Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-28

drop In prices of the food commodities
that reached record breaking levels last
week has resulted from the agitation by the
general public and from the reduced de-
mand for articles sold previously at ex-
ueme prices Dealers and spectators evil
IDENTIFY feared n panic break in the market
ara allowed the prices TO rccede gradually
Potatoes today are quoted at twenty-five
10 ntty cents a bushel less than the high
mark OF 81 last week. onions fell 81 a bag
OF 100 pounds. making the prices now from
SS TO so. Eggs fell four and five cents n
dozen, and butter is quoted at one and two
cents pound lower. The poultry market
was also easier Sugar prices dropped one-
iialf cent pound.
Commission men reluctantly admit that
the drop in prices is due chiefly to the
shorter demand and to the great amount
OF publicity given to tho food question
lately. The effect OF public opinion as re-
ilected by the newspapers is conceded.
a new legislative move for better con-
troll of food distribution was introduced
yesterday in the State Legislature by Sem
ator Sproul of Delaware County. The hill
provides for n bureau of markets, which
shall gather and disseminate information
on the supply and demand for produce
publish price bulletins and have power to
investigate delays. cmhargoes and charges
in the handling and transportation of agri-
cultural products
IN Philadelphia warehouses as there ever
was and there is no warrant whatever for
the exceptionally high prices FOR all COM
modties in this city and elsewhere, accord
ing to John Nirdin, city Supervisor of
Weights and Measures.
Furthermore, no schemes Of municipal
buying to sell at cost to the consumer will
materially relieve the stringent food situa.
ton. in Mr.. Nirdn's opinion. Such n plan
as Is being urged by Director of Public
Safety Wilson, with an appropriation of
s5O,oOo for the city to buy and sell at cost
Will not bring down the wholesale prices
nor will it lower the distribution costs to
figure much lower than the retailers
ordinarily charge. says Mr.. Vrdn
NO. sir" he asserted. this, fever of
high prices is not to he relieved by any
legislation, nor Investigations. nor local
boycotts, nor riots: neither should II be nee
essary to wait for next seasons crops to
renew the supply.
There is no shortage In the supply of
most commodities, ut least not enough to
cause any one to go without The ware
houses along Dock street and the other
produce storage sections of the city are
loaded with goods-just as heavily loaded
as they ordinarily are ] know IT because
can see for myself, and the men of nv
department get all over the city in their
inspections.
DO you want TO know whnr the real
reason for these extraordna.! prices is?"
he questioned.
"l'll tell YOU what II is" and he brought
his fist down on his desk with a crash 'it
is the American newspaper with its stories
of ever-increasing prices and its market
reports, which get the people and the deal
ers into a mental atmosphere of higher and
higher prices.
Remember, I am not blaming the papers
They are the greatest influence for good in
modern life. The newspaper is n godsend
to u.s. but I do say ii is the fundamental
cause for the high prices. Let me illustrate
by an example, which, though extreme,
will show the way in which the papers in
fluence prices
Several months ago during the first ex-
cited accounts OF railroad congestion I saw
potatoes offered at fifty cents a basket one
day and the same potatoes the next day
at 81. just because the excitement had
boosted the quotations. Was there any
real reason for the increase?
"In the same way | predict that pota-
toes would drop almost to 81 n bushel in
stead Of 81 II all the papers would unite in
that there is no need for the alb
normal price. The cause and the remedy
both lie in the power of the newspapers
Nowadays every one takes advantage OF
every opportunity and excuse TO charge
more for commodities We are living in a
world every one seems to want
to grab more and more. Just watch a
man get by the street car conductor with
out paying his nickel-see how his eyes
gllsten. how he clutches the nickel in his
hand, the air of victory radiating from his
whole person"