Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-07-19

as they have the nerve to boost
Later consumers take over this pro-
duce without question under the i'm
preston that they are getting the
average market price"
Farmers Discourage Consumer
But this is not ALL" said the
same indignant citizen. Farmers
bring wagonloads of truck to the
markethouses and sell to the fore
stallers at a price considerably less
than the figures which they ask OF
the individual buyers. In fact, they
discourage the consumer and make
no secret of the fact that they favor
the chap who is there for the pur-
pose of profiting at the expense OF
the consumers who have been under
the impression that all are favored
with the same price for the same
kind of produce. This applies to
vegetables and poultry and berries
at the present time"
Patrons Get No Chance
It is said that farmers and truck
ers frequently drive up to the mar
ket and without entering a stall or
making any pretense of selling to
the consumers deliver their stuff TO
those who are waiting at the curb,
and who Immediately drive away
from the market without giving the
market patrons a chance to pur-
chase these supplies.
Farmers and others are said to
have threatened that any attempt TO
stop these practices would result in
q ~ef1 ty,sf FrNr
market as a punishment to those
who might seek to prevent forestall-
ing.
OF course, there are those who buy
on commission for individual house
keepers, who can hardly be accused
of forestalling. These persons are
said to have a list of consumers who
engage them to purchase their week
" supplies, allowing a commission
on the amount purchased at pre-
vailing prices as compensation for
their services.
Point Out Remedy
Those who have watched the
fragrant forestalling abuses in the
city markets declare that the whole
practice could easily be stopped by
officers in plainclothes being on the
job when the markets are opened
and continuing their tours of the
stalls while the selling is in progress.
Berries sold one place this morning
for 20 cents quart and almost i'm
mediately the entire stock of the
farmer was taken over by a stall
renter from a remote section of the
market who Immediately added a fat
profit in the reselling.
Boycott Threatened
A market boycott is threatened by
some people to overcome the un-
reasonable charges which are made
for fruits and vegeta bles and poul-
try. So long as the alleged unjusti-
fable prices are paid the forestall-
ing and skyrocketing will continue.
but as in the case of meats during
the war period when consumers
were urged by Hoover TO cut out
meat and it was dropped from the
average menu, the consumer losing
his appetite for meats of all kinds
and the industry suffering accord
ingly, any boycott OF certain classes
OF food would probably have a SIM
lar result.
Consumer to Blame, Too
However. there are those who
Will pay any unfair price" said one
consumer comm enting upon the pro-
posed boycott, and it would he
olfncult TO check sales and reduce
demand while the consumer withou+
a household budget gives up without
question the big prices now being
charged for fresh produce brought
from the suburbs of Harrisburg
with respect to the Government
hoard of canned goods and meats at
New Cumberland and elsewhere. the
municipal authorities believe there
would be no advantage to the con-
sumer in resell!ng these supplies
at the proposed wholesale figures
~lthout substantial revision. mas
much as commission merchants in
this section are said to have omoted
ngures which would compare favor
IDLY with the Government prices
plus the cost of handling.
Costly Bacon and Eggs
Bacon and eggs for breakfast.
sounds good. Rather costly lust
now. Bacon so cents a pound. Eggs
oO cents a dozen. But cheer up.
Ihlngs may be different soon. If
the United States Government has a
goodly supply on hand, bacon will
De onered to Harrisburg consumers
at "a cents a pound. If Mayor
keister is able to enforce the present
rorestalllng ordinance; or get a new
one in operation, eggs will be cheap
er.
Harrisburgs food committee is
showing activity. The subcommit
tee expects to have several plans to
consider at the meeting next week.
With the return to this city of Lieu
tenant ]. R. Boyle, new prices are
expected. The Government has onlv