New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-05
Distribution Unequal

Leipzig. tried to hold down the price
of hares by not only fixing maximum
price, but by putting them on the food
card. The result duplicated that of
Berlin with the goose. One Leipzig
newspaper intimated that some people
got the cards, others the hares.
Profteering of the most varied kind
comes before the courts. In February
man was sentenced to pay $4,000 for
exceeding the maximum price for will
low twlgs. Another was arrested for
selling aniseseed at IS a pound, as
against four cents before the war.
But the fault for exceeding the max
imum prices fixed by the authorities
does not lie altogether with sellers.
Very often it is the rich buyer who.
determined to satisfy the hunger of
panies send out agents to scour the
country for food for their laborers.
Recently two such agents of big mu-
nltlons plant were arrested with near
ly $4,000 in their pockets. Even mu-
inequalities, in their zeal to take care
OF their citizens, send out buyers, who
snap up supplies at any cost, quite re-
CARELESS of price regulations.
boarding is another form of circum-
venting the law; but the definition of
boarding has grown more and more
stringent in proportion as one food
product after the other was put upon
food card boarding became such a
common practice that a special word
came into use for it-namely, to
"hamster." This is the name of the
German marmot, which has the repu-
tation of laying by his winter stock of
food; and the word, both as noun and
verb, swiftly won a fixed place in the
German language 1t is usually spoken
with smile n win NOM ~ 1oc,
mild derison of the food regulations
But the "hamsters" are often hauled
before the courts for heavy sentences
But graver crime, in the form of
thlevery of the boldest description. has
also become extremely prevalent
Nothing is safe against thieves. Food
in particular is snatched by them as
by hungry dogs. They operate by
night and also in broad daylight.
Four weeks ago Berlin newspaper
mentioned in less than half column
nine burglares, mostly effected by
smashing show windows at night.
Bands of thieves have been form d
in great numbers throughout the coun-
try. Recently one of these was caught
at Neukoelln, a suburb of Berlin, which
had repeatedly robbed the municipal
food Offices. Not only food, but food
cards are game for thieves. Not long
ago DdHO OF Russians was arrested IN
another Berlin suburb for stealing TO-,
900 bread cards. Another theft of
100000 cards was made by thieves
who broke INTO the printing Office
where they were prepared.
The thieves sometimes possess re-
markable detective talent in ferreting
out boarded supplies; and in one case
that have heard of they took a wag
gish delight in laying hands upon the
Transfers" treasure. My wife, when
we came away from Berlin, sold some
canned goods to a German neighbor in
the same house. He industrously used
other opportunities, too, for stocking
his Harder, which was in the attic; and
he was most happy in feeling that he
had made provision against a rainy
day Recently an American friend, ar
rived from Berlin, informed us that
thieves had emptied that mans attic.
But not wholly; they were so polite
as to- leave one can of each article,
with a card attached bearing these
words: an case you want to order
more we leave YOU a sample"