Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-26
MAYOR FOR SALE
OF FOOD AT COST
Smith Approves Director
Wilson's Plan to Seek
Legislative Authority
GOVERNOR WILL ASSIST
Brumbaugh Willing to Rush
Measure and May Name
Price Probe Board

Concerted action to remedy the food s,-
uation in Philadelphia has been taken n,
both city and State officials.
Mayor Smith has sanctioned a bill IN h.
introduced into the Legislature toniSb.
which would authorize Councils TO buv snd
sell food at cost If necessary. The bill was
suggested by Director Wilson as a resul,
Of the recent food riots in South PhiIadsiS
phia
The bill will be introduced by Represen.
tatlve Edwin r. Cox. Every effort will h.
made, 1t was said, to rush it through.
Governor Brumbaugh announced that bs
was heartily in favor of any measure that
would reduce the high cost of living and
relieve the suffering it had caused.
81 shall gladly sign such bill" the Gov
ernor said, 'and do all 1 can TO rush n
through the Legislature"
Governor Brumbaugh also said he had
been considering the advisability OF an.
pointing a commission to investigate the
prices for food in this city.
MAYOR WIRES APPROVAL.
The bill would permit establishment q,
food distribution centers throughout the
city TO fight existing food prices 1t was
drafted by Director Wilson after an ex-
change of kilograms with Mayor Smith,
now in Florida.
Several local commission merchants al
ready have anticipated a drop in food prices
The prices will drop slightly this week.
1t was said, owing to increased shipments
warmer weather and receipt of heavy food
supplies from the West.
Another plan to aid the public in the
present high cost of living crisis" has
bedn evolved by the Philadelphia Retail
Grocers' Association. At meeting of the
executive committee of the association IL
was decided to ask delegations of house
hpr he F,o1
occurred to attend a conference during the
first two days of the Philadelphia Food
Fair, which opens March in Horticultural
Hail.
RIOT SECTION NOW QUIET
The food riot section of South Phlladel.
phia was quiet this afternoon. Fish mar
kets and butcher shops on South Fourth and
South Seventh streets closed at noon. In
view of the general turmoil, the butchers
say they will not open for the present
Mrs. Fannie Goldberg, of 4i9 Durfor
street, who has taken a prominent part
in the food agitation, said that many per-
sons downtown were considering the advls
ability of taking their children from school,
Asked how such a moSe would improve
the situation, she said it would simply be
another reminder to the authorities that
something must be done quickly to relieve
the suffering due to food shortage and high
prices.
THE MUNICIPAL PLAN
Director Wilson, discussing the food situ-
alton, said
Just as soon as the Legislature au-
thorizes Councils it is the intention OF
the Mayor to have an appropriation
made - the Department of Supplies,
this money to be used for the purchase
of the necessities of life. 1t is impos-
sible at this time to give the exact
pf
will be determined later. When the
money becomes available it is the in
tention to establish stations through
out the city at places where they are
most needed. These stations will be
the distributing points for the food
products purchased by the city. and
through them the suffering caused by
the present high prices will unquestion-
ably be relieved.
1t is our belief that there Is no real
shortage of foodstuffs, notwithstanding
the fact that the price has increased
abnormally The present plan OF
action, as far as Philadelphia is con-
cerned, will overcome the present con-
dition, so that the INSCRIPTIONS food
manipulators will not be able to corner
the market and create suffering for
the purpose of selling their products
at outrageous prices. Every effort will
be made by the officials of this city to
see that our citizens obtain what they
need and at fair price.
Instead of marching on City Hall today
5000 strong, as at first suggested leaders
OF the housewives of the downtown section
last night announced that it had been DC.
cided to postpone the parade and instead
hold two preliminary mass-meetngs To-
night to decide the date OF the march one
conference. the largest, at 55 Reed street.
at o'clock, under the direction OF the
Socialist party of Philadelphia. in connec-
tion with about 100 other organizations
and the other. at the same hour. in Mer-
camille Hall, Franklin street, above Poplar
chairman will be elected at the Reed
street mass-meeting and a definite program
arranged