Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-03-23
MAYOR IS OPPOSED
TO FOOD SURVEY
Denies Conditions Here Are
Worse Than Elsewhere, but
Will Study Situation
HEARS COMMITTEE PLEA

Mayor Moore this morning told the
committee Of twenty zone at n confer
ence in his Office that he took issue with
them that Philadelphia market condi-
tions are worse than those of any other
city. Further, he said the request for
appointment of market commission to
make a survey did not appeal to him as
practicable at this time. although he
would give the question serious consid-
Grafton.
The committee of twenty -one, CO.
operating with the Bureau of Munich
pal Research for city betterment, had
asked for the conference in order that
food and market conditions might be
discussed. The women were told by
the Mayor that the last market com
mission, which resigned at the close of
the Smith administration. was allowed
to lapse by him, because he was not sat
isfied with the results of the commits
son g labors. For one thing, he said.
without mentioning names, certain
members Of the commission had been
involved in the purchase and sale Of
foods themselves.
Advocates Advance Arguments
An informal discussion on the sub
Jt'l W tS ntu. WITS. LOUIS I. MAUPlTH,
chairman of the committee, was the first
speaker. She was followed by Mrs.
Frank Miles Day. chairman of the Mon
day Conference.
Other speakers were Mrs. William l..
Lingelbach, q member of the former
market commission Mrs. Joseph Il.
Mumford and Miss Mary II. Ingham
The arguments advanced for the ap-
pointment of the commission were the
insistent demand by women all over the
city for improved marketing facilities
for the sake Of health and economy the
fact that an investigation is necessary
before corrections can be made; the
marked success that has resulted from
the execution of the recommendations
of the tristate milk commissions the
fact that this problem has been Of
fcctively solved in many European
cities and also that municipal markets
can be made paying propositions.
Memorandum for Mayor
The following memorandum was
given the Mayor:
women are more vitally interested
in market conditions today than ever
before and more insistent that the nee :
cssary improvements be made as soon as
possible. since present conditions are a
menace to health and wasteful Of both
food and money.
Food expenditure il the largest sin :
gle factor affecting the income of the
majority of citizens. Three quarters OF
the population spend 40 per cent on
food the less the income the higher the
proportion spent.
"During the last five years numerous
Philadelphia organizations have indie
pendently and collectively given serious
attention to the food supply of this city
| The conclusion reached by these organ
izations is that a thorough survey OF
the inflow and distribution of the food
stuffs entering the municipality is es-
sential.
They are unanimous that such &
survey can yield satisfactory result
only IL all the factors concerned witt
the city's food supply be represented b,
membership in body designated t
make the survey.
List OF Divisions
These factors fall into the follow
ing divisions: Business men. wage
earners. women. the food dealers, trans
portation agencies, producers and tn,
municipal administration. They al
agree that the best results can be ob
tanned only through an authoritative
body appointed by the Mayor.
Council has authorized the Mayor
| to appoint such body to study thu
city's food supply and have appropria
ted $4,000 for this purpose. We
therefore, urge that such commission
be appointed.
Present at the conference were Mrs