Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-11
HEALTH OFFICERS
OPEN GANG FIGHT
New York Health Affected by
Gouging-WilI Issue Fair
Price List.
ln.niAl Tlisnntch to Tha star.

enecial Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, September 11.-For the
first time since the beginning Of the
unbroken serial story Of graft, extortion,
whence and plumber in large cities, the
health administration of q great city
has vigorously asserted its right to move
against racketeers in combating inroads
on public health due TO the system OF
criminal extortion which, roughly esti-
mated. takes a toll of about 81 100000
q week from New York food consumers
alone.
VIII Educate Public.
DR.. Shirley w. wynne, health COM
missioner Of New York City, has mobi-
lized his staff of $50 food inspectors,
utilized the radio to wake up the town
and begun the issue OF daily "fair
price" bulletin to keep the public In
formed on what food ought to cost and
make 1t possible for burghers and house.
wives to- estimate how much the food
mobs" are stealing This is being done
without usurpation of police authority,
the method being to turn over to the
district attorney and the police evidence
Of racketeering as 1t Is obtained.
While the police in no city have ever
made notable headway against either
racketeers or eougers in the more legiti-
mate, arade channels, they will. in this
instance find themselves supplied with
abundant evidence, on which they can
90 as far as they like.
DR.. Wynne's main reliance, however,
a In the hope OF spreading information
and stiffening the backbone OF food
dealers and housewives so that they
will no longer pay tribute.
Victims Held Responsible.
"That seems to me to be the only
~ay to end racketeering," said DR..
Wynne today, land now is good time
TO do it. If business men would stop
Welding to extortion, it would end In
"a hours. Particularly in times OF pros
perity, q retailer, for instance, submits
to graft, fearing trouble and thinking
that he can pass the excess charge on
to the consumer. When times are hard
housewives first feel the pinch, and they
can be stirred up to demand fair prices.
With his business saggtng, the retailer
may be in a less anliable mood when
the extortionist comes around, and Il IS
possible to stir UP o lighting mood In
d community which will put the crooks
out of business.
That's what we are trying to do.
We are, of course, not q law-enforcing
body, but when we find the health and
vitality Of the city lowered by the in
ability of vast numbers to get Sufncient
nourishing food we are entitled to f1nd
out why. report to the police and tell
the public about 1t.
Food racketeering marks the discov-
cry by the sougers of a sound business
principle which Is commonly used In
legitimate business. Instead OF taking
large amounts of money from few
people, take a little money from great
many people. That naturally brings
them into the field Of commodities OF
the most universal daily use - milk,
eggs, fruits, vegetables and other food
products.
Began With Milk Racket.
''They began first on milk. Up to
last year. they were taking about $780,
600 q year in tribute from New York
milk dealers, chiefly through fake
organization which had nothing to give
tts members. In the past, trade organi-
nations employed honest and conscien-
tious lawyers in conducting their buSi-
ness on basis Of honest competition.
AS shady practices crepe in, respectable
lawyers dropped out and 'strong-arm'
types came ir-uSeful in cOnnfvtng at
such business as slipping few drops
of ink into q milk can, or few tablets
which turn the milk sour. There was
always the menace of violence in the
background and their organization was
"Foodstuffs are Of course pef1shable
and easily damaged and it Is the con-
slant threat of violence of the rAcketeers
which Is their most effective weapon
We have been informed that food
trucks, carrying fruit, eggs and vege-
tables, are being held up, with tribute
levied, as they approach the city.
Whether this Is true or not, We have
found appalling evidence Of widespread
extortion, with 1900 retails shops
rounded up In one organization, and
all paying tribute,
Food Price Effects Health.
THE effect is dangerous New York
City drinks 3,500,0 900 gallons of milk a
day. It ought to drink 1000, 900 gallons
The whole problem of the prevention
OF disease Is scientifically related to
adequate food supplies, and diseases OF
undernourishment and malnutrition
thus have q direct relationship to the
price Of food.
I'VE have set up a fair price board,
having the cooperation Of the Bureau
Of Agricultural Econimics of the United
states Department of Agriculture.
From this bureau and from our own
sources We get up-to-date information
Of what food ought to cost. We then
use the municipal broadcaSting station,
the newspapers and widely distributed
bulletins to let the public know what
1t ought TO pay. repeat that racketeer-
ing viii end only when consumers and
business men refuse to be gouged"
tCopyrisht, 1900
-
TnlInHO nam lAIArFn