The Washington times., 1919-08-12
CITYMAY BUY
FOODFOR ALL
INLARGELOTS
Commissioners Gardiner Would
Handle Situation Like Coal
Problems.
~ BILL PRICE.

The almost insurmountable difficult
ties in the way of the public at large
obtaining supplies of War Depart
nnent foods in Washington has deter
mined Commissioner Gardiner to Of
fer before the Board Of Commission
ers this afternoon a resolution that
the Commissioners buy large quanti-
ties OF these supplies and put them
On sale at all IRE engine houses and
poitce stations and in the District
Building for the beneft OF those who
90 not know how TO proceed under
present arrangements
The Commissioners have failed to
DO this heretofore under a ruling OF
Auditor TweedaIe that there are no
FUNDS with which to make purchases
enc 10 authorization by Congress.
Commissioner Gardiner said today
that he feels that the Commissioners
can parchase food supplies Just as
legally IS during winter before last,
when they received orders and money
from the public and undertook the
distribution OF coal
The War Department gives us
thirty days to pay for these goods"
SAID the Commissioner "We can re-
ceiRe the money and turn IL into our
miscellaneous fund, as we did in the
case OF coal. and at the end of thirty
Gays give our check to the War De-
partment for what we owe. Officials
can 40 great deal If they are so in
Mr.. Gardner said that what he pro-
poeec to do was to see that the
general public obtained some Of the
advantages OF this distribution Of
foods.
TIE Public Il DIasatisaea.
Whatever discrimination Is reach
Cd BY the beard on the subject. n IA
beyond doubt = matter Of public dis
sansfectton that some arrangement
can not be made here which the
municipality win buy and distribute
the food At points where it will be
accessible to the general public.
Dnoer plans that have been per
'fected for the I'VE carloads Of food
about 70 arrive in the city, and to
be distributed through the committee
OF hfteen, the distribution is made
through departmental or bureau CO.
operative organizations or through
community centers. That was the
best thing that could be done so long
- the District government failed to
take action.
three are 10000 employees of the
District government, as an illustTa-
ton. They have no cooperative or
ganization. having some months ago
been denied the use Of q room in
the District building for co-opera-
tive buying and selling. They have
no central point at which they can
buy.
Mr.. GaFdlneF's Plan.
Mr.. Gardeners plan calls for a
Widespread public distribution
through each police station and fire
engine house. He would sell the
army surplus supplies at these places
at cost price, plus per cent to COW
eF expense Of handling. He would
make the captains OF the stations
responsible for the distribution, and
would permit them to employ per-
sons 20 handle the sales at prices not
exceeding "a per cent Of the cost,
the remaining 256 per cent to be re-
tstDed TO cover losses and incidental
expenses.
Criticism Of Situation.
There has been strong criticism of
the heIplesEness of a people whose
municipal government is unable to
serve the public because Of its depend
eney upon Congress for appropria-
tlons.
M. Gardiner declares he does not
believe Congress or any Government
official would seek 20 interfere with
such 9 plan on technical grounds,
since the District would suffer no
less. while the people would gain.
The regular meeting Of the Commits
eioners was postponed from 1890
o'clock this morning 70 O'Clock this
afternoon. owing 70 the parade of the
marines.
Feed Laws for District.
Commissioner Gardiner has not
fully committed himself TO the bill
being drawn up for the Commission
ers by Conrad Syme. Corporation
Counsel, creating a fair price" ad-
ministrator for the District, with
power 20 license all dealers in foods,
fuel. and wearing apparel, and au-
thoFity 20 Ak fair prices AT which all
commodities anc articles may be sold
when the bill Is formally laid be-
fore the Commissioners for fnal ae-
tion before being ordered drawn up
Tor -presentation TO Congress, Mr.
Gardner may oKer other plans which
he believes viii be more effective in
controlling the fight on Proiteers in
this city. He has not definitely de-
cided on what he will do bur il con-
sideFing two interesting propositions.
Cost Price On Everything.
one Is similar to that advanced by
President Wilson. il Is that the cost
price OF everything coming into tbs
District Of Columbia, with the dates
Of sale, shall be placed upon the
goods al the way down from the
manufacturer or producer TO the re-
taller, BY this the public would get
an idea OF what profits IL was paying,
and could determine how and from
whom 70 purchase.
re would make violations Of this
1aw subject 70 severe Jail sentences,
and would place the enforcement Of
the law On the hands OF the United
states attorney the same as all other
criminal Law.
An his mind Is that every dealer be re-
Te0uiFed TO print IN large letters
above the entrance 70 his place Ut
sbuginess q statement of the percent
re he adds 70 the cost OF his goods.