Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-18
PRODUCE DEALERS
DEMAND CHANGE
OF STORAGE LAW
Merchants Allege Unfair
Treatment and Discrimina-
ION Under Present Condi-
hons,

- In this city. the value OF Whlcn is
l.s,.sted at $4,000, 600, are quietly work
among their own members and
s,.,eh political organizations to bring
',,nt n possible. during the coming SOS
~ N the legislature. a revision OF the
M M..St cold storage law, or, falling In
s., repeal OF the law.
AZ law. they say, has been unjust to
.,ds.lers and shippers ever since It was
I'D and IL not only works a hardship
~ isdiylduals but drives thousands OF
.gg"rs, worth OF trade from this to other
s,ies every year.
',ssordIng TO dealers the value Of
e .eps butter fish and poultry
"A in the local storehouses isesti-
ia AT about sS00.0,000. Time was,
s.,ore the passage of the present cold
',.ssee law, when the proportion OF trade
\ ..rtain lines between Philadelphia and
..,sbboring cities of other States was
.sort & per cent for this city and Is per
,ent. for others. That was true also as
...-esn this city and Baltimore I'm the
...Ss IN certain fish that Is sold
a.aaob the mining regions and of which
M, cty handled 100000 pounds year
sl.ce The passage of the present law.
s.siers saw, Baltimore has captured GO
~ cent of this thade and the dealer who
otroduced the line here has been pract-
,.Ty forced out of business and has suf-
s.f,d severe financial losses.
A NATIONAL PROBLEM.
interest In this important issue goes
~ beyond the limits OF this city and
s,s,e II ls called subject OF nation
ia Importance and has been taken up
Al the National Commission on Uniform
siate Laws. which in its~reports has con-
S,mned the Pennsylvania law and has
recommended for all the States n season
"A season law" which, the commission
AVS will solve all present problems and
kest meet the demands of the natural
laws OF trade.
IN this State eggs are limited to eight
months storage, and butter and fish to
nine months. In New Jersey the limit is
d months on all food products. In other
States the term is longer. 1t is a we'll
kpown fact. according to experts. that
AprI eggs are the best of the year and
that winter butter is inferior to that pro-
iuced in the fall months of the year.
PRODUCTS KEPT MOVING.
Along in midwinter comes the time
when April eggs are needed most. That Is
also the time when the Pennsylvania stor-
are law compels the dealers to remove
The stock of good eggs out of the State
under penalty of confiscation. So with
butter and so with fish. which are most
needed in winter time. when the catch of
fresh fish Is small. One result is that
these products have to be kept circulat-
Ing, some of them staying for a while in
each Of three States before they finally
reach the consumer. Another result Is
that when they do get to the market the
fetsl prices are high. because the stor-
age fees and freight have to be paid and
The money must come out of the con-
iumers' pockets, The people wonder why
Wp go up and stay at high prices.
MIR. CALDWBLL's VIEWS.
/ G. s. Caiwell. president OF the Corn
Exchange National Bank, student of
lhe subject because of it's detrimental eff
feet upon the business of many patrons
Of the bank, today had this to say
on this matter:
'No excuse or feasbn for the existence
Of the Pennsylvania cold storage law has
Vt been heard. The Legislature that
eftoted It misunderstood the public need
and acted upon prejudice against as legiti-
mate business as there Is In this coun-
try. There is a billion dollars worth of
cod storage business done in this country
every year, and the business ought to be
encouraged instead of interfered with by
Ine passage of inadequate laws. The pub
fc believes whatever is said against the
eod storage people, and the trade cannot
nsht for its protection because whatever
faIth.
commissions and other bodies the
eountry over agree that cold storage does
no' lnJure produce, but improves much of
" The Massachusetts, State Commission
Gays that cold storage is a fundamental
sse'essity for carrying the surplus pro-
upeed by prosperous seasons into the lean
seasons' The American Public Health As
s"latlon, of Washington. i'm "A printed
eemmunication says that cold storage has
s,uinulated trade development and expan-
ssen mas diversified the food supply and
sM made more abundant and more ac-
esssinle certain necessary foods 1t also
~ that there has been too much time
anl eHort spent in time limit legislation,
anl reminds us that nothing but the best
y FOODS Is accepted for storage and is
.sssn out OF cold storage as soon as It
- ne. Dealers do not keep their goods
y sIorage longer than they have to be-
~, with the storage charges, interest
= me Investment and insurance, II is an
s'psnsive business.
AlLEGE UNFAIR DEAL.
ne cannot sell in this city goods that
ave been In storage 10 months In New
.s.sey know merchant who left some
~ IN storage overtime here, and the
4. would not permit him 10 ship them
~ OF the city on a railroad train. 1t
.euld let him take them away In a
--A'h' wheelbArrow or an auto. He
~ compelled TO ferry them to Camden
~ .sr mere put them aboard a train.
N me me laws OF trade themselves adjust
y = ssse % problems and we would be better
~nnout any law at all. The State OF
l'.ylvania does not produce enough
~ ana chickens to feed its people. We
~ INTO the State $50, ,00O, 600 worth OF
.ss ~. eYery year and S25 ,oOo, 900 worth Of
ss This shows that the demands
~ Empty the storage house in due time.
st'l remington says that most OF the
~, Loodstun that comes into the city
a, me farms daily is in worse condi-
'..,,.n =. In me worst OF the storage stun,
Se u Is impropSrly packed and pro-
what We wsae is a season to- season.
one that permits goods 10 be held
/ iosofAse from the season OF production
s.,'.',, ss season OF greatest demand for con-
taoh. Such a law as that will meet
neeos OF the community.
"a eoRie say that cold storage stun Is
- = nesh. Sometimes Il Is unwittingly
,ua. II butter that has been in storage
nsF states Is sent here as fresh
dealer to know that II is not
,eS there Is no way. Cold storage
us,ss essz no change In the appearance OF
a Anada the Government subsidies |
81. s..2efage plants. Here the laws con-