Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-05-12
Florida Crop CUT
Din1s D. T.. Hope
For Potatoes
Black Market Sales
Here Reported at
12-15c q Pound

Washing ION market III quantity
were still being held out, today-but
there was no sign of the potatoes
themselves.
AS matter of fact, hope for any
large measure of relief from the
current famine" faded in the light
of an Associated Press dispatch
saying the Hastings CFla) potato
crop this year would be about SO
per cent of normal.
According to Chauncey w. Butler
State OPA director in Florida, a
survey of the situation, supported
by Agriculture Department reports,
showed the Hastings crop would
total between $500 and 5000 car
loads. compared to 5000 carloads
for an average year.
BLACK Market" Broken Up.
Because of the shortage, Mr.. But
Ter said, the OPA was keeping 2
close watch on the crop to keep il
from falling into the hands of black
market operators. E. H. Lichliter
State enforcement attorney, said in
vestigators had already broken up
more than dozen transactions in
volving between 1900 and 1000 bags
OF potatoes, where attempts were
being made to evade the ceilings.
Both Mr.. Butler and an official
OF the Hastings Potato Growers AS
ISOLATION denied reports that spe-
cial arrangements had been made
to keep Washington dealers supplied
with potatoes.
Meanwhile, there was evidence
that the supply of black market
potatoes was increasing in the
metropolitan area, and dealers are
getting from 1919 to Is cents a
pound. The ceiling ranges between
and 7 cents a pound, depending
on such factors as shipping costs,
insurance. excise taxes, premium
stock and the markups allowed
wholesalers and retailers.
Two Pounds for 30 Cents.
A Star reporter recently bought 2
pounds of new potatoes at a store
in the northwest section for 20
cents. The clerk said he had to
limit sales to 2 pounds per Gus
toner because the supply was run
ming short, but the proprietress later
explained that she thought she
would be able to get some more from
the trucker who had brought in the
others.
She also said she did not know
she was violating any ceiling, since
she had paid the trucker at the rate
of S11 per 100 pounds and that she
had then applied the % per cent
markup which she is allowed. 1t was
explained that the trucker evidently
had charged her more than the
legal price, and she was advised to
consult with the local OPA.
Il don't mind paying that much
for them she said, If l can only
get them
Other stores in the District and in
nearby areas were reported to have
been selling potatoes at 1872 or Is
cents a pound.
$40 Price Refused.
The proprietor OF a roadside res
taurant said a man had come into
his place and offered him potatoes
at $40 for 100-pound bag and that
he had refused to pay that price
Some roadside stands and stores had
new potatoes for sale at the ceiling
prices. One woman explained that
her husband made regular trips to
Florida for potatoes and other pro-
duce, and that they could afford to
sell their potatoes at the OPA
ceiling.
A local produce merchant. who
has not been able to get any DO
tatoes for many weeks, said today
he and another commission mer-
chant recently visited local OPA en-
forcement authorities and appealed
for action against the black market,
They were told, he said. that the
illegal dealings in potatoes we're
their own fault for falling to present
evidence to the OPA.
Bring in the evidence against
these people" an OPA Official was
quoted as having said, and we'll
get them"
Names Submitted.
The produce man said that he and
Others already had turned over the
names of number of persons
known to be engaged in black mar
ket transactions in potatoes and
other vegetables and that, to their
knowledge, nothing has been done in
these cases.
The official showed me the re-
port on one of the cases we had
turned over to him." the dealer said
1T showed that an investigator
was not sent out until five days
after we submitted our complaint
and. of course, he didn't find any,
thing. The produce that the black
market operator was selling when
we spotted him was perishable, and
he had to get rid of it long before
five days.
The District OPA denied that any
such delay had taken place.
The record shows" an official
Stld, tildI d WIlGltll COIiloldll1U III
this case reached us on April IL
and we had man out there or
the same day" The official said
he did not care to say whether
any price violations had been found
Reluctant to Prosecute.
OPA officials here. it is known
have been reluctant to prosecute re-
tallers who may be selling potatoes
and other vegetables at illegal prices
because, almost invariably, the re-
taller himself is making only a fail
profit and has raised his prices be-
cause of the amount it has cost him
to buy the produce. Although these
dealers are liable to prosecution
equally with the man who sells
them the produce, OPA officials are
anxious to get at the root of the
black market by bringing charges
against the distributors.
This is admittedly difficult, partly
because persons who buy on the
black market are usually happy te
obtain the supplies and reluctan,
to cut off the source by revealing il