Evening star., 1917-06-03
Food Commissiou's
Recommendations.

Food Commlssion's and operate
Recommendations. ~ ws,h,ns9ey ans4en
Tor country produce will no doubt ap-
peal to both city dwellers and market
gardeners. In the event that the plan
materializes, and in view Of the dras-
tic nature of the provisions of the
food legislation now in process Of en-
actment by Congress. It is highly prob
able Uncle Sam, in the guise Of sala-
ried expert, would simply enter into
| business in competition with the
wholesale produce dealer or commits
| sion man.
The recommendations Of the commits
| sion are directed at a single phase of
the marketing problem - that of
eliminating a costly selling system by
utilizing the same methods Of dispos-
Ing OF farm produce that manufactur-
ers use for marketing the product Of
| their factories-that is, salaried en-
ployes in charge of agencies in the
principal cities of the country.
It's chief advantage would lie in the
| fact that many small producers who
| have grown perishable crops and wish
to dispose OF them at a reasonable
pront could ship them to the District
commission market and have them sold
for small commission. It would also
prevent gluts on the local market
caused by the fact that Individual mid
dlemen are always anxious to get con-
signments, as they get their commits
stons no matter what return Is made to
the grower. AS the government would
be selling the produce at no profit. 1t
would never bait the market gardener
with high quotations unless conditions
warranted them
The District Investigating commission.
after two months detailed study of the
local and national situation, is COM
posed of George NJ. Roberts, chairman.
! superintendent of weights and meas
ures; c. F. Nesbft, superintendent of
insurance. and William c. Woodward.
District health officer.
The commission found no valid rea-
son for the excessive prices for food
| stuffs and declared
Speculation and in its report that
Rising Prices. been a potent fac
tor in the enormous increase for such
products. In this connection. it was
| pointed out that there has been no ma
| terial food shortage. and as a correc-
| tive agency for improving market con-
| ditions in Washington there was urged
the establishment of q wholesale market
owned and operated by the District
government, as a means Of encouraging
| shipment of foodstu1s to the city and
| reducing marketing costs to more rea-
sonable levels.
In order to ascertain just what the
different members of the commission
had in mind when they recommended a
city owned and operated wholesale
| market and the reasons that prompted
them to make SO radical a proposition,
On hrty1r H.
facts were submitted to members of
the commission and each was invited to
express his personal opinions on the
subject.
partment of markets. is familiar with
| marketing problems both from the city
dwel1er's and farmers point of view.
Knowing both ends of the marketing
problem. he is able to speak with a de-
gree of authority on this question.
which has been discussed with much
haziness for the past year by public
men. food committees and mass meet
ings, which almost without exception
J wound up their Investigations and
public market be established in which
the stalls would be rented out at nomi-
nal figures.
THE plan suggested" said Mr. Rob-
erts at the end of an hour of general
discussion. ''is merely that the District
government create sales agency
which would assure both consumers and
producers an economical market sys-
tenn. and operate it at cost or small
margin of profit in competition with
men now engaged in the business.
Though I did not think so formerly,
I am now convinced that such a sales
agency will develop into a model mar
keting system which will be widely
initiated by other cities throughout the
country. With competent MANAGEMENT
by a salaried employe trained in the
wholesaling and commission business,
1t should give US first-class marketing
facilities at low cost. It will assure
proper distribution and standa rdization
of food supplies. and market prices
which are arrived at as a result of ac-
tual sales.
There is no generally approved plan
for city markets. We have no model