New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-19
Price to Consumer, $7.75;
Wholesalers Forced
to Pay $3.50
GRAND JURY HEARS
3 MORE DEALERS
Relations of N. A. Van Son
Under Investigation by
WiCkS Committee

One result Of the wholesale investI-
cations Of food and fuel now in prog
ress in New York was that the con-
sumer yesterday discovered that ne
could purchase coal at retail 10 cents
cheaper than his dealer could buy it in
carload lots. The retail price during
thle day was s7.75, while the whole
saler was compelled to pay $3.50.
Had the fact been generally known
an energetic outsider might have broken
into the fuel business and made fort
une. But it is more than likely that
this will be changed this morning.
Two Causes Advanced
Two causes were advanced for the
bizarre situation. The frs. was fear of
the Federal investigation Of coal prices,
which has resulted in close scrutiny Of
anything approaching uniform in
creases in fuel prices. The second was
that retail prices cannot be increased
as rapidly as wholesale prices, because
Of the refusal of consumers to meet
them. Retailers. it was explained, could
afford to sell the fuel on hand at fig
ure lower than the market price more
easily than they could permit their
teams TO remain idle.
Three more coal dealers were ques-
toned before the Federal grand jury
yesterday. Several more witnesses VIII
be heard to-day. Frank NJ Swacker,
special Attorney General, who is con-
Quoting the governments search for
evidence Of price conspiracy here, SAID
end OF the week. Il was intimated that
a preliminary report on the fuel stu
alton might be made at that time.
District Attorney Swami announced
that he would not prosecute egg dealers
for failure TO stamp eggs with the
words "cold storage" until the law I'M
der which John j. Dillon had ordered
such action had been passed upon by
the courts. Since Mr.. Swami would not
make such a test of the law the Com
missioner of Foods and Markets sent
all of his evidence to the State Attor
ney General. A test case probably will
be started within a few days.
Representatives Of the American
Women's Movement to Conserve the
Food Supply and Joseph Hartigan,
Commissioner of Weights and Meas
ures. announced that while the egg
boycott had accomplished all that the
consumers representatives had hoped,
il would be continued for four weeks
longer
Van Sons Relations Questioned
Relations of y. A. Van Son, said TO
be representative of the State De-
partment of Foods and Markets. and
stakeholder in the Modern Dairy Com
pany until recently, were the subject
Of an investigation by the Wicks legis-
lative committee yesterday. George ".
Ward. counsel for the body, repeatedly
inquired Of witnesses whether they
thought there was anything immoral in
this dual relationship.
81 don't think that there was" an
swered John F. Doyle, president of the
dairy company.
30 you think that the Cooperative
Dairymen. whose milk Van Son sold
through the department. knew that ne
was turning their milk over TO his com.
pany?" asked the lawyer.
81 know nothing Of his relations with
the farmers was the reply.
Then the committee took up charges
that the Farmers Feed Company was a
trust, which refused to sell farmers
who made direct contracts with brew
cries for certain kinds of feed.
Commissioner Dillon last night de-
MED that Van Son was connected with
his office.
ivan Son never sold any milk TO.
the department" he said, land was
never in my service except for brief
time last July, when gave him creden.-
tials as 4 special agent TO investlgate.,