The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-08-12

e doing a remarkable business. He said
his profits are about $500 per year
Mr.. {. a Blackburn. head or the
blackburn company. Inc. gr"c"rs ana
green goods dealers. gave III" commit
tee Muuu.l'S prices on almost every
thing IN Tho grocery line. MIR. HACK
burn sand II" was almost nShAin'" 70
uuui,. some prices. for the reason that
h. has spent his life in the business
and thar rr.C"s OF to-day ar" :" hiEh
above those OF n few years ago. lie
d.n.,d Knowing of farmers who per-
;n.ir,d crops 10 rot rather than to r.
duo. prices. and rnliEh',ucd the m
yrs,I=aIprs by telling them tina, ped
,!l"rs bay poor quality at wagon load
pr.CcS. but sell At special prices.
Con~id' ruhlc laughter WAS provoked
NY Cnpiuin charles MvCamIc's question
a.: t. thu caus" Of prun" sh"riaG:"
Soldiers in the room wcr" somewhat
shocked 1T the question. for well they
knew that Captain Mechanic and every
man in the American uniform saw
rruncS three times a day and 1854
days per year while in the service"
Captain NcCamic was quick to catch
the humor Of the situation. and every
one had a hearty laugh.
, Fred Adoiph. butcher who operates a
stand ut tn" market. stepped to tho
witness chair. rcmarking: Here's
where they get some more humbug and
swindlc." He quoted Monday retail
prices on pork and was excused.
Bonus for stand.
John IIaw"y. Syrian. head Of the
Pittsburgh Fruit company. ostound"d
the committee when he said he. with
sam David and John Thomas. also
Syrans, pooled their savings and paid
|! l. Fe!ngold $4,000 rs n bonus for giving
up a lease on five stands 1T tho extreme
north end Of the auditorium. tho Lease
extending from June. 1919. to May,
1920. In addition they pay s'i.50
; rental per month.
Hawcy said he thought tho business
a, money make: but had h"c1l fooled.
He said he figured on not less than 50
per cent profit Books kept in syrian
were demanded by the committee. and
Hawcy promised to prodnc" them.
Fruit Grower Testifies.
John W. Riley. Of the Riley Fruit
Farms at 81. ClairsvillN. Ohio. tcstflcd
that he IS a half owned Of III" S'and
orCratCd n. the auditorium. lie Saio
that he operates the Riley farms Mt 81
iClairsvillc and produces fruit exclusive
Ily. giving up vegetables hcClu$" nc
coult not secure labor to produce thch'.
Riley said he gave the stand Tn" cho'co
Of all Of his products and sells INC re-
m?inGer to the MCCluskcy company. 1T
farm prices He denied that nc sold 10
other stands. He stated further mat
he used to sell to Groc"rs hut that ne
can no longer do this and make money
Riley said that nc applied the "Ir ruIo
Of the past fifty years in pric" fixing
~ IN A0 DprCcnt
70 cost in order 70 cover eNpcnScs ana
make a profit. He explained use or
measures and said that II is impossible
TO get a fixed number Of small meas
ures out Of barrel or bushcl. He
admitted that sales at the auditorium
have been falling off since the city In
vcstiGation started.
Asked 20 explain uniformity OF prices
at the auditorium Riley said that nc
supposed dealers looked over each others
prices marked on stands.
Not Price Flxer.
He denied the charge that nc was
the expert advisor and price fiScr at the
auditorium. Denial was also made or
the accusation that other dealers COM
municate with him as to the right
prices" to charge.
Asked whether he figured cost OF pro-
duction Riley said he did not. He said
he could remember when he sold below
cost OF production.
Yes, and I can remember wnen 'he
President Of the United States stayed !
in this country" retortcd Captain Nc
Camic.
Riley WIS questioned as TO purchases !
gross sales and profits. lie refused to ,
answer as to profits, saying that was !
hFS perSn0al affair.
Threatened With jail.
Captain McCamic took un determined |
line Of questioning and asked the COM |
mittce TO act on Rilcys refusal to ans |
wer. The committee voted 70 compel |
him to answer and Solicitor O'Bricn eN- |
planned that Riley would be sent to Jail |
for contempt unless he answered.
Riley still refused to answer shy
ing: IT don't allow newspapers to run |
my business I forbid them to even TO |
mention my coming or going" This !
statement only added fire to the COM |
mittee's determination and the Ques" |
tions were pressed Riley volunteered |
tho information that he could give bond |
If Jailed.
Captain MeCamio explained that the /
committee wanted no unpleasantness and !
was only seeking information TO reduce |
the excessive living costs. Riley then |
agreed to answer in writing.
he was asked as to what dividends
he received from the stand In the audi |
tortum for q period Of six months. This |
question was q little too personal. but !
after thinking tho matter over Riley |
withdrew a slip OF paper from his poe !
ket. wrote on It ''$735" and handed the |
paper to Court enographcr Louis |
Walters. As tho reporter wrote out the
COLL trvAF III
reporter read the stenographers' notes
and thus the public has them.
Riley insisted that the matter be
kept from the papers. but he obtained