The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-08-10

scriptions 100000 more, all of which
and more will be needed in order to per-
feet this park.
Naturally, Mr.. Perkins and his friends
were Of the opinion that he should not
resign his office as one of the Palisades
park commissioners, even though If he
were to do that he would be Immediately
named by Mayor Mitchell as commits
sioner Of markets in New York city.
The mayor and the governor were both
of opinion that Mr.. Perkins was pre-
eminently indicated as the man who
should be named commissioner of mar
kets in New York city. There was then
only one way to be adopted, in view of
the fact that Mr.. Perkins informed
Mayor Mitchell that he would accept the
post of commissioner of markets If he
were not obliged to give up his official
relation to the Palisades park commits
sion. That course the governor has
adopted, reinforced by an appeal from
Mayor Mitchell. Governor Whitman has
asked the legislature SO to amend the
city charter as to make it lawful to APP
point to New York city office mem
Der of the Palisades park commission.
fully and without any money recompense
substantially all of his time to study
of food conditions in New York city and
state. He has been persuaded by this
study that only by strong legislative
measures executed by competent men
can the peril of great shortage Of
food or of prohibitive prices be averted.
He has had consultations with Mr..
Hoover at Washington and has found
hot he ant OF No Oh in
resented by Mr. Hoover, and he are in
absolute accord.
But the spectators have persuaded the
farmers that Mr.. Perkins cares nothing
for them, being solely intent upon meet
ing the interests of the consumers. Yet
no man has done more for the farmers
in New York than Mr. Perkins and no
one better understands what the true
relation between the farmers and the
consumrs should be. Last spring he
bought 100 carloads of seed potatoes and
turned the potatoes over to the farmers
at actual cost. In doing this he per-
formed q very important service. He
bought In the far west many thousand
head of sheep and had them shipped to
New York so that the farmers could
buy them at actual cost He is as
anxious that the farmers be protected as
that the consumer shall not have to.
pay, by reason of the action Of food
spectators, exorbitant prices for food
products.
Governor whitman has now recon-
mended to the legislature that 1t amend
the city charter so that member of the
New York Palisades park commission can
serve as New York city officer. If
that be done Mayor Mitchell will in
stantly appoint Mr.. Perkins commits
sioner of markets and If other legisla-
ton asked for by Governor whitman be
adopted by the legislature then the three
food commissioners who will be named
by him will have almost autocratic
power whereby they can suppress food
speculation. Should Mr.. Perkins become
commissioner of markets in New York
city he would automatically become a
member of and probably chairman OF
the New York state food commission.
He will have the powerful support of
Theodore Roosevelt and of others who
believe that 1t is of imperative impor-
lance that New York state should per-
feet measures whereby her food sup
plies can be conserved and properly dis
tributed with due recognition OF tho
services of the farmers as well as Of
the needs of the consumers.