The sun., 1919-10-06
BACON AT 2S CENTS
WORRIES O'CONNOR
Harlem Saloon Keeper Stood to
Profit $4,000 by Deal
With Swift a. Co.
CLUBS MAY DELAY SALE
City Prepares to Place Issue
Meat on Market-Delivery
Begins To-day.


When the Department OF Markets pro-
poses to sell Swift's canned bacon from
the army's surplus supplies to consumers
at 2s cents pound how will NJ. j.
O'Connor, the Harlem saloon keeper be
able to dispose of 100000 pounds OF
canned bacon, procured for him from
Swift & Co. by the Rev. DR.. Jonathan c.
Day, Commissioner of Markets, for re-
tail by political clubs at 35 cents n
pound?
This question in economics was asked
last night by Democrats, Republicans
Socialists and Single Takers as they dis
cussed the latest big bacon mystery at
tables which they fondly had expected to
turn into bacon counters in day or two.
Everybody. particularly the meat re-
taller and delicatessen voters who OBJ
serve Mr.. Williams's fair price list
agreed that the Department of Markets
bacon Offering at % cents probably
would be more popular than Mr.. OCon-
nor's DIR. Day supervised S5 cent bacon.
1t was argued that not only could con-
sumer save cents a pound by buying
the 2S cent bacon but he could get ba-
con that actually had enlisted for the
war. On the other hand, it was held.
the 35 cent bacon. although prepared for
the army by Swift G. Co.. never was de-
hvered to the commissary.
Political Clubs May Wait.
From what could be learned in official
and unofficial circles last night it is a
safe guess that the plan of establishing
bacon centres in political clubs will be
called off until such time as the city has
IN tAla 10
That may be after election, when the
opening of the shops again may be put
on on the theory that bacon sales i'm po-
litical clubs may not be worth while af-
ter all the votes have been counted.
Mr.. O'Connor, who refused on Satur-
day night to believe the news that deliv-
cries of canned bacon to the city by the
army would begin to-day. said last night
he didn't know what he could say about
the bacon mystery.
deliveries by Swift & Co. of our
bacon will start this week." he said
I'VE intended 10 deliver it at clubhouses
as soon as we got it. / had a talk with
DR.. Day last night and win not know
until Tomorrow what l will do. But one
thing is certain. II never did anything
but force this bacon out of the army
storehouses at a reduced price, l have
done something. If the army has the
bacon and will sell it at that price (23
cents a pound) the people should get
the benefit of it."
what are you going to do with the
bacon you are under contract to buy
from Swift & Co. ?"'Mr. O'Connor was
asked.
New York is a big town." he replied
I'VE will have chance to sell what We
have
II is understood Mr.. O'Connor who is
political leader in his bailiwick, is ex-
pected to pay 80 cents a pound for his
1000 600 pounds of bacon. The political
clubs were to get it from him at "a cents,
which would yield him $4,000 for his
trouble in giving the people cheap bacon
The clubs were to be allowed by the De-
partment of Markets to charge l cent a
pound to meet overhead expenses
DR.. Day reiterated last night his dec
laration that he didn't know Edwin j.
O'Malley, Deputy Market Commissioner,
had induced the army authorities to cut
the price of bacon to 23 cents to the city
Il talked with Mr.. O'Malley at 9
o'clock last night" he continued, "and
OAalley hadn't any verification of the
reduction up to then. l haven't had any
official confirmation even at this hour
However. If the army has that ,OOO,-
900 pounds of bacon and will let US have
IL at % cents, the city will be glad to
take any part or all OF it. What we are
after is to get food to the people at low
prices.
"The reason I began negotiations with
Swift & Co. for the million pounds which
OConnor contracted TO buy for sale
through the political clubs, was because
the army told us it didn't have any more
bacon TO sell. Swift & Co. let us have
the bacon to pass along directly to the
consumers for the reason that they
wanted TO help in the work of getting
food to the people.
The last bid on bacon made by the
army to the city was 34L cents. / said
TO Mr.. O'Malley the army ought to re-
duce the price, and told him to dig at It,"
saying of 100000.
The army will not make deliveries TO
municipalities without orders, and it is
assumed 1t would not start delivering
100000 pounds of bacon to the city to-
day without the proper authorization.
All orders for foodstufs in the past
have been placed with the zone supply
offscer by Deputy Commissioner O'Mai-
ley.
Mr.. oMalley succeeded on his own in
itiative in getting several reductions on
:,
which have resulted in the saving of
thousands OF dollars to consumers. II
the city takes all the !. .0OO, ,OO0 pounds OF
bacon the army officials say it can have
the saving by reason of the latest reduc-
ton obtained by Mr.. OMalley will
amount to 100000 to buyers OF the
bacon.
Col. j. NJ Carson. zone supply officer.
suggests that If a person does not feel
like buying an entire can of bacon-each
can weighs twelve pounds-it might be
well for three or four TO club together
In making their purchases. The bacon
he says, is "the best of all the army
bacons."
The Government is not using any
agencies other than municipalities in its
distribution of frozen meats. poultry bacon
and evapora.ed fruits. going on the the
ory that tho people must be given the
nrst chance TO get foodstuffs at low
prices. No orders are being received
naw from municipalities for canned
goods. Dry subsistence. however, is to
be placed OIL sale in the army's retail
stores in various cities
The army retail store at 22 West
Nineteenth street is doing a $4,000
dsy business on drygoods alone.
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