The Washington times., 1918-07-20
CHARGES
BRANDED FAKE
BY MARKET HEAD

| That the washington Market Com
pany Is the source Of the high cost
Of living in Washington. as charged
in the House by Chairman Ben John
son. Of the District COMMITTEES. is to-
day emphatically denied by Edward
G. whitford. president of the market
company.
THE Washington Market Company
Is the principal source Of the high
cost OF living in Washington" Chair
/ man johnson told the House yester-
/ day. why doesn't the Senate 20
ahead and pass the bill the House
mas already passed 20 take over the
market company's property?"
Prevents High Prices.
instead OF the principal source Of
the cost Of high living in this city,
according to Mr.. Whitford. the COM
pany Is one of the chief rsasons
prices here are no higher.
hr. johnson said two hills which
ougnt oy all means to be passed were
tne market bill and the bill for a
ures. o~ ie0S
Ine landlords in and out of the
Senate are not only blocking the anti
pronteering bill, but they are deiav-
ing the market bill and the uei1hts
snu measures bill. Both are i'm
The high cost of living here "a
cnieny due to the lack OF a nroner
I1e system. The Washington
company is the principal
source OF the trouble. Big storage
ana packing companies have space IN
ne market and they dictate what
% htie tellow and that one shall
sen ana not sell And the little fei.
o,hs lave 70 DO as they are told.
business" AO@eh 0ut OF
promptly answer that but for
the modern facilities offered IN cen-
yer MSrket to the buying public.
pIlees throughout this city would Far
S1Seeo those now existing" said Nr
Whitford today.
This latest charge bv Mr. Jobn.or
no more accurate than hfs many
otner statements made in prevIous
.ttaeks on this company. His claim
S1 s1at tne market company Is resoopsi.
e Lor high cost Of living in wash
~. 1rs tion - unjust and without cause
me market company does not deal IN
food products OF iany Kind snd q.
no more interested in food nriees
OF tne several hundred dealers in Cen
yer market than It Is in those of the
packers and other large houses to
whom 1t supplies refrigeration.
Dealers In Center Market as well
as the public at large have eouaI ac-
cess to the cold storage facilities
supplied BY the corporation, supplied
oy no other public market in the city.
BY reason Of these facilities, meats.
poultry and other edibles can ALWAYS
De iouno there In the best condition
and at competitive prices.
1000 Food Dealers Here.
There are about 1000 food dealers
IN washington, including chain
stores and other public and private
markets. The food administration Is
directed to regulate the business OF
Center Market.
"Mr. Johnson says big storage
ana packing companies have space
In this market" and characteristical-
" ne asserts that this company con-
trols them and fixes prices. Nothing
can be further from the truth. for
with these concerns this company
mas no dealings save to furnish them
space and refrigeration. None OF
these packers control any stand or
any dealer in this market.
MI JOnHSOn seems 10 be ObSe6sed
with the idea that the Washington
Market Company has since 1872, when
organized, committed every known
crime, including fraud, corruption.
arson. and the taking OF human life,
also that the company has been
guilty OF profiteering at the expense
OF the Government for a period of
twenty years, this in connection with
the leasing to the District of CO.
lumbia militia Of over - half million
cubic feet OF space at Center Market
at rental barely sufficient to COW
er the cost Of lighting, heating and
repairs. These accusations have all
been refuted in detail many times,
but repetition by Mr.. Johnson con-
tinues. The stand rentals in CEN
ter Market fixed over forty years
ago have never been increased,
whereas rents OF nearby stores have
been trebled and quadCupled. This
shows the reverse OF profiteering on
the part OF the Market Company.
Center Market has been built up
by reason OF its fair rates for cold
storage of food products and by
maintaining low rentals.
"If the Government now desires to
take over this property upon pay
ment Of fair and just valuation II
can do so. In any event IL is hoped
that the market company may soon
be relieved from further unjust at
acks and abuse, such as have been
repeatedly made by Mr.. johnson dur
ing the past five years"