New-York tribune., 1920-06-16
u. S. Launches
3 New Drives
On Profiteers
Fulton and Beekman Fish
Docks Are Opened to
Independent Dealers the
First Time in 25 Years
Wool Decision Attacked
Retail Shoe Merchants Told
Government Will Not
Permit 100 P. C.. Profits

The governments drive against the
profiteers assumed definite direction
yesterday over three distinct routes
food clothing and shoes.
For the first time in TWENTY-FIVE
years the fish docks. at the foot OF
Fulton and Beekman streets. East
River, are open to independent dealers
and fishermen through the pledge made
by President Clarence B. Miller of the
New York Fishmongers' Association to
United States Attorney Francis G.
Coffey and Maxwell S. Mattuck, his as
sistant. He promised that independent
hsh boats would be permitted to dock
ana Independent dealers might con-
duct their business without "let or
hindrance."
Mr.. Mattuck said this opened the
way for an immediate smash against
fish proftcers upon evidence gathered
by G. B. Bishop, of Armin w. Riley's
Flying Squadron" The fish docks. ac
cording to Mr.. Mattuck, while supposed
to be open to everybody, have been
dominated by the Fishmongers' and
New York Whole sale Fish Dealers AS
sociation.
Charges Errors in Wool Ruling
The second step in the drive was the
hling of petition for a writ of error
by Herbert c. Smyth, special assist
ant Attorney General, from the rece mt
ruling of Federal Judge Julian w.
Mack sustaining Charles Evans
Hughes's motion to quash the joint IN
dictment, containing fourteen counts,
against William NJ. Wood, the Ameri-
can Woolen Company Of Massachu-
setts and the American Woolen Com
pany of New York They were charged
with proftcering in woolens. The
court held that raw cloth is not "wear-
ing apparel" within the meaning of the
Lever act.
Mr.. Smyth assigned thirty two errors
to the ruling and is pursuing the ap-
peal to the United States Suprrn e
Court with a view of procuring a final
decision when that court reconvenes in
October The errors assigned are tech
nical in character, but hold to the
statement that raw wool is wearing
apparel"
U. S. Warns Shoe Retailers
The third step was taken by J. J.
Price, representative of Riley, who ap-
peared yesterday before the monthly
meeting of the Retail Shoe Dealers As
sociation of New York in the Bush
Terminal Sales Building, in West
Forty second Street. He served what
he called "emphatc" notice on about a
hundred of the most important shoe
houses in this city that the govern
ment would not tolerate 100 per cen,
profits on shoes; that the best the shoe
dealers could hope for hereafter is a
profit of SO per cent, and that the pol
icy of the dealer to saddle" on high
costs for certain grades of footwear
to recoup for losses through indis-
Greet buying in other grades must
come to an immediate end.
The shoe dealers will appoint q com
mittee to confer with Mr.. Riley upon
the latter's return from Washington
with view of forming a basis of CO.
operation between the government and
the dealers
Sugar rationing will go into effect
next Monday throughout the entire
country. The distribution will be in
the hands of committee of present
atlves of the government, the refiners,
importers and wholesalers.