New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-04
Real Estate Board
Calls Wicks Bill
Unsound Measure
Believes 1t Would Have a
Demoralizing Effect on
Food Industry
Bigger Taxes Likely
Adds Proposed Law Singles
Out One Large Business
for Excessive Control

legislation. L ne DOdtu lNNOANNN tN-
opposition TO four important bills
Chief among these is Senator Wicks's
bill. which would enlarge the functions
of the State Department Of Foods and
Markets.
Another of these bills is Senator
Towner's. Int No. 434, which would
appropriate 100000 and authorize the
state TO establish milk markets, sta
tions and creameries, with provisions
for the sale of milk and milk products
Senator Chemists bill, authorizing the
Mayor Of New York, when emergencies
arise, TO appoint a food commission IS
opposed on the ground that it is un'
democratic and economically unsound.'
Assemblyman Callahan's bill providing
for a referendum on the question OF
acquiring sites for state terminal mar
kets in cities of the state and approo'
priating s25,O00,000 for this purpose, is
opposed, as sit is not fit subject 70
refer TO the people, but should be de,
cided as a matter of governmental
policy"
In regard to the bills analysed the
board says in part:
SENATE Int. $40, Wicks Assembly
Int. 755, Grant,, in relation to agrlcult-
ure. foods and markets.
"Tnis bill is based upon a meaSre
and inadequate report known as the
Joint report on foods and markets OF
the Governors market commission
Mayor Mitchel's food supply committee
and the Wicks legislative committee
dated December %, 1915.
Aside from the objections hefeih'
after recited, there IS no convincihe
argument in support OF the claim ina,
this bill will reduce the cost OF 1000
10 the consumer. There is grave pre-
sumption, on the contrary, tnat Whlt
failing to attain this object, 1t VIII nave
a demoralizing effect on the established
food industry, particularly IN this clty
conducted by large private investments
tho direct result Of which demorallZa-
tion would be 10 reduce real property
values in a wide area of the city ana SC
Indirectly to decrease the taxable val
ues Of the city and increase taxation.
"This bill is crude on its face and
shows lack Of knowledge OF the suoJec'
matter with which it deals. ,-,.
cit is TOO complex and volumlnouS
and reouires a longer time Tor consIu
Grafton than has been permitted 49,,
"The bill gives the commission whicI
II creates authority to buy and sci
commodities in competition with GU
zens of the state. 1t gives the commls
SION the right to regulate the prices o
such commodities. .t.;,
"It involves an expensive macnih
ory which. according to the promoter
of the bill, will be more eI"oo .ni;'
and complex than both OF our pupi.'
service commissions. MS WIZ Pu
an enormous burden on the taNpayet'
without any return, as the TWO puolI'
service commissions eNpend NOR
than S3,000,O00 annually merely III
administrative functions. ,.u H.,
"The principle in the Dill "n lci
cives the right to the state to BUY am
Coli foodstuffs in competition with IL
citizons is economically unsound ah'
d,nperous. IL singles out one iarg'
nrivate industry for excessive con
troI II gives the state the right t'
cont Gifts of money from prlVat'
indiyiduals and corporations, TO d
msed in payment of state employees
'',h;cb we believe to be bad prlncl
Mo in that it degrades the state j.
l,o,,ornment contrary TO democraIi'
S9yincinlos and is totally contrary e
he policy lust adopted by the Cnlte'
Statos Government IN discontinuin'
- rractice in the Federal agrlcult
ural department. -.
The principle of a large commits
lion is bad. The present system
nnder which the Agricultural Depart
nent is administered by single com
miesioner is more efficient Tor ina
department. .,d cor,,el.
the commission 10 execute al OF wv
tvertv-six different powers conferred
by the measure. .;-;o,s ornlvino
TO this city place mandatory pow
IN tho hands of a new market coillhta
,;oner and apparently give that oihcia
the right, without asking the coms ;,h
of any one. TO construct marHe.s W.
ont limit as to number and expense
leaving the funds to be pro''ueu ~
other city departments. 49,. =. .bi.
"Other provisions applying 70 ~
city take from the Board OF AloeIi l's !
their present power OF superN lsl"7 az
constructing markets ana place Ines'
powers solely In the hands OF ny ~ y,
commissioner without responsibility %
onv one and without limiting the mum
bor If markets or the expense thereoi
Senate Int. 695, Chemist lAssen',ols
Int orc. Perlman), adding new Section
Charter nTONl0fUA
that when the Mayor deems an enei
gency exists he may appoint 200
commission of three members 10 Pui
chase necessities Of life and resell t'
inhabitants Of the city at such d prlc'
and i'm such quantities as II deeih'
proper and to the best interests OF 'n'
rity. The Board Of Estimate Is author
iyed to appropriate the necessaI
funds. The commission Is 10 de'e'"''"'
when the emergency ceases.
The Real Estate Board - strongly
opposed TO the bill itself but mor,'
particularly to the principle inVo.Veu
Recent occurrences IN the cry nav
appeared on the surface 20 prestA
the necessity for aiding a certain
ment in the community VINO are ~
legged 70 have been hit by the rise u
the cost Of food. Investigation DS
nublic and private organizations, now
ever, has demonstrated the fact ina IA,
the alleged distress growing, out o.
food shortage has been greatly eNas
gerated. I'LL.
on record as opposed TO the prevail ni
tendency on the part Of public ofiielsl.
70 he influenced by public elamor &c
rush into legislation that is undemo
cratic and economically unsound' :,
The direct effect of this bill woulc
be TO place the city in unfair eompetl
tion with the purveyors Of foodstufs
The indirect hut quite az serious re
suit would be to reduce the supply OF
food and so to increase prices, for Tho
reason that producers and distributor
- urouI1 NOT suDply market