The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-10-10
Cleveland Goes After
H. in Earnest; City
andStateO Officers Busy


ton for putting teeth ias food con
troll laws that tho food grand jury
found 80 sadly lacking TO meet most
situations.
Bureau Of Costs
jail sentences for food profiteers
win be made the penalty. the Legs
iators say. and the county prosccu-
tor adds. that when this has been
done he will ask that no more finss
be imposed upon those found guilty
of illegal traffic IN food. but that
they be put behind the bars where
they can no longer indulge In mulct.
ing the public. or soaking the house
wife Tor all the traffic viii bear and
then some.
The governor. too, win In accord.
anoe with the iurys suggestion seek
TO have the legislature establish a
state BUREAU OF costs, This bureau.
II IL functions as planned. Is expect.
ell 60 be "A boon 60 housewives. IL
win be the task of those In charge
to keep a strict tab on prices paid
producers. cost OF dix,rihntion and
the prices charged the ultimate con.
samers. II will also he tho duty OF
this bureau TO have the secesAary
laws enactei that win compel tho
posting of tho original cos, of all
foodstuffs. TO tho end that consum.
ers may know who Ia getting the
money they pay Tor what they buy.
Largely because OF the stimulus
given the idea. Cleveland. too. soon
viii have night trolley freight SER
vice 10 bring In nightly flesh pro.
duce such as apples. pota,bea. corn
and other fruits and vegetables from
the fertile field In the adjacent eoun.
try.
Plan City Regulation
Two city oouncilmcn. too. now
have ordinances being drawn In tn.
eity's legal department 10 make two
other recommendations of the food
grand jury effective.
One of these ordinances win ere
ate n division OF porlshabie food In
spection that win put the sale OF
produce In Cleveland eomplctsly-tn-
der city control. safeguarding the
rural shippers from sharp practices.
encouraging bigger shipments TO the
city and preventing consumers from
being charged exorbitant prices.
The other odinanee being drafted
provides for complete city regulation
Of milk distributing concerns. M
that the public may at all times be
Informed OF the exact cost Of bring.
ing milk 10 the consumers and may
80 regulate this distribution "a TO
make II possible TO have this done
at tho lowest cost.
Cash and carry stores already arc
selliux cheaper than other stores. as
the jury recommended should be the
case. while prices In city markets
where stall rentals are cheap. are
now underx.iilnx other retailers
In addition to getting these results
from Its investigation and recon.
mendations regarding foodstuffs. the
iury's foreman. David Gibson. a
writer and student Of economic prob.
lens. has organized tenants league
in the city 10 fight rent profltccrs.
This league has already gotten the
county auditor 10 agec TO raise tax
valuations on ali properties where
II appears landlords are cnshing In
too heavily from rents.
Army Food Helps
While the Jury was conducting Tia
Investigation city officials bought
surplus army foods a. one means
Of bringing down prices. Their ,hmt
consignment Of II chr loads was
snapped up In a few hours. Anosh.
or lot OF 80 cars consisting of canned
tomatoes. corn. peas. bacon. roast
beef. corned beef and prunes. rice
and the Ike went as speedily. To-
day further efforts ar. being made
to get more Of this food. Some Of
these foodstuffs mold for less than
one-haif of what retailers we're ask.
ing. and all went at figures far un.
der the prevailing market prics.
In the meantime. too. tho county
prosecutor took advantage OF a rul.
ing Of the state supreme court and
had the courts order the seizure of
more than 1oc.Oo0 pounds Of meats
and poultry that had been held in
storage longer than permitted by the
state law.
This viii likely be ordered sold
SOON
clevelanders believe that in gen
erai they have gotten more from the
food investigation here than any
other municipality and confidently
look forward to further price reduc-
tons and further successful attacks
on the III. c. L. as a result OF the
actions still TO come from the jury's
recommendation