The Penn's Grove record., 1920-07-02
Accuse Retailers
of PrOfiteering
Specific Instance of Price Goug.
ing in Vegetables Cited by
Bureau of Markets

Irenton-Upon the retail dealers in
fruit and vegetables is placed the
responsibility for the high costs Of
these products by the Bureau of Mar
kets OF the State Department of Agri-
culture In a bulletin just issued. The
bureau recites specific instances Of
gross prof1teering by the retailers and
charges them with being responsible
for Migrant injustices to consumers
n producers. So great Is the ex-
tent to which the public is being vic
timized, the bureau say 1t has be-
come imperative that some action he
taken toward bringing about an end
to prevailing conditions In the pro-
.duce market.
Homegrown fruit and vegetables
are now crowding from New Jersey
markets produce crown in distant sec
lions, says the bulletin. The great
demand for these products and the
high cost of production allow a COM
paratively high price to be set upon
them by the grower, and this price
Is passed on by the wholesaler to the
retailer and the consumer.
Just as soon as the wholesaler does
not sell u quickly he, of course. re-
fuses to pay the grower the early
price" the bulletin continues. "In
this way the wholesale price drops in
accordance with the supply in the
market. This probably is correct, and
n cnt,nd FolIo,i,r - A.
law. There has been of late a grow
ing criticism toward the retailers re-
fusal to lower the retail price. The
State Bureau Of Markets appreciates
the difficulties retail dealers a"e I'M
der, but the injustice to
and producers which present practices
work is 81 great that 1t feels forced
TO present the subject to the general
public at this time.
peas sold on June s for 81 per
bushel. wholesale. The general retail
price was 35 cents per quarter peck.
After June II the market declined and
has now been around 81 for several
days. The retail price still remains
with some dealers So cents per quar-
ter peck. Some have reduced their
prices to 80 cents per quarter peck.
The supply today is 10 times greater
than 1t was two or three weeks ago,
but the retail price does not reflect 1t.
A farmer was offered S1.5O per bushel
for peas that he saw the buyer selling
at 30 cents per quarter peck. In his
indignation he peddled them himself
and sold 20 bushels in three hours.
His price was % cents per half peck.
He received in this way So per bushei
and made SO for his three hours
work. There are cases N our New
Jersey cities where 200, 800 and 400
per cent spread is made by the retail
dealers between buying and selling
prices. The Safe Bureau of Mar
kets can only present these facts to
the public, which can exert a power
full influence by discussing his sub
ject with their dealers.
AS the best solution for this prob
lem OF wholesale profiteering the bu-
reau e the establishment of farm
ers' retail curb markets. Farmers
are usually willing to sell all at a
small profit rather than a small guam
tity at a large profit" it says. "Only
a little direct trading at a public
market place will bring down re+ail
prices in a city and act as the best
kind of a curb on the kid of %protiteer-
ing"
Bonus for State Workers.
-z-.-.o@AJ- r1O1 900 Af StotO
funds will be distributed to State
employees as bonuses. This sum is
the balance of a special appropriation
made by the present legislature,
amounting to 100000. About S2O6,-
600 of the total amount was Gistribu-
ted several months ago, representing
the aggregate of individual bonuses
raid for the first half of the present
fiscal zeal of the state, ending June
80, at midnight.
Secretary Charles P. Messick, of
the Civil Service Commission, has
about completed computation of the
bonuses for the second half of the
year, payable, under the act appro-
priating the S4O0, 900 bonus fund, June
30. The Civil Service Commission
will meet tomorrow, when Mr.. Mes
sick will present the computations
for the second bonus payments. 1t IS
expected that the rolls will be ap-
proved so they can be certified i'm
mediately to the State Comptroller for
payment.
The bonuses will be particularly ac-
ceptable to scores Of state employees
who have not received their regular
state pay for the last half OF June
because Of over-expenditure of a num-
Der of salary accounts due to salary
adjustments made earlier In the year.
Each of the employees who has regu-
lar pay coming will get the second
half bonus, which will be an amount
larger than the overdue pay, ana IN
this way these employees Will De
temporarily cared for In a financial
way. The regular pay that Is over
due can not be taken out OF the cur
rent emergency fund, because Govern
NOR 4