Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-07
MILLION POUNDS
OF HAM LOCATED
IN STORAGE HERE
Part of It Will Be Offered
to eople of
Richmond.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY SAYS
HE'LL PUNISH HOARDERS
Determined to Take Legal Steps
Necessary to Stop
Prohteering.
OFFER MEAT AT 25 CENTS
Head OF Food and Dairy Depart
ment Says Other Cities Are
Permitted to Buy.
OFFER MEAT AT 25 CENTS
Head OF Food and Dairy Depart
ment Says Other Cities Are
Permitted to Buy.

One million pounds OF ham is held
IN storage in Richmond. 100000 pounds
OF which is offered for sale TO Rich
nondcrs at price 10 cents below the
present wholesale market quotations.
United States District Attorney
Hiram NJ. Smith has announced that he
Is determined TO take whatever legal
steps necessary TO prevent prohtecrinG
in Ihis district. and will prosecute
hoarders and cntortionis,s under the
Federal food control act
These arc the t"o principal develop
o. living situation in Richmond.
Revelation Of tho storage in Rich
mond OF 100000 pounds OF ham came
through an announcements from BEN
jamin l.. Purcell head OF the State
Food and Dairy Department. The meat
y the property OF Hill Bros. & Co. OF
supply from the War Department and
brought IT 10 Richmond from Norfolk.
OHer 100.OOO Pounds.
Representatives Of Hill Bros. &; Co.
are in Richmond. and wish TO sell at
least 100000 pounds of the ham here,
ps mus, be sold M arSe in SeIk oI ns saP ape
being made to find a group OF ctizcns
who Will furnish the capital 10 pur-
Richmond
The ham may be purchased for, %
cents per pound. or l5 cents less than
ina,ed that The M meat could be soii
rrail here %, at least 2s cents per
Mound The delivery Of tho product,
Of the State Food and Dairy Depart
ment In order 10 insure that ali the
mss. wa. in good condition:
portunity 10 purchase this meat. IL is
saiG. but is unable TO buy it in the
name Of the city under the municipal
charter 1t Is understood that the
Mayor is cooperating with others in
an erort 70 tind financing aGency
which Will buy and distribute the meat
here at cost TO the citizens. Mr.. Pur-
cell also stated last. night that other
cities III Virginia have an opportunity
to get share OF the 100000 pounds
OF meat. but IL is necessary that A
the deal.
Investigation Di>cIoses Ham.
The attention OF the State Food and
Dairy Department. was attracted to the
large supply OF ham by reports that
some Of the meat was being allowed
these reports were uniounded and that
the stock is In good condition.
Hill Brothers & 90. have offered to
sell the meat to the packing interest
,sad in ChiiaEo' 20 but bp, i is said; they have
hands. The present owners are not in
the packing bus mess and are not will
ing 10. retail the meat or sell ii in
that unless the meat is disposed of
here shortly it will be shipped TO New
oEk, "neFe tncre Is ready market [
for it,
Officials yesterday said that distri-
sndio1 nd 9f i9s meat be spnpiy in
body. blow TO high prices of that
least. and would supply at a minimum
OF cost thousands of families. Every
effort was being put forth to arrange
the financial end of the project and
Mr.. Purcelrs statement last night was
in the nature Of public appeal.
District Attorney to Act.
That profteering in this Federal
District will not be tolerated if evil
dence OF such can be had. is the decis-
ion Of United States District Attorney
Smith. He believes that in the absence
of specific directions from the Depart
ment Of Justice, he has sufficient au-
thority to proceed against food hoa rd-
ers or eXtortioners and his statement
yesterday is considered in the form OF
a warning.
Announcement Yesterday of the in
stiGation of antitrust suits against
the five big packers in Chicago by the
government and reports that secret
service agents were investigating
other lines, of business of a similar
nature. lead to the opinion that official
moves would be made here soon to
curb high prices and .prohteering;
District Attorney Smith is not ex-
Washington until after President VIII
son delivers his address to Congress
tomorrow, at which time the Preside mt
is expected to outline his policy in
regard to the present high cost of liv-
;nC situation.