New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-28
FyECENT BREAD
BACK TOMORROW
HARTIGAN HEARS
BIG Bakers Are Hard Hit
and All Seek Excuses
TO Drop EXtortion.
SMALL MEMS STAND
HAS BEATEN THEM
Allies Advance in DardanelleS
May Be Used as Reason for
Return 10 Old Price.

Return 10 Olu fIlSC'
some Of the large baking concerns,
among them two o. the largest com
ranies, who adopted the six-cent loaf
On February 10 may 20 back to the
cid price tomorrow, Commissioner
Hsrt'can OF the Bu.eau Of Weights
and Measures was told yesterday. The
report has been current for several
days that they we're contemplating
such action because Of the large
amount Of bread returned unsold and
the serious falling of in profits under
tho higher price.
II appears that the tables are now
reversed. Instead OF waiting for some
finn 10 take the initiative in raising
the price, as the bakers did prior 90
February 10, they would all be glad to
see some one start the ball rolling
back. Il Is understood they are crop
ing about for any reasonable excuse
20 turn back and take the small profit
On the fvc-cent loaf rather than TO
sec no profit at six cents, under PIES
On. conditions OF competition.
j. may develop that the effect OF .he
reports that the Allies are making
Roadway in opening the DaIdaneiles
and releasing the Russian wheat sur
plus. with the ultimate result Of ma
tcrially lowering the price Of wheat,
viii be used as an excuse by the large
baking concerns 10 cut of the extra
penny. Such an excuse is likely to ap-
pear reasonable enough 10 the minds
% some Of the large bakers under the
pressure Of their present predicament.
Driver May Face Charge.
Nothing definite could be obtained
from the Shuttle, Ward, General or any
other large bread company yesterday.
Officials were non-cOmmittal.
Deputy Attorney General Becker,
who is conducting the investigation
into the advance Of prices, is of opinion
that the old price is bound to come
back soon. His belief is based on the
testimony before Referee Nussbaum,
showing the straits in which the large
concerns find themselves since they
raised the, price.
II will be a special line Of inquiry
by the Deputy Attorney General at the
resumption of the hearings on Tuesday
10 determine, if possible, why practi-
cally all the small bakers throughout
the city can still sell at the Old price,
while the big bakers found It "impera-
tive" 90 advance the price. The small
bakers will have their innings on the
stand this week.
Deputy Attorney General Becker went
10 Albany last night TO confer with At
torney General Woodbury. in regard TO
the case Of Jefferson Lasher, the driver
for the Ward Baking Company, who
Ietrscted his testimony when he ap-
peared as a witness the second time.
Mr.. Becker conferred with District At
torney Perkins before leaving for Al
bany, and il Is expected it will be de-
cided to-day whether Lssher's case will
60 to the grand jury for action on the
grounds Of alleged perjury.
Seek Evidence of Price Fixing.
There are other matters in connec-
ton with alleged improper business
methods By the Ward company which,
u is understood, will be further inves-
tigated at the coming hearings. The
fact that the bakers sought some means
of fixing the resale price" of their
bread and that il was carried to the
extent Of coercion by drivers Of the
Ward company, according 70 Lasher's
original testimony, is indicated in the
minutes OF the Wholesale Bakers As
sociation, which were subpenaed by
the Deputy Attorney General.
These minutes show correspondence
snd discussion al a meeting OF the
association 6 few days before the price
Of bread was advanced, relative TO
proposed bill in Congress giving the
Wholesale bakers the power to fix the
price at which the retailers should sell
their bread. This is considered signlfi-
cant IN that 1t shows that many of the
bakers. at least, had the idea in mind
Of trying 20 Ak the retail price of the
bread, while testimony AZ the hearings
indicates that some Of the.L attempted
20 carry the idea ont by Illegal methods.
Deputy Attorney General Becker
found nothing In the minutes of the
Wholesale Bakers Association, or in
those Of the Retail Master Bakers As
ISOLATION, both Of which he subp9nsed,
70 show that there was any discussion
or agreement among the bakers rela-
tive 10 raising the price. Such acts
would have been criminal conspiracy
In restraint Of trade. Al the same time
there are no available minutes Of the
pecial meetings the associations were
reported TO have held during the two
or three weeks prior 20 February 10,
when the six-ccnt loaf made its ap
rttaFgDcp