Evening star., 1917-02-26
TO OFFSET
HIGH FOOD PRICES
New York Residents Urged to
Eat Rice Instead of P0-
tatoes and Onions.
|CITIES PROBING H0LD-UPS

By the Associated Press.
| NEW YORK, February 26.-A CAM
paign of education against high food
prices was extended today through
several avenues. This plan was adopt
ed by the board Of health after an in
vestigation to ascertain just how much
suffering existed among the poor. and
| by the mayors food supply committee.
| 1t was indorsed by Gov. Whitman. who
summed up his view Of the situation
by saying. The people have simply got
to eat what they can afford to eat"
The food supply committee sent to
homes throughout the city, by means
of public school children. 100000 cir
culars urging citizens to eat rice In
stead of potatoes. onions and cabbage.
George w. Perkins. chairman Of this
committee. asserted that New York city
might expect only slight reductions in
food prices unless the people made up
their minds to adopt substitutes for
expensive foodstufTs. Enough rice is
available at a low price. he said. to af-
ford relief until legislative action can
be taken.
On Wednesday. 1t was announced.
public hearings will begin at Albany
on the wicks bill creating a state de-
partment of foods and markets. Gov.
Whitman, who has been here since Fri
day night, devotinG nearly all his
| time to the food situation. said that
throughout the state, he found no con-
ditions elsewhere resembling those In
New York city.
Gets Proof Of Advance In Prices.
The governor received personal proof
of advancing prices yesterday. when he
found many dishes on the menu at the
hotel where he is staying cost 10 cents
more each than on Saturday.
The department of health, In a report
to the mayor. found that a marked in
crease in the export of staple foodstuns
had great influence in raising prices.
but declared, nevertheless. that there
was less dependency and real need in
many years past. At the same time
the department reported that families
whose incomes were $500 year or less
would suffer by their inability to buy
sufficiently nourishing food at the pres
ent prices. The report urged that the
poor be educated to buy food more in
telligently, and said that tho well-to-do
might contribute toward tht seducation
by altering habits of carelessness and
extravagance in their homes"
A number of retail grocers today
joined consumers in the boycott against
potatoes. onions and chickens. and
agreed not to sell these articles.
Chicago Considers Car Shortage.
CHICAGO. February 2S.-Oficials Of
the Chicago Board of Trade, attorneys
for the board and representatives of
grain houses met today to discuss the
car shortage situation. particularly as
il affects the grain business, and to
devise means Of obtaining more cars
for the movement of the product. Ac-
cording to board of trade officials, con-
ditions are growing worse. instead Of
better. as regards grain shipments to
the east
Henry c. Barlow, trafic manager Of
the Association of Commerce, looks for
better conditions this week in the mat
ter of moving freight.
There is no truth in this talk about
a food shortage In Chicago" said Mr..
Barlow. I'VE have plenty OF food. but
New York and the east are bidding TOR
It, and we have to pay the price they
name to get our own food
The joint investigation Of food con-
ditions in Chicago by municipal and
federal authorities was resumed today.
TO visit cold storage warehouses in
their search for viola tions If the fed
erai food laws and city ordinances.
The announcement of q boycott of
potatoes by city and county hospitals
was followed today by many house,
holds at the suggestion of DR.. John
Dill Robertson. city health commission
er, who lid "a real boycott will knock
the price of potatoes into cooked hat
in week"
Food in Storage in San Francisco.
SAN FRANCISCO, February 2e-The
entire force of the city administration
was enlisted today in an effort to md
out what food stocks are being held
in cold storage. City officials said they
had been informed that local cold stor-
age warehouses were packed with tho
very food products that are being sold
at famine prices on the plea that the
Supply is short