New-York tribune., 1919-07-23
O'NIalley, of Market Board,
Seeks Supply Despite
Statute Keeping the Mu-
nicipality Out of Trade
Would Act as u. S. Agent
Other Towns Send OFF,
cials to Inspect Food Of
fered by Government

A large portion of the surplus army
stocks of bacon and canned beef In
this district may be sold for consump-
ton here, il was made known yester-
day, at less than the market prices of
the comm odities.
Edwin A. O'Malley. Deputy Commits
sioner of Public Markets, visited Cap
tain A. a. Stewart, Zone Surplus Prop
erty Officer, and explained that, al
though the city is prevented by statute
from making purchases itself, it Is
prepared to act as agent for the gov
ernment, Mr.. O'Mslley was accom-
panied by representative Of group
the opcsition.
Captain Stewart said that the sales,
under the present War Department or
der, are limited to municipalities
themselves. After discussion of the
plans for cooperation of the city and
ITS merchants, he agreed to communi-
cate with the chief of the Surplus
Property Division in Washington. He
sent message last night, outlining
the project OF the Department Of Pub
he Markets and requesting decision
on whether or not goods can be sold to
local merchants.
City to Aid Handling
Ny. 0 Malley assured Captain Stew
art that The cost of transporting and
dlstT buHng the food would be mini
n.i@ed. The city's wagons would prob
ably be used Tor rranspo rtation, he
said. The possibility OF obtaining vol
unteer workers from various organi-
cations interested in the economies of
foodstufs to aid in the distribution
nas been suggested.
Other cities, whose laws permit mu-
niclpal MARKETING, have become inter
ested in the army's proposition. Cap
tain Stewart yesterday received re-
resentatives Of Yonkers, Newark,
Mount Vernon, Nutley, n. j., Middle
town, \. Y, and the Chanbe of Com
merce Of Gloversyille, n. Y. Most of
the officinls we're interested in the ba-
con offered, although they also dis
cussed the purchase Of the canned
goods stores
Mayor Cox, of Mddletown, came him
with the goods snd terms. No pur-
chsses have been made as yet j.
Julian Hall, representing Mayor Wallin
of Yonksrs, also said he was fayorably
impressed.
Bncon's Price Attractive
The bacon. which is proving so at
tractive to municipal buyers, includes
2,144, ,692 pounds IN strips at "a cents
pound and 26,S25 ,06S in tWelve-poun
cans at sc cents a pound
According To com parison of the
prices OF the retail canned goods now
on the market and that offered by the
government, the latter loom as bar
gain. The comparison follows:
CORNED BEEF
7,,-.,.. ..,-. 49,. Ma5krt- Army:
Iwelye.99nse tins 81. Sos5's $3.50
ix-pound tins ....-... al 200
ROAST BEEF
One pound tin. Massrt K Army;
~ Two, pond o6s,a tin tins .-----. 9s Sc
saN-polhd CilS I'll go
The last OF the sealed bids on the
two million pounds Of frozen poultry
held here ny the government were
handed IN yesterday. The bids will be
opened to-day and recommendation
made immediately at the local Office to
the bureaus chief in Washington. The
government has fixed minimum price
which was not made public, but which
is said to be below the retail quota
tiOns-
VIII Auction Textiles
Surplus army textiles will be auc-
toned of at the Manhattan Opera
House next Wednesday. A deposit Of
$500 is required from each prospective
bidder The bidders will receive
ha dges with numerals. All bidding
Will bo made with the numbers as the
identification The goods include l.
S9o,101 yards Of duck, 1,592541 yards
Of cheese cloth, 1000, 900 yards of
sllesiA, 1,9lS,69l yards Of sheeting, l.
BAT -259 yards Of bobbinctte and smaller
yaldages Of cotton cloth, galatea, black
Italian, jeans, raincoat lining, mole
SKIN, osnabDrg, outing flannel, sateen,
shlrtlng, ticking and twill. A govern
ment cotton expert said yesterday that
the prices obtained would proba bly net
the government substantial profit, as
much Of the gods is scarce at present
Every effort is being made, be said,
to release the goods on the market in
such a way as not to disturb the pre-
valllng prices and conditions