New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-05
Perkins Urges
Food Inventory
By Government
East Side Antagonistic to
His Suggestions for
Dieting
Dillon Is Applauded
Attacks Wicks Bill, Landing
His Measure Aimed at
Spectators
Dillon Is Applauded

George ". Perkins. chairman Of the
Mayors Food supply Committee. in the
Stuyv.sant High School yesterday
urged that the government take steps
FOR a Federal inventory Of the food
supplies now on hand in this country.
That he asserted, was the only sort OF
investigation that would do any prac;i-
cal COCO.
Mr.. Perkins. facing an sntagonistic
East Side audience. endesvOred 20 con-
vince his hearers that they should eat
the smells, hominy and Brazilian beans
provided b. his committee, but his ef-
forts met with little success. Irate
mothers and fathers shot at him cues
tions and criticisms Of the committees
work. They did not want their diet
dictated by food spectators, whom
they blame for the high prices, they
told him, demanding not temporary re-
lief measures, but a change in the en-
tire food handling system.
Argues for Wicks Bill
Mr. Perkins, arguing in favor of the
Wicks bill, pointed outthat IL gave the
proposed market commission power 20
determine just what supplies OF food
stufs were held throughout the state.
That, he said, would be an effective
check on speculation. AS an example
Of how effectively prices may be kept
normal n some authority knows the
exact supply, Mr.. Perkins remarked
that potatoes in England had not risen
excessively.
Next years crop has been endangered,
Mr.. Perkins said, because many farmers
had sold out their present supplies
without reserving seed potatoes. II
the war continues for another yeA-, he
predicted this country would face a
food crisis many times as serious as
the conditions now prevailing.
"As far as food supplies are con-
cerned." be said, "the war could not
have affected this country more, from
the very FIRST, II IL had been wRged
right here within our borders. Last
year we exported 100000 bushels Of
potatoes. We got gold for them. but
YOU can eat the gold.
Dillon AppIaudcd
Applause greeted an attack on me
Wicks bill BY John J. Dillon. State
Commissioner Of FOODS and Markets,
who outlined the provisions OF his bill.
which would compel spectators 20 sell
their foodstufs reasonably.
More applause came when Mr.. Dillon
assailed the Wicks committee and also
"rich men who try 20 tell you poor
people what you shall eat" Taking the
latter as a reference 20 himself, Mr.
Perkins retorted by pointing out that
"Mr. Dillon himself lives on Riverside
Drive among wealthy people In house
worth 50 1000 600"
Il could remedy this entire food sit
uatiOn inside of a week Il | had the
powers" declared Commissioner Dillon.
"All we need is 10 compel the specu-
lstors 20 say how much foodstuhs
they've got, take It and pay them fair
price. II that is unconstitutional we
can change the constitution
"Mr. Perkins is trying 70 Chinafy
the people" declared Abraham Plotkin.
"The American aristocracy won't eat
rice. but they are trying 20 make US DO
it. I want 70 tell Mr. Perkins and the
leisure class that when they Try 70 re-
duee American workingmen 70 the rank
Of Chinese coolies they're cutting their
own threats
Woman Protests
RebeccS Psnken, chairman Of the
committee Of the Mothers Anti II Oh
Price League under whose auspices, in
connection with Labor's Food Confer
ence, the meeting was held, said that
the workers soon would not be satisfied
with such common foods as potatoes
and onions.
IF it's quail on toast We want, we're
going 10 get IT," she cried.
Earlier Mr. Perkins spoke or the food
situation az the Bronx Union Branch Of
the Young Mems Christian Association,
40 East 161st Street, where Cyrus c.
Miller, former Borough President Of
The Bronx, presided.
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