New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-17
WHEAT SUPPLY
IS A MYSTERY
IN BREAD QUIZ
Federal Ignorance Over
Crop Barred at Hear
ing Opened Here.
WITNESSES HINT
AT BAKERS PLOT
Meetings That Preceded Price
Increase Shown - Appeal
Made to Wilson.

The Department of Agriculture at
v.sh;,c,on sppesrs not 70 have any
accurate information as to the present
.,,a;t,on or movement Of the wheat
va, That was indicated yesterday
:, the first days hearing Of the At
.,-r.v Generals investigation into the
v,i.e in the price Of bread and wheat
r,or other sources pertinent TO the
.;,r evidence Of the same dilatory
,,,us in the Agricultural Department
vas obtained.
Failing so far TO obtain any salts
s,.,orv information on these impor-
,,,, lines from the federal department,
n,,utv Attorney General Alfred l..
Herker. who Is conducting the investi-
cation, will resort to-day to the tesu-
mopy Of two ststisticisns of the New
York Produce Exchange, Henry Hei1er
aud A. L. Russell. Becker expects to
devote most of the time at the hear
,,rs to-day TO the testimony of these
two men in the hope of securing some
expert knowledge of actual wheat con
d;tions throughout the country.
Plot Secret Turks in Wheat.
Present status OF the wheat crop
is an sll-important factor TO be deter
mined in the present inquiry here. In
order TO ascertain whether criminal
conspiracy or combination has existed
IN boosting the price of wheat, and
20 trace its ramihcations to this city
and state, il is essential to know where
and BY whom the supply is being held
and through what channels 1t has
moved. or failed to move, into the
market. The crucial object Of the in
ouirv. as outlined by Mr.. Becker, is to
r,t beyond the local baker and search
ont the big men in the bull movement
s.y-. ;s understood that the Attorney
General wrote the Department of Agri-
culture ten days ago asking Tor sta
ti,ticsl information. The reply came
hack that the department was at pres
ert making an investigation OF the
subject, but WAS not in position at
,h,t time 10 offer the data requested,
Il developed that as late as Satur-
dsy official inquiry had been made by
Che Department of Agriculture OF the
EXPERT statisticians of the New YORK
Produce Exchange for information
along the same lines requested by the
Attorney General. This fact probably
will he brought out at the hearing
today. when the Produce Exchange
witnesses testify.
Mrs. Julian Heath. president OF the
National Housewives League, sought
similar information Of the Department
Of Agriculture in person when IN
Warrington carly in January, with
equally discoursging results. MIS-
Heath Yesterday wrote letter to Pres
idcnt Wilson urging him, on behaii
Of the league, 10 instruct the Depart
nent of Agriculture TO investigate
"tho stock Of wheat At once IN order
that the citizens Of the United States
may have full knowledge Of the guam
tity Of available wheat and where 1t
is now being held
Woman's Plea o Wilson
Her letter is a. follows:
Honorable and Dear Sir: In the
early part Of January | visited INC
Department Of Agriculture IN
Washington. seeking information
IN regard % the status OF the
wheat supply Of this country. ~
was the desire OF the National
Housewives League, of which
have the honor to be founder and
president. 20 obtain intelligent m
formation 10 regard not only 20 nc
Wantity but tho distribution OF
our wheat supply.
The following questions were
submitted 10 the departments
How much Of our wheat supply
sre the producers still holding?
How much Of our wheat supply
Is ROW in the elevator?
Is the wheat moving from pro
Queer 10 elevator and from the ele-
Vators 10 the market?
Are the producers shipping into
the elevators
What percentage Of our surplus
he's slresdy been shipped abroad
Enclosed YOU will find copy OF
'hc letter written by Carl Nroo-
trsn, Assistant Secretary OF the
Department Of Agriculture. IA re-
sponsc 20 our request for informa-
'ion.
By this letter you will readily
sec that not only WAS the Depart
ment Of Agriculture unable 20 give
the information which We 50
eagerly sought. but was obliged 10
refer Us 20 "The Chicago Daily
Trade Bulletin" which seemed 10
be their only source OF infoTma-
lion.
Your Department OF 'Agricult-
ure informed me that an investigs
ton Of the stock OF wheat on the
farms was taken on March | and
July !.
The Housewives League respect
fully urges that you instruct the
department of Agriculture TO IN
restigste the stock of wheat at
once IN order that the citizens OF
the United states may have fun
knowledge Of the quantity of avail
able wheat and where u is now
beirg held.
Respectfully yours,
JENNIE DEWEY HEATH.
In Mr.. Vroomans letter 20 Mrs.
Heath, dated January %, he saic tnst
ne had sought the information IN the
bureau Of Crop Estimates. but hsd
found that they had no very dehn''e