New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-19
STATE AFTER
MORE BAKERS
IN PRICE PLOT
Evidence Like That
Against Ward Company
Being Collected.
INQUIRY is AIMED
AT SPECTATORS
Attorney General Hopes to Show
They Are Holding
Wheat.

Several large baking concerns In this
sty sre likely 20 receive attention from
me Attorney General when the state
inquiry into the increase in the price
u -four and bread is resumed. Deputy
Attorney General Becker and his as
,is,snts yesterday sought evidence OF
restraint of trade. similar to that
charged in the case Of the Ward Baking
Company = Wednesdays hearing.
Information received by the Attorney
General Yesterday indicates that driV-
,rs for other large concerns were or
Tered 10 insist that their customers in
iresse the retail price 10 six cents
several witnesses 20 this are expected
10 b. called early next week. The
Ward driver wanted OF the last hear
bg. who, according 10 Ely Kaufman,
lsfussd 70 sell him bread unless be
sised the price, was found yesterday
ind subppnsed.
District Attorney Starts Action.
The Attorney Generals Office turned
,ver the transcript Of the testimony
II Wednesdays hearing to District At
orney Perkins yesterday. Mr.. Becker
'eeis that IL constitutes a prima fscte
,asc for grand jury action against the
Nard company or its employees.
The District Attorney said he would
,ct Immediately. He took personal
harge Of an investigation he started
yesterday based on this evidence.
IF find the facts warrant 1t, | shall
present the evidence to the grand jury
m Monday" he said. Either that or
IN investigation before magistrate
MI be started
The public hearing before Myer
cussbaum. the referee, will be resumed
tuesday. M Becker intends to push
ne inquiry beyond the local field, IN
nc hope Of uncovcring illegal combina-
son or conspiracy among some of the
arge dealers and spectators. c. II.
,snby. president Of the Chicago Board
# Trade. viii probably be a witness
IOSenO Letter anu OtHNl NoAl hHN""
rain spectators may testify later.
Statistics so far gathered by the At
prncy General indicate that less than
he usual proportion Of the grain sup
ly has vet reached the market. There
reason TO believe IT is under the
control Of big spectators. who are IL
ecaiy manipulating the market, Mr..
Becker is inclined 10 believe that such
situation will be revealed by Mr..
.Snby and other Western men.
ANY Illegal combination to control
nc wheat and -four markets IS sure to
fer grounds for proceedings" said
hr. Becker. "If we can't develop the
acts here, because Of our inability 10
nmpel witnesses from outside the state
testify, II il up TO the federal au-
horities or the Attorney General Of
Illinois"
Misunderstanding, He Says
George S. Ward president Of the
Ward Baking Company, is in Chicago
nd is not expected here before Tues
.ay. II is likely that he or other off
sals OF tho company will be subppnaed
MIR. Wards absence James b. Ar
hur, secretary of the company, reit-
rated his denial yesterday that any
their drivers had been instructed to
efuse 70 supply customers who did
Tot raise the price Of bread, as testi-
ed by Jefferson Lasher, one of the
Ward drivers.
Mr. Arthur said that Lssher had de
lied that he gave any such testimony.
nc driver. according to Mr. Arthur,
Fas speaking of wholesale prices. when
fr. Becker thought he was discussing
ctail prices
Commissioner Hartigan OF the Blu
eau OF Weights and Measures said
yesterday that his inspectors had found
90 places IN the city where the small
akers were selling an eleven to a
welve ounce loaf Of wheat bread for
our cents. He declared there were
undreds Of them selling a twelve 10
ourteen ounce loaf for five cents.
1.-The fact that we have found so
nany small bakers selling for five
ents," said Commissioner Hartigan,
confirms my belief that the large bak-
re are trying 10 gobble up lot of
aoney on the present advance in
rices."
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