New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-05
Dillon Declares Dealers
Are Forced to Hood
wink Consumers
STORAGE CONTACTS
SHOWN AS MENACES
Commissioner TestifeS to
Rate Fixing by the
Produce Ring"

Juggling Of the food market in this
city was explained yesterday by John
j. Dillon, State Commissioner Of Foods
and Markets. testifying before the
Wicks investigating committee that is
conducting an inquiry into the milk
situation throughout the state. The
committee is holding it's sessions in the
assembly hall of the Merchants Asso-
citation, in the Woolworth Building.
Mr.. Dillon advocated state control Of
prices Of food products. He said that
under the present system no man could
stay in the produce business unless he
entered the ring OF spectators who
manipulate prices to suit their purses
and TO hoodwink the consumer. II
man tried to be honest. he declared, he
would soon find that he could not get
cold storage space for love or money,
and credit at many banks would be de-
MED him.
There is a sort Of mental relation
between the cold storage dealers and
the banks which would drive any honest
man into bankruptcy" said Mr.. Dillon.
There are men in .he butter business
to-day in New York who have been
found guilty of selling impure butter
and have paid their fines. Now they
are back in the game and selling but
ter to public institutions.
Fixing of Price
"Only 10 or 10 per cent OF the egg
and butter dealers in business here
deal on the egg and butter exchange.
These men handle about 2 per cent OF
the volume Of butter and eggs coming
into the New York market, but they
establish the price OF eggs, not only for
New York City, but for the whole
United States.
There should be law making every
food sale on a mercantile exchange a
public record. Here the cost OF dis
trbution OF milk, eggs and butter is at
least So per cent of the retail price.
"All exchanges in food products are
a menace to the consumers and pro-
ducers Of foods. They are closed cor
porations for the sake OF establishing
artificial prices, favoring food specu-
lators only. and injuring both producer
and consumer. The matter Of quoting
prices on food ought to be a state func-
ton"
Commissioner Dillon declared that in
his opinion the Dairymen's League was
not organized TO restrain trade, and
could not be adjudged Illegal. He said
that the present costly system OF milk
distribution should be done away with,
and that milk should be sold at gro
ceries, delicatessen stores and butcher
shops. Thic, he declared. would save
at least two cents on every quart, or
s1S,25O,0 900 a year, in New York City.
Milk Dealers Accused
During the milk strike, you wouli
think the milk dealers Of this city
were the only simon pure gentlemen in
the state" said Mr.. Dillon. "As 4
matter of fact, these dealers are vio-
lating the health laws. They put
three kinds of milk in can and take
out seven kinds Of milk. They ship
milk cans from producing centres
marked for pasteurization in the city.
When the cans get here, they are
marked pasteurized."
Mark Dubois, of Poughkeepsie, was
the last witness. He told of the or
ganization of the Dairymen's League,
launching into bitter attack on Com
missioner Dillon, whom he charged
with criticsing unjustly leaders in the
league.
"Mr Dillon" cried the witness, "has
been the archdevil Of this milk fight"