Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-21

All embargoes on foodstuffs by the
railroad companies, except by express
permission of Judge Iovett. chief of the
priority bureau, are Illegal, according to
announcement made today by Howard
Heinz. Federal food administrator Tor
Pennsylvania, following Il ruling of the
administration in Washington. Permis'
sion will not he given for such embargoes
except when recommended by the local
administrators.
Complaint was made today by ]. s.
Crutchfield, assistant to Howard Heinz,
that the embargoes recently placed on
certain foodstuffs by the Pennsylvania
1iailroad and the Reading Hallway had
not been lifted in accordance with an
agreement he had made with these
roads about Il week ago. The charge
is made that the railroads have placed
cnbargoes without due regard to the
market conditions
The supply of potatoes in this city is
virtually exhausted. and unless Il quick
remedy is found. there will be short
age. the food officials say. This condi-
ton is due in part to the action of the
transportation companies in failing to
remove embargoes.
The complaint addressed to Washing
ton follows:
Edward Chambers, Director of Trans
portation. Food Administration, Wash
ington, ID. G..
Dear Mr.. Chambers
II thank you for your letter of De-
ccmber is, subject cmbargoes. advising
that 1t is illegal for railroads to issue
cmbargoes against the transportation or
foodstuffs. including Order No. ., with
out the express permission of Judge
Lovett, which will not be given until
tion & SpuQlt
For your information. the Philadel-
pl1la and Reading Railway here last
week put an embargo on potatoes ana
cabbage, when the stock supplies were
actually short at the time. On our de-
mand they revoked the order the next
morning, but today, more than week
later central New York shipping points
were refusing to accept shipments OF
potatoes to philadelphia, because they
had vet no notice of the lifting of the
embargo
.A similar embargo was put into eject
ON the Pennsylvania Lines West on the
18th, This, We are advised today, mas
been modified but not lifted entirely on
foodstuffs, in the conduct of the Federal
Food Administration regulations III
Philadelphia. 1t is our desire 10 coop
crate with the transportation companies
inrhandling their difficult situations but
ficials apparently are issuing embargo
notices on foodstuffs without due con-
sideration Of the erect
sour supplies of potatoes in Philadel-
mia have been virtullly exhausted the
retailers have little or no surplus stocks
the farmers are not conscious or the
serious situation, because OF very bad
roads, danger of freezing in transport
and the approaching holiday season, so
that they are apt TO miss the good mar
ket and also allow, during the next
sixty or ninety days, large aggregate
of 'underconsumption OF potatoes, which
will necessarily mean Increased con-
sumption of breadstuffs. A further re-
suit will be disastrous oversupply and
low prices for potatoes in the spring.
..Some drastic measures should be
taken Immediately, In my judgment, to
insure a regular, systematic shipment
oss potatoes. | am already attempting
to do this In Pennsylvania, with the as
sistance of our cooperation with state
College or Pennsylvania Department OF
Agriculture and the newly organized
branch of the Potato Growers Associa-
tion. ]. S. CRUTHCHFIELD
department Of Food Supply, Vice Di-