New-York tribune., 1919-08-14
Hylan Directs Enright
to Use Uniformed Men
on Trail of H0arders
to Speed Up Evidence
Smith Gives Order
For Milk Inquiry
Meets Investigators and
Says Legislature Will
Be Called if Needed

While Governor Smith, Mayor Hylar
and District Attorney Swami were
aligning themselves with the forces
combating the high cost of living the
wholesale prices of beef, lamb and veal
advanced and the dairy price quota.
tions evinced new and discouraging up
ward tendencies.
The growing intensity of the fight on
high prices was not registered on the
retail market either, groccrs and
butchers in various sections of the city
declared. They said that prices are
climbing steadily and that the recent
agitation has failed to deter the ascent
in the slightest. Some thought that it
was providing little impetus.
The developments in the battle for
lower priced food yesterday included
the following:
Governor Smith conferred with his
two newly appointed iood commits
sloncrs, former Governor Glynn and
John II. Finley, and with District At
torncy Swami. He directed the latter
to present TO the grand jury any ev-
dcnce showing law violations.
Police Aid Ordered
Mayor Hylan requested Police Com
missioner Enright to have thorough
search for profiteers made by the po-
lice in each precinct.
District Atforuov C,,,p, o,n~.
that his investigation into food profit
eering and boarding will commence
shortly and be conducted along the
lines of the war charities Investigation
Of 1917-191S.
Ben A. Matthews, assistant United
States Attorney, declared that lie has
extended his investigation to take in
alleged combinations and fragrant
"asters as we'll as hoarders
The first concrete evidence Of hoard
ing was disclosed yesterday bv Arthur
Williams, Federal Food Administrator.
who said that he has learned of 1000
tons OF sugar offered to a dealer for
II is cents 2 pound. Secret Service
agents were detailed to investigate.
Michael M. Friedsam, president of
b. Astmans, was appointed to a spe-
cial complaint committee of the fai
price committee.
Dealers and food market experts
charged consumers with being rcspon-
s1ble for the high prices by concentrat-
ing on the best grades of each com
modify and utterly neglccting poor
qualities.
Smith Busy All Day
Governor Smith devoted his dav to
the high cost of living question. In
the morning he conferred with Mrs.
Henry Mosc0witZ, secretary of the
State Reconstruction Commission, and
throughout the afternoon was closetcd
with Special Commissioners Glynn and
Finley, District Attorney Swami and
Assistant District Attorneys John r..
Dooling, Edwin p. Kiroe and Alfred j.
Talley.
AT the conclusion Of the conference
the Governor announced that if evil
dencc showing that the present crisis
could be relieved by legislation was
presented to him he would Immediately
call a special session Of the Iegisla-
ture. 1T is understood that Mrs. Mos
cowltz made this suggestion to the Gov
ernor. He said he had not been able
to digest the report of the State Re-
construction Commission, which sur-
gests remedial legislation, because of
the press of other matters.
Governors Statement
The Governors statement on his in
structlons to District Attorney Swami
to act against combinations and
hoardcrs follows:
AFTER conference with the District
Attorney and several of his assistants
and commissioners Glenn and Finley
appointed by me under the Moreland
act have directed District Attorney
Swami to proceed at once with the pre-
sentatlon to the grand jury OF any legal
evidence he may have showing anv
violations of law connected in any wav
with the recent increase in the price
OF milk on the part of the milk dis
trlbuters or any other person or per
sons III league with them in violatino
the law, and if there are any unlawful
combinations in existence having for
their object the boarding of food for the
purpose of increasing the price. have
directed the District Attorney to use
all the powers of this Office to bring the
offenders to justce''
Mayor Hylan, in requesting the DO
lice investigation, declared that ev;-
dence gathered would be presented to
the District Attorney for prosecution
1T is understood that some of the dis
closures will be turned over to Assist
ant United States Attorney Matthews
for Federal prosecution.
Hylan's Letter to Enright
The Mayors letter to Commissioner
Enright follows
Il believe one of the quickest wavs
Of obtaining evidence against retail
pronteers is to have an investigation
made in each police precinct.
With this end in view I would sup
gest that you have the captains in
each precinct direct all the police un-
der them thoroughly to investigate and
report all cases of alleged protteering
among retailers, no matter what the
nature of their business may be, and
forward to you a report which can be
presented to the District Attorney so
he can commence criminal prosecution
against any one who has violated the
laws"
District Attorney Swami announced
that any evidence pointing to con-
ssplracy TO profiteer in foodstutfs or to
hoard large stores for higher prices
would be presented to the Grand ;ury