The sun., 1917-01-08
Proposed Legislation Means
Abolition of Present
Food Department.
JOHN J. DILLON FACES
LOSS OF $4,000 JOB
Friends of Commissioner,
Who Has Four More Years
to Serve, Start Boom.

george w. Perkins. chairman OF the
Governors market commission and of
Mayor Mitchel's food supply committee,
the position OF commissioner Of the new
State Department of Markets, provided
bill 10 be introduced by Senator
Charles w. Wicks creating a broadened
department. becomes a law.
And Mr. Perkins, who has well de-
aned ideas as to the way to reduce the
high cost OF living and who believes the
entire food problem is one of The greatest
questions OF the day, IL not the greatest,
p willing to accept the position and
tackle the job with all his heart and
soul That this is the programme now
ready for the finishing touches was
learned last night from authority that
cannot be questioned.
The proposed remedial legislation
making such plan possible will result
from an investigation into marketing
conditions and the high cost of food
stuffs made by the two bodies Of which
Nj. Perkins is chairman and by the
Wicks legislative committee, OF which
Senator Wicks Is the head
Commtttees' Recon- me nda tiOns,
These committees have submitted to
Gov. Whitman a joint report in which
they recommend the establishment of a
oroadened State Department of Markets
with a single commissioner at the head,
municipal market departments for cities
ito be appointed by Mayors), an inter-
state market commissioner to be named
BY the Governor and a State Board of
Foods and Markets to consist Of the
interstate commissioner as chairman. the
State Commissioner. the New York city
Commissioner and four or six other COM
missioners to be appointed by the Gov
ernor to represent the farming. trans
portation and other interests.
The establishment OF broadened
State Department OF Markets under laws
enabling the Governor to appoint Mr..
Perkins as the commissioner means the
wipng out OF existence of the present
State Department of Foods and Markets,
OF which John J. Dillon. Democrat, Is
now at the head. Mr.. Dilion's term has
Tour more years to run.
DiIlon's Friends Disturbed.
Mr. Dllon's friends are quite disturbed
over the Commissioners prospects OF
being legislated out OF office. and de-
clare that he KNOWS all about the sug-
sestion. They say that II the programme
IS carried out Mr.. Dillon will announce
himself as the farmers candidate for
Governor in 1918, backed by the State
Dairymen's League and all other farm
trs in the State. He would get in the
race they say not only to satisfy an
old worthy longing to be Governor but
also 10 defeat Mr.. Whitman, who nat
uraiiy believes that 1t is necessary to
be reelected for third term in order to
make easier his equally worthy am
bition TO be the Republican candidate for
President IN 1920. Mr.. Dillon would
pattern his campaign. his friends say.
Along the lines of the successful cam
paign made by the farmers of North
Dakota, who swept their farm ticket into
ofhce at the November election.
The Commissioner has the support
Just now OF the Dairymens League. COM
posed OF 10000 members. as the result
Vi MS hard and persistent work in win
hlns the milk strike for the league.
MI Dillon's campaign would be car
RED on largely through the Rural Nep
I,orF'r, OF which he Is the proprietor
~ has circulation of nearly 200. 600,
ana In the agricultural districts the sub
scrloers look upon 1t as a sort OF an up
70 date gospel.
EnthusIasm Over Perkins.
Gov, Whitman, Senator Wicks and
olher Republican leaders, it is said. are
ehthnslastic over the idea Of the State
setting such distinguished citizen and
.ucceSstul business man as Mr.. Perkins
OF Markets
Mr.. Perkins has made a close study
market conditions throughout the
,u,ouh'ry ana abroad for several years.
ne mas been chairman OF Mayor Mitchers
'ood supply committee for over two
sedFs He has spent much time and
hmohey investigating the causes for the
n'sh cost OF foodstuffs and believes thor
Oushly that with a State department or
sahlzed on broader lines than the pres
snl department with correlated depart
meh's TO regulate municipal and inter-
s.a'e marketing conditions. a great and
,.as'ing good will result to men in the
.voostuns business and to the great body
oi consumers.
lie believes that inasmuch as 40 per
,eh'' ,e OF the average income goes for the
.n'nss folks eat. the most vital subject
Tl lhe day is the solution OF the problem
a. such way as to bring about the re-
Nuc'ion In the cost of foodstuffs.
Desires to Help the PEOPLE.
Mr., Perkins's successes In large enter
prises and the commanding position he
enjoys among business men. coupled with
,he unselfish activities In which he has
,ohg been engaged to accomplish things
mat VIII go to help his fellow men. have
appealed strongly to Mr.. Whitman In his
election OF the head vi The GoveriIor's .
market Commission NJ the ideal Com
missioner OF Department Of Markets
/, Continued on FonrtA Poss.