is at
all warranted, and it would appear
that c-onscienceless dealers and specu-
lators are using the war on the other
side of the Atlantic as a pretext and
are pl eparing to reap a large profit
at the expense of consumers. There
seems 70 be concerted action in this
direction, and the charge Of a com
bination or agreement among dealers
may be justified.
Our State is particularly fortunate
in having enacted a law to meet this
situation. Chapter Is of the Laws
of 1913, one of the series of acts
popularity known as the Seven Sisters
Acts, makes such a combination un-
lawful and provides that the corpora
ton or persons responsible therefor
may be indicted for misdemeanor and
punished accordingly.
IF such a combination exists, the
people of our State should not be
compelled to tamely submit to its
illegal and greedy exactions, and l.
therefore, beg to direct your attention
to the law, with the request that you
investigate the conditions in your
county, and if you find any attempt by
individuals or corporations to enrich
themselves through unwarranted in.
fation of prices that you present the
facts to your grand jury.
The Governors letter to the attor
ney-general says:
There seems to be a. concerted
movement on the part of spectators
and dealers to raise the prices of ar
ticles of daily consumption, without
any justification for the increase. This
is noticeable in many of our States
and some action should be taken tc
prevent extortion of this nature here
l have written a letter, of which
enclose a copy to the prosecutors OF
the pleas of each of our counties.
Can you suggest anything further
that your office or that any public Of
fetal (including myself can do to put
a stop to any unwarranted increase in
the cost Of necessities of life?"