The Washington times., 1914-01-14
THE MAIL BAG
To the Editor Of TIP r1nEs.

20 Ine E0ltOr OF The TIMES:
Several days ago a number of news
papers In New York city ard numerous
country papers published a converse
ton which took place between the Sec
retary of Agriculture and myself. in
relation to the destruction of fish. for
the purpose Of maintaining prices in
New York city and vicinity.
This conversation was the result or
the application of the Secretary of ARrI-
culture, through his sIbordinates. for
an appropriation Of money made to the
Committee on Agriculture, of which 7
am a member, to enable the Govern
mept, among other things. to educate
the American people % Consume larger
quantities OF fish, with the idea of
reducing the cost Of living. The srh-
ordinate making the request Informed
us that there were great quantities OF
fish in the ocean and its tributaries
which could be made availsble 10 the
public at little cost.
had In mind. at the time, that blue
fish. for example, cost re consumer
from IS cents to 50 cents per pound
and the cheapest fish you can buy is
about Il cents per pound, and If fish is
so abundant something must be wrong
I naturally called the attention of the
Secretary Of Agriculture ID the fact
that 1 had been frequently informed
that Fish trust existed in New York
city, that controlled rhe entire market.
dictated the prices and purchased fish
only from certain fishermen, and thar
In order to keep up the price of fish,
large quantities were frequently de-
stroyed If you consult your fish man
he will confirm this. l nave heard fish
ermen say that they frequently catch
large quantities Of fish. end, although
the prices were high in New York city.
they are unable to dispose OF their
catch; that great quantities OF blue and
other fish are sold at Block Island,
along the New Jersey coast anC at Nor
folk. Va, for cents per pound and in
bulk for fertilizer. Numerous COM
plants have been made TO -. to the eff
feet that the men catching moss bunk
ers in Long Island sound, catch large
quantities of eatab!e t!sh, which are
practically all disposed of for fertilizer
and oil.
l could not refrain from making these
observations, particularly when he asks
for money to instruct the American
people iIt the consumption Of 1Sh. ] am
quite convinced. ii the public were only
allowed to get the fish. they would con-
sumo II without instructions.
How ridiculous ii is for the Govern
ment to spend millions OF dollars in
educating the farmer how to raise his
crops. cattle, hogs. chickens. etc. but
makes no effort whate'Ics' to provide
him with a market, but permits prac-
tically all Of his products to be con-
trolled by different combines.
In the apple belt large cold storage
plants have been installed. The owners
OF these plants purchase the apples di
rect from the farmer at a low price,
put them in cold storage, and conse-
auently control the entire output.
The farmer receives less than 20 cents
a bushcl for his potatoes and 50 cents
a busheI for his onions. still the con-
sumcr pays from 81 to 81 per barrel for
potatoes and about IS per barrel for
onions.
In Orange ana Rocllland counties the
dairy farmers are giving up the bust
ness, as they contend they are at the
mere of the milk trust and 1t does
not pay, still the consumers are paying
from s to 10 cents per quart for milk
which a TeH years ago only cost 6 cents
per quart.
Some Of the newspapers intimate that
IL nv position Is correct ! should 90
something 1t will give me the greatest
pleasure in the world to do whatever
can TO stop these Outrages. My CONVEX
satIon with tho Secretary Of AEriCul-
tirc was for the purpose of determining
what could be done. and you may rest
assured that | shall proceed is far Is
possible to protect both the producer
aI,I consumer Yours, etc,
D''' BENZ. 1. TAYLOR.