The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-02
PLOT TO HOLD UP
CITY FOODSALE
Meat Trust Agents Shadow
O'Malley to Prevent Cut in
Price, Says Hylan.
POLICE HUNT FOR CLUES
Visit Butcher Shops to Learn
of Threats by Packers
y to Halt Bargains.
Agents lof the Meat Trust ars shad.

Agents OF the Meat Trust sars shad-
owing Deputy Commissioner OF Mar
kets Edwin ]. O'Malley and others
while forming plot to prevent the
sale of army bacon and ham at less
than current prices. This charge
was made by Mayor Hylan yester-
day in letter to Police Commissioner
Enright.
Mr.. O'Malley has been in Washing
ton for three days arranging the pur-
chase OF surplus foodstuffs from the
War Department. He has agreed to
take rs carloads of army food and
will return to this city this morning
to superintend its disposal.
The Mayor directs the police to
visit the butcher shops and find out If
they are willing to buy ham and bacon
at reduced prices from others than
their regular dealers. His letter In
part follows:
II have been informed by Deputy
Commissioner of Markets O'Malley that
he has been followed from place to
place by a man who, he believes, rep
resents the food profiteering interests
that is. an agent of one OF the flve big
packers that control the food in the
United States.
Food Conspiracy Seen.
ut is reported that a few men have
acquired 10000. 900 pounds of food from
the United States Government and are
willing to dispose of ham and bacon
to New York retailers at 6 cents per
pound cheaper than they can buy 1t from
the packers, with the understanding
that the retailer will sell II to the public
at corresponding reduction, but 1t is
impossible to sell In the New York mar
ket. as the retailers prefer to buy from
the packers and charge the public higher
prices. 1t is also reported that repre-
sentatives of the men who have the 10,
10000 pounds of food purchased from
the Government are likewise being fol-
lowed by packers agents while making
their rounds in an endeavor to sell this
food, and that whenever an order Il
taken 1t is cancelled within few hours
II wish you would direct the police
throughout the city to call on the butch
ers on their potts and find out, II pos.
sible, whether they are willing to pur-
chase ham and bacon from othess thar
their regular dealer. II they can get II
at least cents per pound cheaper.
"Obtaln from the butchers the name
and description of any man who visits
them and requests them not to purchase
ham and bacon and other foodstuffs
from any one other than their regular
dealer. Butchers should make note OF
any threat that is made as to credit
being cut on and the refusal to supply
goods
'"The Police Department of the city
must aid IN procuring evidence against
food profiteers and their agents who
are intimidating and coercing dealers
and retailers and exploiting the people
of the city"
No Threats Are Reported.
A reporter of THE SUN inquired in
half a dozen retail butcher shops yes
terday II they had been threatened by
agents OF the packers or warned not to
bug army meats. None OF these places
reported any such warning. In regard
TO prices the general opinion was that
the sale OF Government food would not
cause any reduction and many of the
retailers predicted that still higher prices
would come soon.
Jonathan C. Day. Commissioner OF
/ Markets. returned yesterday from a trim
up State. whera he has visited severa
county fairs TO get line ON the milk
situation. According to the farmers,
Continued on Second Page.