New-York tribune., 1918-01-01
Federal Investigators De-
eide Farmers and Dealers
Should Get More
Up One Cent a Quart
ToConsumer To-day
Price May Be Reduced in
February-Feed Will
Be Lower Then

heated debate of more than eight
hours yesterday decided that the price
OF milk would be increased this month,
Grade A milk will cost, when the
prices are readjusted, IT cents a quart,
Grade B will sell at Is cents when de-
livered at homes. In the stores it will
remain at IA cents. The price Of loose
dipped milk will also remain at II
cents.
These prices arc only for January
said Arthur Williams, Federal Food
Administrator for New York City yes
terday. "and the commission hopes that
with the reduced cost of feed they can
be soon reduced"
The meeting was held behind closed
doors, and its findings were forwarded
to Herbert Hoover, Federal Food Ad-
ministrator, for his approval. Indose-
ment by him will make the prices ef-
fective today.
The commission did not reach its
conclusions unanim ously, it was said.
Several of the members are from up
state producing centres, and their SYM
pathies were with the dairy farmer, as
we'll as the consumer. One point dis
cussed was a provision making prices
named by the commission standard for
the next three months. Members of
the commission feared to act hastily
because of the uncertainty of the fut-
ure for the producer. Increased cost
Of feed and labor would seriously af-
feet him. it was argued.
Midnight Was Time Limit
An agreement was reached. it was
said. by provision for An equalization
scale-to give the farmer the same
price the second three months of the
year as in the first three months, there
by affordirg HIN. opportunity to recoup
possible loss.
Anticipated protests against the
action of the state food board in
adopting a ruling providing for the
proper labelling of all commodities by
retailers in foodstuffs has not de-
veloped.
Cyrus c. Miller, chief Of the bureau
of transportation and distribution of
the food administration, received COM
munications yesterday from several
wholesale grocers and proprietors of
so-ca.led chain retail stores, in which
they pledged themselves to obey the
ruling to the letter.
Advertising Of the new regulation
begins to-day, so that on January 10
II will automatically be written into
the statutes. The only trouble the Ad-
mlnistration expects now is from small
retailers who are not members of or
carnations. The retailers, especially
those in zones of foreign population
who are not organized, are expected tc
require some Education" Women mem.
bers of the food committees in the
various Assembly districts will be
asked to instruct them in the label rul
ing.
Taking Food Inventory
In conformity with directions re
ceived from Herbert Hoover, Nationa
Health Department of this city yes
terday began an inventory Of the stool
now held by the $4,000 or more re
tailers of staple foodstuffs in Greater
New York.
Blanks were distributed by the polio,
department to the Dealers who were
directed 10 have them filled in by to
morrow afternoon. The reports the,
VIII be returned to the police and in
spectors detailed by the bureau of foot
and drugs OF the Department of Health
will check them up. The reports thel
will be sent to Washington. Tho in
ventory is a national movement de
s,gned to determine how much FOO
there is in the country.
The once despised potato Will prov
the salvation Of Americans If figure
quoted yesterday by P. @. Foy, trad
expert, prove founded on fact. whe
the new crops make ther appearance
Mr.. Foy discussed the report fror
Washington to the effect that, Will
last years potato yield was an aver
age of only three bushels per capt.
in the United States. this years yielt
to November ], averages four and one
half bushels. The crop on that dat
total,ed 440,000,0O0 bushels. Mr. Fo
said
Bumper Crop Forecast
Gwen should we assume Mr.. Fo
continued. "that a million bushels c
that crop will be used for seed, we wi
have $40, 1000 600 bsuhels 10 he consume
by June !, in addition to the Bermud
and Florida crops. which will max
their appearance before that date. The
must be eaten by June, for they begi
TO sprout then and cannot be used eve
Tor cattle fodder
II suggest that every hotel and res
taurant proprietor in the country serv
nt least three potatoes with each mea
The result is obvious. The consuml
ton of bread Will diminish and MOI
wheat will be saved
What will tho result be if the potat
crop finds no outlet? Both the farme
and the finarcier who provided capita
for the production Of tho banner out
put will become discouraged at the
loss and will make no effort to rails
such crops next year. A potato famin
far more serious than that Of la,
year will be the result in the winte
of 19lS-1o19"
25,OUO Bushels Frozen
Mr.. F'oy's discourse came just aft<
Wholesale dealers had announced tn,
from 10000 to $4,000 bushels of D,
tatoes had been frozen and DESTROYED
freight yards Of Manhattan and Brool
lyn.
John Mitchell. chairman of tho Stat
Food Commission, and Arthur William
food commissioner for New York Cit
conferred yesterday at the administr,
rion's headquarters, 220 West FIT,
seventh Street, on preliminary actic
in the campaign for legislation licen
ing all retailers in food.
Seventeen Below in Yonkers