New-York tribune., 1919-08-17
City Is Unable
ToBeginF Food
Sale Monday
Continued from page 4

however, that the actual selling would
commence some time during the week.
He intimated that the selling price
Of the commodities to the public would
have to be increased slightly. The New
York State Guard auto trucks had been
found to be hopelessly inadequate for
the transportation Of the supplies from
the army storehOuses, he said, and 1t
was necessary to hire 100 auto trucks.
The removal of the supplies to the
schools will commence tomorrow
morning. he announced Each truck is
expected to make two trips during the
day, carrying a total Of twelve tons.
The foodstuffs are divided between
Port Newark, the Bush Terminal and
tho United States army base at Fifty
ninth Street Brooklyn.
He gave as one of the reasons for
the postponement the limiting of the
number OF policemen assigned to as
sist in the sale to fifty for the entire
city. Mayor Hylan yesterday sent out
request to the heads of city depart
mcnts asking them to be prepared to
assign employees to aid in the work.
Under the present plan two city en-
ployes, policemen or civilians, must be
at each sales depot.
The redistribution of supplies by
the army between the various supply
zones was cause for delay" Mr..
OMalley said. owe are practically
prepared now, however, to bring the
food to the sales depots Our inspec-
tors, as we'll as inspectors employed
passed on the goods TO be sold by the
city. Another inspection will be made
at the sales dcpots."
H. II. Jones, director Of the local
division of foods and markets of the
state Department Of Farms and Mar
kets. announced that his department is
conducting a special investigation Of
fruit storagcs in New York. He sad
that it had been rumored that several
of these storages are being used for
the illicit storing of meat. He ex-
under the jurisdiction of the Depart
ment of Farms and Markets, but that
specia4 powers are being invoked to
enable the investigation to be made.
The addition of the Department of
Farms and Markets to the fight on the
cost of living swells the number of
agencies to seven.
Huge Stores Charged
The other search for secretly held
supplies is being conducted by Depart
ment of Justice agents. George r
Mayo, special government prosecutor
TO aid the local Federal authorities in
their prosecution of food spectators
declared yesterday that a number of
old houses along Greenwich and Wash
lngton Streets are stored to capacity
with non perishibe foodstuffs.
According to Mr.. Mayo, these food
| stuffs were acquired and stored by
! brokers' and bankers clerks, who are
seeking to coin the expected advance
IN prices into large winnings for them
selves by holding over supplies. IN
many instances, he said, a number OF
clerks have formed a com bination for
/ the purpose of this type of speculation
In one instance, he reported, a bank
| clerk organized others working with
/ him into a combination, which is now
! holding about S1l 900 worth of food
This clerks salary is about s2.4OO He
! purchased shipments of pineapples at
1926 a case, Mr.. Mayo said and posi-
lively refuses to part with them until
he can get S6 a case.
Federal Jury to Get Facts
"The results of this investigation" j"
Mr.. Mayor said "will be presented to
the Federal Grand Jury on Monday.
"The evidence will show that the
hoarders are not comm mssion merchants
doing legitimate business, but are a
band Of bankers and brokers' clerks
who have accumulated huge food
stocks solely for speculative purposes. :"
New York City has ordered total
Of 900 pounds of food, costing
S6,244,6lS. The first instalment of this
order for 1854 200 pounds will be de
livered during this week. The city or
dered one million pounds of ham which
cannot be delivered at present, as the
supply here has been exhausted
After advice and instructions are
given by Attorney General Palmer to
the fair price committee here on Mon
day. it is expected that the campaign
against profteers by the local Fedora
machinery will commence in earnest.
second meeting of the fair price COM
mlttee is scheduled for Wedne sdav
when it is expected that the prices
which may justly be charged by whole
salers and retailers will be determined
The success of the efforts to bring
/ the price of sugar down to II cents by
the unofilcial fixing of that price as the
maximum is said to have prompted the
committee to act as quickly as possible
on the publication of fair list prices.
nc flrst week Of the intensive war
1are on high prices ended YESTERDAY
with the upward trend uninterrupted.
dealers reported. Lamb and veal was
almost unobtaipable by butchers yes
terday, causing the prices of both to
advance. Washington Market dealers
asked As cents pound for legs of
lamb which were selling at 40 cents on
Monday Veal had advanced from 2 to
cents pound, while the retail beef
price was up / cent.
Outlook Called Gloomy
William Loeffler, general manager Of
Nauss Brothers, declared that the as
| cent OF prices. which hacan +..,A