New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-21
Hartigan Would Have
Goods Transported
in Slack Hours
CITY AND STATE
JOIN PRICE FIGHT
Combined Attack Expect
ed to Bring Cost of Liv-
ing Down Again

York's state and city governments COM
bined yesterday in an assault upon
high food prices that is expected not
only to bring the cost of living down
to something approaching normal con-
ditions, but to send certain spectators
to jail.
District Attorney Swami, Mayor
Foods and Market Commits
sioner John J. Dillon and numerous de-
partments with which they are associ-
ated were prominent in the numerous
that came to head yes
terday. Grand jury action against
poultry dealers charged with conspir-
acy to fix prices will be resumed to-
morrow, the investigation of charges
of collision among coal dealers still is
IN progress and reports involving
charges of short measures and weights
will be made to-day.
In every case where dealers are
found to havc wilfully conspired to
raise prices or to have given short
weight, the District Attorney an
nounced, Jail sentences would be de-
manded Such acts, he said, were lar
ceny, and were particularly reprehen-
sible just now.
Hartigan Makes Suggestion
Meanwhile, the numerous agencies
set in motion by Mayor Mitchell or his
department heads were at work devils
ing solutions of the problems that have
been aggravated by the present high
prices. The most important of the sug
gestions made was that of Commission
er of Weights and Measures Joseph
Hartigan, under which the city's sub
way system nay become the avenue
through whi;h low-priced products will
be brought to the city.
Commissioner Hartigan's suggestion
is that the subways be used during the
slack hours of the night and early
to transport supplies from the
outlying districts to the markets and
retail stores, as is done in London and
Berlin. Under the present system, he
pointed out, the produce for which
greater New York paid s1,400,000,00O
was brought into Manhattan
almost exclusively by wagons. automo-
bile trucks and, in some instances, by
hand.
The slow, costly process OF sending
the city's thousands OF tons of food
many miles from the lower end Of
Island--where the bulk Of
it is deposited by the producers-was
said to be archaic and far behind the
systems in use III any Of the great
cities Of the world Since the city
has expended something like 100000
900 for its subway systems, the Com
missioner believes that the expendi-
ture of comparatively small addi-
tional sum to make them available for
freight carriers would be as successful
as an investment as the original out
lay.
Would Relieve Congestion
"The plan would not only serve 20
cut down the costly delivery system
that tends to aid in the making of high
prices. but would materially relieve
in the citys streets" said
Mr.. Hartigan. 81 am not enough OF
an engineer TO know just what would
have to be done to make the subways
available, but do know that it
shouldn't be very expensive. Compared
TO the profits to be derived from such
a plan, the cost would be nothing.
"They are using this plan with great
success in both London and Berlin.
During all the hours OF the early morn
ing. when passenger traffic is light, the
produce and fresh food supplies are
delivered from the great market centres
where the farmers leave them direct
10 the retailer.
"The one object of all those who
seek 10 cut down prices is TO shorten
the route from the producer to the
consumer and eliminate as many of the
middlemen. and, incidentally, the prof
its. as possible. Use of the subway for
such deliveries would accomplish much :"
Commissioner Hartigan's entire staff
of Investigators was busy yesterday
seeking evidence OF conspiracy among
the cellar coal dealers in keeping up
prices in the face OF material de-
crease in the wholesale prices of fuel
and Of short weights and measures
among the retailers. II was found that
many Of the small coal dealers on the
East Side had systematically robbed
their customers through use of short
weights and measures in spite OF the
high prices they were charging for
their wares.
Famine" Records Broken
Half-bushel baskets OF coal were
being sold at 30 cents yesterday. against
a high record Of is cents in previous
"coal famines." Even this price did not
appear to satisfy some OF the dealers.
who were found TO have used every de-
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