The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-06-11
THE ICE INVESTIGATION

TT HANKS TO Mayor Fitzgerald of Haven caused A real investigation of the ice supply The SEnesFarmer obtain todays fairly graphic and simple understanding of the situation
 The ice supply of Connecticut virtually monopoly the control of single family. Harry Walker ter-inaw and his control majority of Berkshire Ice Company which controls the supply, storing handling the natural ice with house equipment Comgomond Lakes Massachusetts where 23OOoO may be cut in ordinary year.
 This supply supplemented with manufactured ice, and ice other sources is distributed to a number of ice companies, throughout chief of these companies Mr. Walker director them he personally.
 Company has surplus of $23OOOO accum- uiad with rapdy Last paid profit of 9 cent the investment
 The wholesaIed by Company paid other pros The retailers took profit not yet disclosed Bridgeport three profits The Berkshire takes 9 per dividend plus additions surplus The Naugauck the City and the Spague companies take profit and the Bridgeport Ice Delivery takes profit.
 The Cost of
 The cost of ice is not clearly shown But certain mum figures may be deduced, from the testimony Walker year the Company New Haven road for S9O ton The price retailers
 These prices which the Berkshire Company derived dividend of D cent and plus.
 The ordinary cost of pulling ton of ice into the ice thirty shrinkage Insurance be added, depreciation plant freight charge Bridgeport will be 50 cents ton All of these charges com bned have not the upon occason from the platform, in New Haven, at $i 50 a
 of Ice
 The price of very clearly estifes not based this at least its cost. It is upon supply and demand
 Question By Crawford counsel for the FizoevaId co mittee If estimate profit at 50 cents hundred next year, why this summer?
 Answer. Mir Walker: year the prce arbi- tray from what other people askng we didn't put the price there would by mid de of August.
 "f out of ice will buy not the basis but what would have pay I demand is based on the shortage of the crop"
 That is to ice people need it, pay to get it. The price ice is "a traffic will bear"
 The attempt to limit by increasing price, far as it is not pretex cruel measure, burden of it falls in increasing degree upon rests crushinely upon the very The rich and the well to do of ice because costs 80 cents hundred The means and large family will be the chief
 Who Is To Blame Situation? Not all business Walkers situation woud de- sire to take advantage of the completely as he does but many business would do what scru tiny of Mir Walkers associates in the proves them generous; not unusually grasping. H is, has been the business of buy in the lowest and sell in the highest Connecticut Ice monopoly pursuing rather zeaIous this precept iness from zeal in profit taking people suppos ed to take of themselves The presented by the ice trust have been often presented Such cond laws and remedies. force these laws and remedies They represented pub lie servants, who have the necessary power
 Bridgeport anticipated New several years nl seeing the threat involved in ice monopoly Bridgeport termned to supply it's in which have beenl complete remedy. The citizens munici pal ice plant They voted the necessary bonds. seeing precautions however because hev failed to put the right kind of representatives office
 The and the machine behind the perbaps King, prevented an ice plant The after promising 60 a ing to establish the ice plant has failed deliver has killed municipal stations which actually had authorized which sold at 45 cents hundred.
 Mr. Walker representing the ice trust after it's af fairs rather diligently.
 Mayor Wilson, representing the people of Bridgeport to look after profits of the better han he does the pockets of the citizens.
 As for Mir King who represents only himself scarce be expected that he will look out for anybody himself
 disagreeable conditions in which f;s