The Washington times., 1917-02-27
District Inquiry Committee
Seeks Remedy for High
Cost of Staples.
CITIZENS ASKED TO HELP
Probers Will Hold Public Hear
ings, Cooperating With Other
Official Investigations.

The establishment of a municipal
cation OF food conditions in Wash
ington begun today by the committee
appointed by the Commissioners.
At least one member of the commit
tee is known to favor the plan to
erect a building for the sale of prod
uce, to be conducted by the munich
pal authorities.
The committee. which consists of
George NJ Roberts, superintendent of
weights, measures and markets:
Charles F. Nesbit, superintendent of
insurance, and DIR. W. c. Woodward,
health officer, was organized in the
office of Commissioner BrownIow to-
day with Mr.. Roberts as chairman.
Seeks Lower Food Cost.
Its purpose, it was announced fol-
lowing the meeting, ''is to cooperate
with the forces now investigating the
food situation, especially the Inter
state Commerce Commission, the De-
partment Of Justice, the United States
district attorneys office, the AgricuI-
tural Department, and the Bureau of
Markets Of the Federal Trade Com
When the committees plans are
more fully determined, public hear
ings, it was announced. will be held.
The committee received today
letter from William H. Hoover, of
Hoover & Denham,- Center Market
a letter warning the public against
the creation by itself of artificial
food prices and pointing to the re-
recent rise In sugar as an example.
Mr.. Hoover BIames Public.
Just word and a suggestion"
says Mr.. Hoover. 81 have been in
the produce, grocery and meat busi-
ness for more than thirty years in
Washington. In that time 1 have
heard shortage rumors, famine rum
ors, and coal rumors, but they most
ly were rumors. I cannot remember
Of one OF these rumors coming true,
that is other than some foolish or
unwise people cause a little panic or
false shortage by buying in greater
quantities than usual.
Just a rumor and the consumer
tries to save or cents and really
loses about twice as much as he
thinks to save. For the shortage
does not materiaIize, and he is load
ed up with something that drops back
to normal The people must be
taught to be conservative, not take
all these rumors too seriously.
How many people paid 10 and IL
cents for sugar last week and bought
two or three times as much as usual
when they could have waited a day
and bought all they needed for Sc?
Consumer has it In his power to
stop using anything. Why don't he?
Consumer could be careful and use
less at least
This is my dope after thirty years
OF floods, fires, strikes. wars. bIiz-
yards, shortages and everything else.
/ have never heard OF the time when |
we had real, sure enough famine"
District Citizens Cooperate.
Responding to the Invitations OF |
the Commissioners, to every person |
In the District to cooperate, con- |
sumers already have given the com |
mittee information which will be of |
value in its Investigations. Assur-
ances are given that such informs-
tion will be treated as confidential.
To what extent food is held in cold |
storage is one of the angles of the |
inquiry to which the committee will |
give close attention.
Commission houses and their |
methods also will come under scrut- 4
my. The statement made at a recent |
meeting of the North Capitol and Eek I,
ington Citizens Association that, not /
withstanding retail prices are lower I
in Baltimore than in Washington, |
farmers near Washington send their I
produce to the former city because
they are able to obtain better prices
from the commission merchants there I
was brought to the attention Of the /
committee.
To Probe DeaIers' Methods.
Inquiry will be made also, 1t is !
understood, TO ascertain whether
commission merchants buy outright
when prices are low and hold food
in cold storage for en- advance. the
result Of such dealing being that the
producer and the consumer pay the
freight" while the middleman reaps
the proft.
Transportation problems will be
considered and endeavor made to find
the extent to which shortage in cars
Is responsible for shortage in food.
The committee is without special
funds for the investigation and II
must be conducted. ii was said. with
such facilities as IL has at hand. In
spectors of the Health Department
and officers of the Superintendent of
Weights. Measures and Markets will
ha 81 f-F1