The sun., 1919-08-14
GOVERNOR HERE TO
DIRECT FOOD FIGHT
Holds Conference With Glynn
and Finley and Promises
Action.
MILK PROFITEERs
District Attorney Swami In
structed to Start Prosecu-
ton of HOarders.


with the fast growing official army that
is mobilizing to combat the high cost of
living. He spent the day here in con-
ference with his 1~ieutenants, former GOV
Martin H. Glynn and State Commits
sioner of Education John II. Finley.
planning a campaign against food hoard
ing and profteering.
At 4 o'clock District Attorney Swami
and three Assistant District Attorneys,
John T. Dooling. Alfred J. Talley and
Edwin P. Kiiroe, Joined the Governor at
the Biltmore Hotel and remained four
hours discussing ways n means to re-
duce prices and punish offenders against
the State food laws.
In addition to the Governor n the
District Attorney the following Federal.
State and municipal agencies are now
In the fight for lair food prices United
States Attorney Francis g. CAREY and
the personnel of the Department Of
/ Justice in this district the citizens
Fair Price Committee, headed by former
Food Administrator Arthur Williams ;
the city Department of Markets: the
State Department Of Farms and Markets
and tho State Reconstruction Commits
f, sion.
Beef Prices Climb.
Meantime since Monday the price Of
beef has gone up best grade 8 cents
and medium 4 cents lamb Is up 2 cents
and veal from 8 to 6h cents. Butter
n eggs are up / and III cents. re-
spectively, and milk Is still at its high
record figure.
After the conference at the Biltmore
last night Gov. Smith gave out the
following statement:
After a conference with the District
Attorney and several of his assistants
and Commissioners Glynn and Finley,
appointed by me under the Moreland
Act, I nave directed District Attorney
Swami to proceed at once with the pre-
sentation to the Grand Jury of any legal
evidence he may have showing any
violations Of law connected In any way
with the recent Increase in the price
of milk on the part of the milk distri-
butors or any other person or persons
In league with them in violating the Jaw.
and IL there are any unlawful combin-
ations in existence having for their OBJ
ject the boarding of food for the pur-
pose of increasing the price, / have
directed the District Attorney to use
all the powers Of his office to bring the
offenders to Justice"
The Governor spent yesterday morn
Ing looking for some one to act as
counsel for his special food commits
s%ioners, but said he had not yet made
any selection. He said he would call a
special session of the Legislature IL the
facts about food law violations war;
rant 1t.
To Continue Conferences
He will remain here to-day and pos-
sibly longer. n will continue in con-
ference with Messrs. G1ynn and Finley.
Mrs. Smith and his sons and daughter
came down from Albany by automobile
and are with the Governor at the hotel.
Arthur Williams announced on behalf
Of the Fair Price Committee that in
formation has been received from what
he considers a reliable source that sugar
Is being boarded in large quantities in
this city for higher prices.
One specific offer of 1000 tons of
sugar at 1212 cents a pound wholesale
has been brought to the committees
attention. he said, and the secret service
is now working on the case. Criminal
prosecution will follow.
Mr.. Williams urges dealers in food 20
advise him of any such offers 50 that
this kin OF boarding and profteering
may be prevented. The fair price, for
8 to-day Is IL cents Il pound. and
the committee would like the names of
any dealers who charge more.
The committee Is to hold its first
meeting tomorrow afternoon In the
t., Chamber of Commerce.
| To Sales Place
Commissioners of Markets Jonathan c..
Day announced that he had finally
49,
and the sales will start Monday az
scheduled. The schools from which II
will be sold will be announced In Sum
days papers. There are htty-hve schools
used In Manhattan. hfty-nve In Brook
Ign, forty-three In The Bronx, twenty
in Queens and ten in Richmond.
Two policemen are to act as cashiers
and statesmen for the city at each dis
tribution point. They will be assisted
by volunteer workers and employees OF
other, city departments.
Mayor Hylan took a and in the o
price war yesterday and wrote the fol-
lowing letter to Police Commissioner
Enright;
IT believe one of the quickest ways OF
obtaining evidence against retail profit
GERS is to have an investigation made in
each police precinct.
with this end In view I would sug-
Hc6t that you nave the captain In eaCh
precinct direct all police under them TO
thoroughly investigate and report all
cases OF alleged profteering among re-
tailers, no matter what the nature OF
their business may be. and forward TO
you a report which car be presented TO
the District Attorney, 80 he can begin a
criminal prosecution against any one
who has violated the penal law"
Inquiry to start Soon.
The District Attorney said his in
v~estigation of boarding and proflteering
will commence as soon as possible and
will be conducted along lines similar to
, the recent wal charities investigation.
Any evidence that points to a con-
spiracy to hoard food In restraint OF
trade or to a conspiracy to profteer In
foodsturs will be presented to the Grand
Jury and indictments asked,
District Attorney Swami says he will
nay particular attention to the Increased
cost Of milk. The investigation. how
ever. will be quite different from former
milk price probings. Two previous In
vestigatlons were conducted In the last
two years by Assistant District Attor.
ney Dooling and were directed in the
main against the Dairymen's League
which represents the farmer producers
The present inquiry will be directed
against the distributors Of milk in the
city, all of whom are said to be mem
hers of the New York Milk Conference