New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-08
Milk and Ice Firms Pay to
Get Tenants, Wicks Com
mittee Is Told
HOUSES ARE "SOLD"
BEFORE COMPLETION
Lack Of Christmas Gifts
May Lose Trade for
Grocers, Too

How The cost OF living Is increased
by graft that milk and ice dealers are
obliged TO pay superintendents and
janitors Of apartment buildings was
related Yesterday before the "icks
legislative committee. Before cut
was made in the rates" on November
+. milk dealers we're eaid to be paying
nearly per cent Of the amount they
received for their product TO get it
delivered 70 tenants OF big buildings.
From SO TO $50 is the prevailing
price which milk distributors Stiil must
paw 10 superintendent for the priv
ilcge of serving tenants.
This includes, Of course. free ice and
milk 90 the jsnitor. Ice companies pay
from SO 20 $40. Grocers and bakers
receive the privilege Of the dumb wait
er merely for keeping the suporintend-
cnt's family m fresh bread and rolls,
with pastry, say. on Sundays.
Nor do the perquisites OF Janitorial
position end here. The average New
York apartment building superintend-
ent, " appears. clings 20 the quaint
custom Of hanging UP his stocking on
Christmas Eve. and unless there are
couple Of yellow $40 bills m IT the next
morning the ice and tho milk men,
respectively. are likely 10 experience
a sudden desrth OF trade.
Concessions Taken Early
Before the roof Is on an apartment
building the milk and ice concessions
have been taken and the superintendent
has received his fec, according 20 in
formation gathered yesterday by an
Investigator FOR The Tribune. who test
cd several statements made by wit
ncsses before the Wicks committee.
The investigator called on the super
inteudent OF the building at $50 West
l72d Street The structure had just
been occupied.
what arc the chances OF getting
'e ice IN here? ," he inquired OF
the superintendent.
"The buildings all sold out for milk
and ice and everything" vouchsafed
that functionary. Might come around
next spring, though, for unless the
people I'm dealing with now come
across better I'm going 70 change. !
guess you're new At this game and I'll
give YOU tip. You've got to get at
the buildings earlier than this II you
want to do any business.
Ready 20 Talk Business
you'll find the superinteDdents on
the ground ready TO talk business long
before the buildings are finished. BE
sure and get the superintendent, though,
and not the real estate agent, for they
have got 70 butting in on our game
The Investigator visited a building in
the course of construction at Hist
Street and Fort Washington Avenue.
4Whstll you Offer" asked the super
intendent, who said he had sold the
building" for ice, but would entertain
an offer on milk.
Twenty dollars" said the investi
gator, taking his cue from testimony
at the hearing.
Don't kid me-" answered the SUI
perintendeut sarcastically. 1--WE got
two offers already. Make it interest
ing and If can't give you the build
ing you can split 1t with some one
else"
Thirty dollars" said the investi-
gator.
"Not yet"
"Thirty-fve."
'Tf you can't go over fifty you're
wasting your time" announced the
superintendent. "This is a 53-family
building and they'll all be good
buyers
Will Sell for $40.
The investigator gave him up. At
ga West 173d Street he was more for
tunate. The superintendent offered 10
sell" him a thirty-family building. to
be occupied in week for $40. This
was for the milk privilege. Ice had
already gone.
The superintendents OF six other
structures, all unfinished, had collect
ed their money from ice and milk
dealers.
A building superintendent's salary Is
from $50 TO SIS a month. This in
cludes rent, gas and electricity, which
would bring his regular earnings to
more than the 500 mark.
They are among the best paid work
men | know" said painter in one OF
the new buildings. But they are en-
titled 20 what they are able TO pick up
on the side. My brother is in the
game. lie banks $50 month, but he's
busy from a. m. till p. m"
At the Wicks committee hearing
Benjamin J. Dore, Of 800 West 18th
Street, who recently retired from the
milk business TO sell ice, asserted that
another source of income to janitors
was in obtaining new customers, for
which they received % cents for pint
customers and 80 cents for those who
took quart of milk daily. Before
November l the commission was just
double these amounts.
Daisy Finnin. janitress, Of 9 North
ern Avenue, said that she changed
Jobs about twice a year so as TO col
lect more money. Her prices were $40
and $25 for milk dealers and SO and
$40 for ice dealers, according 70 the
size Of the apartment.
Edward Sands, superintendent OF an
apartment house at 252 West Ninety
first Street. said that he had tried this
.,...or, hut that tho cost of moving