The sun., 1919-08-31
WILLIAMS CATCHES
PROFITEER IN SUGAR
United Company's Books at
Variance With Price Charged
Retailers.
is FORCED TO DIsGORGE
Searchlight Of Publicity Is
Turned On by Federal
Food Administrator.

Somebody told somebody else that the
United Sugar Company, wholesaler, All
Ninth avenue, had sold sugar to Evans
Brothers of Hurleyville. N. Y, at "A
cents pound, much in excess of the
lawful rate, and the last somebody told
Arthur Williams, Federal Food Admin
istrator for this city. Mr.. Williams had
nothing definite to go on at first, and
when he asked officials of the United
Sugar Company about It and they denied
very emphatically that they had over
charged anybody an Investigator sent
by the Food Administrator to look over
the company's books reported back that
he was unable to find anything that in
dicated wrongdoing.
Then Mr.. Williams asked Evans Broth
ers for United Sugar Company's bill and
documentary evidence was returned
showing that the Hurleyville firm paid
IA cents a pound for the sugar, Just az
the original somebody said 1t had.
Further inquiry developed that Evans
Brothers bought the sugar through NJ.
F. Prince & Co., sugar brokers. at 104
Wall street. and that the United Sugar
Company shipped it to the Hurleyville
retailers
Mr.. Williams again sent for officials
OF the United Sugar Company, con-
fronted them with the bill calling for
200 pounds at IL cents a pound, or a
total OF SIS.
They admitted the charge which they
originally denied" Mr.. Williams said,
and begged that the matter be kept out
of the newspapers. Here Is a photo
graph of the company's check for 80.
representing the amount of the over
charge, or the difference between IA
cents. the unlawful, and 91a cents, the
wholesalers charge, which they refund
ed. They also agreed to refund to any
other person In case there were any
other overcharges. If anybody has been
overcharged by this firm. or any other
concern. we would be glad to know
about It,"
Mr.. Williams received yesterday nine
complaints, one of which was from an
irate Brooklynite who said that her child
put cent in the chicle box at Cort-
landt street, Weehawken, New York
side, first box to the right" but the box
was empty and the youngster didn't get
any gum. The complainant took revenge
on the slot machine concern by plug
gng up the button" with piece OF wood
The Food Administrator didn't say what
he is going to do about 1t, If anything.
Mr.. Williams will meet. during the
coming week. the Wholesale dealers in
eggs butter and cheese. and also the
wholesalers in meats He said he is con-
fident that both groups will agree, as did
the wholesale grocers, to accept a fixed
margin of profits which they will re-
ceive from the retailers.
I'VE hope that we will be able to get
six groups of dealers in foodstuffs in this
arrangement to fix margins" the Food
Administrator continued. They are the
wholesalers and the retailers of meats
groceries and butter. eggs and cheese !;
the wholesalers and retailers represent
ing groups by themselves
When this is done and prices are pub
lished hv the agreements of these g-curs.
the Fair Price Committee and the men
in the trade will have accomplished
something. This really will complete the
cycle as far as food is concerned. 1t
will give the housewives of New York
an opportunity to purchase their staple
foods intelligently'