The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1916-12-01

| NeW 1Ork, NOV. Z4.-COmnnlSSlOner
Joseph Hartigan, of the bureau of
weights and measures, announced last
night that his Investigations have re-
vealed that cold storage warehouses
in this city and Jersey City are filled
with eggs, butter, cheese and other
foodstuffs.
Mayor Mitchell is considering plans
to establish municipal coal yards and
sell directly to the consumer, eSpec-
tally poor folk who buy by the paid.
He would save to them 35 per cent
of the price now paid.
District Attorney Swami has asked
Chief Magistrate McAdoo to institute
John Doe proceedings to get at the
cause of the high cost of coal and
foodstutfs. Charges involving 125
poultrymen were heard by the grand
jury yesterday, with the view to in
dieting for conspiracy.
John Wetz, the Egg King" of Chi
cago, has 72,O00,O0O eggs in storage,
and has informed New York mer-
chants that he will hold on until the
prices reaches 70 cents dozen. If he
sold them at the present market price
his profit would be $1,OOO,OOO.
Twelve employees of the Chicago
health department began a two
weeks experiment intended to dem
onstrate that a person can live prop
erly on 40 cents day.
1t was learned yesterday that the
federal inspectors who have been
investigatingg the high price of coal
here, and whose report will be for
warded to Washington today, have
been making inquiries also into the
high cost of foodstuffs at the request
of the department of justice.
The food investigation will last at
least three weeks more, in order to
arrive at some comprehensive plan of
federal legislation to relieve the food
situation in the entire country.
Almost all of the city, State and
federal investigators say that one of
the causes of high prices, perhaps the
chief cause, is the middleman or
speculator, ranked as "a necessary
evil.' He knows the outlet for all
farming products and the farmer
looks to him for good price.
But the commission merchants re-
fuse to take the blame for present
conditions. They say the farmer is
holding back his products for higher
prices. Many commission men assert
they cannot obtain potatoes from
Maine at price which will enable
them to make a profit at the whole
sale price of $5.25 barrel. And so
it is with all other foodstuffs raised
on farms
Two Bills Were Smothered.
Several days ago I took up with
the corporation counsel the prepara-
ton of market bill for submission
to the legislature" said Mayor
Mitchell yesterday. "This was merely
IN line with the efforts of the admin
istration in 1915 and 1916 to provide
relief through legislation. Both years
bills were introduced but were never
reported out of committee.
"If either bill had been enacted
INTO law the city would have been en-
abled to provide terminal market
system"
Several state and city officials and
civic organizations favor a federal
maximum price law, with a federal
commission to fix rates." said Com
missioner Hartigan. Representative
Murray Hubert is considering the
introduction of a bill to compel the
railroads to give preference to ship
ments of farm products, which would
mitigate against high prices by max
ing continuous uninterrupted sup
ply available
We need union depot for perish
able goods. The various railroads
could put spur tracks into it,
Mr.. Hartiggan said the scent loaf
has almost entirely disappeared from
the bakeries. The present average
loaf is ~ ounces for cents. The
change has been going on for seven
days.
Bakers Bowed to Law.
In the last few months IT'S bakers
have been summoned for failing to
mark their bread with the correct
weight. All but % have complied
with the requirements. The evidence
against these has been placed before
city magistrates.
State Food Commissioner Dillon
said yesterday that a terminal market
would cost about $3,000,0O0, and that
the saving to the consumers would be
so great the figures "makes ones
head reel"
"The terminal market would pay
for itself in perhaps one month; GER
tainly less than six MONTHS" said he
"This is no new project. I suggested
it to Mayor Mitchell two years ago
and he promised to do something
within three months. I have little
hope that he will help solve the prob
lem. There are powerful interests
which would vigorously oppose any
plan to reduce prices. The common
people are not organized, and all the