Three Chinese merchants dealing in rice, two of them brokers of the hanghai Rice Market, were taken to the police station ^on Tuesday for questioning on suspicion that they had been selling rice at a price higher than that which was recently fixed by the market. It was learned that their market licences were cancelled by authorities of the market and that they were still being investigated by the police. How these merchants will be treated by the authorities is being closely watched by the Chinese public, Tt was also learned that while the real first grade native rice has not been sold in the Shanghai market, rice merchants have been selling the second grade rice at a price which ig nearly as high as that of the first grain. The officially fixed price ior a "ah" of "see mee" or the second grade rice is $33, but it was alleged in Chinese circles that the three questioned merchants had failed to follow this price schedule, wishing to make more profit, 1 Many persons went to the Shanghai Foodsii Readjustment Association at 59 Hongkong Road yesterday to Obtain application blanks for buying om Saigon rice collectively, to offset the local high prices for native rice. The association is trying to raise a foundation fund of $1,000,000, but so far only $520,000 has been subscribed, Those who wish to buy Saigon rice through the association must pay $20 for each
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