New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-08
Experts, Bamed by
Milk Problem Here,
Appeal to Hoover
New York officials Seek
to Have Standard
Price Fixed

The food administrators Of New York
City decided yesterday to put the milk
problem here up to Herbert c. Hoover,
acknowledging frankly the knotty ques-
tions of production and distribution
costs. as presented in many conferences
during the last two weeks, were too
much for them.
Accordingly. the milk men Of the
city. Federal Food Administrator Will
Jams. Chairman John Mitchell and Com
missioners Jacob Gould Schurman and
Charles A. Wieting, of the State Food
Commission. City Markets Commls-
sioner Moskowitz and K. ID. Cooper,
president of the Dairymen's League,
and about a dozen or two directors OF
the league will leave to-day for Wash
ington. where they will confer with
Food Administrator Hoover tomorrow
morning. Mr.. Williams hoped that
permanent arrangement for milk prices
might be effected at the meeting. The
November increase of half cent in
wholesale price of milk is being ABB
sorbed temporarily by the milk dealers,
but this arrangement will last only
until next Sunday.
Federal Food Administrator Williams
received Yesterday a letter from Albert
Rosen, Of Brooklyn, part owner Of five
butcher shops catering mainly 10
wage earners in modest circumstances.
Mr.. Rosen offered to sell all meats in
his stores at cost throughout the dura-
ton of the war Mr.. Williams. while
characterizng Mr.. Rosen's offer as a
splendid example of patriotic devotion,
wrote him that the food administra-
ton did not expect any one to make
such sacrifices, even in national crisis.
Mr.. Rosen said he had already begun
TO offer meats in his five stores at cost.
All Entitled to Fair Profit
producers, wholesalers and retailers
are entitled 20 fair profit said Mr.
Williams. "Otherwise our whole com
mercial and economic structure might
fall to the ground. But we do insist
that there must be no speculation. Mer-
chants cannot buy and sell as hey did
before the war, looking for big profits
when the time is propitious. They can
not buy when food products are cheap
and hold these products until prices go
high"
Mr. Williams said that at confer
ences with George NJ. Rolph. chief of
the sugar division OF the United
States food administration. he had
been told the present shortage was due
almost entirely TO our shipments OF
100000 tons to France, and the enor-
nous canning done last summer by
American housewives.
The Joint conferences on -four and
FISH prices have been postponed, the
latter until Friday afternoon or Sat
urday. and the former until Monday
afternoon, in order that the food ad-
ministration's experts in these two
lines may be present. Mr.. Williams
said the food administration had UNI
der consideration TO allow retail mer-
chants 80 cents profit on a barrel OF
-four.
"The reason that bread is so high
now-higher than in Great Britain
is not generally understood said Mr..
Williams. an the first place. the Brit
ish government has subsidized the
pound loaf paying the baker 3. cents
a pound. Secondly. the British loaf is
only so per cent -four, the rest being
potato meal. In view of these con
siderations bread is comparatively
cheaper in New York City than in Lon
dom"
Orders to Watch Food
Mr.. Williams sent word yesterday TO
owners Of warehouses, cold storage
plants and grain elevators in the met.
Topolitan section Of New York advis-
ing them 70 keep a close guard on
their supplies. in view Of Mr.. Hoover's
warnings OF conspiracy to destroy food
products. He also asked them to
furnish a complete list Of supplies on
hand