New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-12
FOOD BILL GIVES
NEW COMMISSION
SWEEPING POWER
Attacks High Cost of Liv-
ing Abuses from Many
Angles
TWO DEPARTMENTS
WILL BE MERGED
WickS Inquiry Results in
Provision for Board of
Seven Members

rom -LAN AorfeA1ntQcnk OF Ah1 ATiNAAH
Albany. Feb. 11.-Six months investi-
CATION of the high cost Of living has
produced a bill for introduction in the
Legislature on Tuesday, creating new
Department of Agriculture, Foods and
Markets that will have the most ex-
tensive powers of any department Of
the state 1t will be administered by
q commission of seven members, in
GLIDING, ex-oficio, the upstate Public
Service chairman, the Commissioner of
Public Markets of New York City and
five salaried members to be appointed
by the Governor. The first five ap-
pointive commissioners are to include
the present Commissioner of Agricult-
ure, Charles S. Wilson, and the present
Commissioner Of Foods and Markets,
John J. Dillon.
The new department is designed to
be job big enough to attract George
W. Perkins. whom the Governor wants
to accept the place. AS yet the Gov
ernor has no assurances that he will.
The FIVE appointive members are 70 re-
ceive salaries to be fixed by the Legis-
lature. Sufficient to procure suitable
men, but probably considerably less in
amount than is now paid to the Public
Service Commissioner" ($15,000). 1t
is considered likely that the head Of
the department will get at least s1o,-
600. and if Mr.. Perkins should object
20 accepting the salary, he may leave
it in trust for the use of the depart
ment.
General Objects Of Bill
at is recognized by this BILL said
Senator Charles W. Wicks, chairman
of the Joint legislative investigating
committee that is sponsoring it with
the Perkins municipal committee, that
the Legislature is not only the guar
dian Of the producer, but of the con-
sumer and of all forms Of business.
This bill lays no violent destructive or
reckless hand on individual enterprise.
No honest business man need fear the
provisions of this bill. The rogue may
well oppose II, as It is designed and
equipped TO prevent rogulsh and
fraudulent operations Of all kinds in
connection with the food supply of the
people Of this state
The bill declares that the production,
manufacturing, marketing and distri-
button of food and Of all the instru-
mentalities thereof is a matter Of pub
lie interest and a proper subject for
regulation. investigation, encourage
ment and development by the state in
order 70 protect the health of the citl
zens and TO provide an abundant sup
ply Of pure and wholesome foods, to
prevent frauds and expressions in the
traffic therein and 10 eliminate waste
and loss in the distribution thereof. .
One of the most important sections
Of the bill defines what shall be con-
yidered unfair practices" and includes
discrimination between communities
or residents Of different communities
No Price Fixing by State
There is no part of the bill" ex-
planned Senator Wicks, (which permits
price fixing on the part OF the state or
the state department. but IL is believed
that the bill viii be an efectual aid TO
the establishment Of reasonable prices
both by market facilities and by max
ing public accurate information upon
questions involved.
1T is believed that this method Of
dealing with the intricate questions
involved will greatly aid the establish
ment Of clean and permanent business
conditions, encourage the production
of foods Of all kinds, provide for fair
return for capital and labor invested
i'm food production and distribution.
prevent speculation and the fixing Of
exorbitant prices for food products,
and. so far as laws are capable Of so
doing. reduce the cost of living. The
investigation of the Wicks committee
disclosed many fraudulent and illegiu-
mate practices existing in the distribu-
ton OF fertilizers, dairy leeds and food
products. These practices were such
that the individual suffering from them
was practically without remedy"
Ia preventing fraudulent interior
ence with the economic principles gov
erning supply and demand of foods
and unreasonable, unjust and unau-
thorized regulation Of prices OF foods
the new department will have power
70 investigate and regulate plans and
methods Of cooperative corporations
and Of combinations and associations
for the purchase, sale, marketing or
distribution Of foods within the state.
All the present officers and employees
Of the state departments OF Agrlcult-
ure and Fools and Markets are trans
ferred to the new department without
change or loss Of standing.