New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-14

Investigation showed that in some
cases the wholesaler took advantage oil
the war talk to make an honest
penny" as one Of them put 1t. But the
majority of the wholesalers were OF
the same mind as the representative
# Oscar Frommel & Bro, of Manhat-
tan Market. the largest dealers in po-
tatoes east of Chicago, who said to
reporter of The Tribune yesterday;
Potatoes Cheaper at Wholesale.
Potatoes to-day are selling at about
a dollar a bag lower than they were
this time last year. There is no rea-
son why the war should affect potatoes.
II does not. Nor can ! see any reason
why any other American product
should be higher because Of the war
Nevertheless, retail grocers and
butchers, with few exceptions con-
tinued to raise prices on everything
They did not seem deferred by the nets
cast for them and wholesalers Ike
them by the city, county and national
officials.
District Attorney Whitman ordered
William A. De Ford back from his va
cation 10 take charge of the criminal
investigation of the butchers, grocers'
packers and provision dealers. MI lie
Ford is the Assistant District Attor-
new whose prosecution Of the poultry
trEstn nut nineteen of its members be-
hind the bars.
Mr. Whitman announced that he
would remain in town, foregoing MS
weekend trips TO Newport, until the
investigation Of the high prices IN
foodstuffs was we'll under way.
Acting on instructions from Attorney
General McReynolds, Acting United
States Attorney Roger B. Wood and
William NJ Offley. division superin-
tendent of the local office of the De-
nartment of Justice, started an inves-
tigation.
DEPARTMENT Of Justice Busy.
Agents of the Department Of Justice
were out all yesterday afternoon ana
evening making the rounds or whole
sale and retail grocers, packers, sugar
dealers, importers and exporters, nour
merchants and manufacturers OF food-
stuffs.
The agents we're ordered TO give es-
pecial attention TO packers, hour and
sugar dealers. Violations are 10 be I'M
der the conspiracy clause OF the Sher-
man antitrust act. Particular atten-
tion will be given to the storage ware
houses, where, it is believed, packers
are storing their meat, awaiting FUR
Their rise in prices.
One government agent said TO a
Tribune representative last night that
four should be cheaper, as the Amerl-
can Grain Export Association cancelled
all export shipments Of wheat and
other grains.
District Attorney Whitman, to get at
the bottom of the cause OF the IN
creased prices, has summoned repre-
sentative wholesalers of all kinds OF
foodstuffs 20 his Office. He will also
confer with the retailers. II any prose-
BUTTONS are made by his office, they will
he under the section of the state law,
making il a crime for any combina-
ton Of merchants 10 conspire 10 in
crease unwarrantably the prices OF
foodstufs.
~ can see no legitimate reason for
the increase in American food products"
said the District Attorney, "and | am
particularly puzzled by the increase OF
81 25 20 81 SO a BARRE in -four"
MAYOR Mitchell, in announcing the
appointment of his committee of 1873,
said it's duty would be to suggest ways
and means open TO the city to relieve
the distress OF citizens temporarily un-
employed, in addition TO determining
whether present food prices were nat
ural or forced, and whether they could