Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-03
j. s. TO SELL EXTRA
FOOD BELOW COST
Plan 20 Per Cent Reduction.
Will. Go to municipalities in
Carload Lots.
MAY COME NEXT WEEK

Surplus food supplies held by the
Army will be sold to citizens of Wash
ington and other cities at 20 per cent
below the prices paid for them by the
government
This announcement was made today
by Representative Oliver of Alabama,
following conference with c. W.
Hare. director of surplus food prod
ucts of the Army.
The plan as outlined by Mr-~Hare
contemplates the assignment of the
food in carload lots to municipalities
which may apply for it and undertake
to sell and distribute it. The gov
eminent will not look for reimburse
ment until after the money from the
sale is collected by the city govern
ments.
This will obviate the necessity of
using city funds or privately obtained
donations for the purpose of buying
the food from the government before
distributing it,
Representative Oliver stated that
the arrangement decided upon by the
War Depa tment should make 1t pos
sible for Washington to be one of the
first cities to actually obtain the
Army stores and dispose of them to
hope that a practical plan of distri-
button could be worked out here to
serve as a guide for other municipali-
ties. He suggested the use of school
houses as distribution centers.
Commissioner Gardiner had expect
ed to accompany Mr.. Oliver to the
War Department, but was detained
by a meeting of the Public Utilities
Commission at the District building.
The information gathered by the Ala
bama representative was commune
Gated to TIE District official shortly
after noon. Arrangements were at
once made by Mr.. Gardiner to COM
municate with John G. McGrath,
president of the Citizens Food Coun-
Gil, relative to the placing of an or
der for carload of Army foods with
as little delay as possible.
Likely to Be Shipped Next Week.
1t is considered likely that the first
consignment of the government-own-
ed products will be on it's way to
Washington from Baltimore, the near
est Army depot. not later than the
middle or the latter part Of next week
The Park View School, Newton and
Warder streets northwest, in all prob
ability will be designated as the first
point of distribution.
1t is not likely the District govern
ment itself will undertake to actual
ly handle the food. but it will exer-
else an olIlcidl SUPERVISION over II.
John G. McGrath will be named as
director of supervision, according to
present Indications.
Mr.. McGrath has offered to denate a
month of his time, if necessary, to
getting the work started. He had al
ready received subscriptions. amount
ing to more than $4,000, to be used as
a purchasing fund, but today's devel-
opments indicate that there will be no
need for cash in advance.
Two other schoolhouses besides the
one at Park View can be opened up
Immediately as Army food stores. it
was stated today by Mr.. McGrath, who
already has received offers of clerical
help from persons residing in the
communities in which the schools are
located.
Representative Oliver stated that
he not only would help the municipai
authorities here in putting the food
plan into operation, but that he would
take Immediate steps to enable citi-
zens of his state to obtain the surplus
supplies.
Corned beef and bacon and canned
goods especially will be offered to
consumers at big saving in cost,
Mr.. Oliver said.
Investigation of the disposition of
surplus war supplies by the War De-
partmet will be started Monday by
the Quartermaster Corps subcommit-
tee of the special House investigating
committee. Representative Reavls of
Nebraska, chairman of the suDcom-
mittee. said today c. w. Hare, dlrec-
tor Of sales for the Army. would pc
questioned as to why some OF the
supplies, particularly foodstuffs, were
not being placed on the market in
larger quantities