The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-05
SAYS BAKERS HAVE
VIOLATED U.s.. LAW
Becker Is in Doubt as to
Ground for Action by
the state.
TO MAKE HIS REPORT SOON

After examining forty-threc bread
se,lers All I'M, a few of whom testified
that drivers for big bakeries never sus-
ues,ed to them the retail price at winch
r loaf should he sold. Deputy Attorney
General Alfred L. Becker announced ia'e
yesterday afternoon that tho mvestiga-
ton into tho adva need bread. flour and
wheat prices was practically finished.
An adjournment OF two weeks was taken
to permit a cleanup of testimony in case
further research should develop evidence
throwing light on the existence OF any
conspiracy in restraint OF trade.
Mr.. becker will begin at once the
preparation OF his report to Attorney
General woodbury. and his conclusion
will probably he made public in Albany
within a few days.
81 wish to say" said Mr.. Becker to
I Referee Myer N%ussbaum, that ] think
tho persons who ave been called as
witnesses evidenced a conmendab!e de-
, sire to Assls; the purposes OF this In
vcs~tisatiou. believe the inquiry has
.,cted az a deterrent agains, unlawful
practices. hin II has unquestlonaoly
resulted in causing the laws Of compcti-
Ton to have fuller effect than Otherwise
they could have had. One effect. ! be-
lieye, will he TO bring about a decrease
Ia the price Of bread cartier h IL
would have come without the inquiry
The investigation has had the assistance
and cooneration OF John J. Dillon, State
| Commlssionrr % Foods and Markets
and his secretary. Mr.. Fitzgerald
Joseph U|artlgan. Commissioner OF
Weights and Measures the Mayors
Committee on Food Supply, the Associa-
tion for Improving the Condition or the
Poor n other organizations devoted 10
social welfare.
Mr.. Becker said tina wide publicity
ia a most fair way had helped much ~
the work.
The Deputy Attorney-General said
after adjournment no was satisfied that
large bakeries could make a small profit
a. their old prices and that the ultimate
solution Of the problem would
twelve ounce loaf retailing At five cents
". Seeker admitted 1t is a question
whether or not the At:orncy-General
could ask Tor the dissolution Of any
baking companies under the state laws
CA the strength Of the evidence trough
out. but declared mis- belief the Fedora.
antitrust laws had been violated.
samuel Kaufman, a grocer. OF 5Gt
Seventh avenue. c~orroborated the tcsti'
inony OF his brother. Ely Kaufman
early ia the inquiry that a driver 70:
the Ward Baking Company sa!d thai
IT they didn't sell bread for six cents
he wouldn't, sell them any more.
Most Of the witnesses testified with
much emphasis that drivers for whole
sale bakeries did not attempt 10 sug'
gest what the retail price Of bread
should be. Many grocers and del!ca'
lessen men made it very clear thai
their sales OF six cent bread had de
creased and those of FIVE cent bread
had increased. showing that the bis
bakers. who raised prices, were hard
hit by tho move.
Herber, u. Lanyon, an automobile
man. OF 1851 Broadway, gave an inter
csting account OF his recent invasion o
the baking field to prove that there wal
no reason FOR increasing the price OF
loaf OF bread & six cents. lilo said tina
Henry 4. r~ledemann. a baker Wit
thirty years experience, did thu bakinl
for him and they demonstrated that
WIs puss!b. 90 make a gign grad
twelve ounce loaf for 295 cents, pawn
$3.50 a barrel for flour. Grocers an.
others retdiled the bread at fOCr cents
keeping One-half cent per loaf as thei
profit. He sad there was one deliver
a day aud the return OF "stales' wa
not allowed.