Evening star., 1898-04-30

of labor, milk, lard and other elements II
the composition was to be first considered,
and that 1t required very large fuctua-
tion in the flour rates to permit any change
whatever in the bread rates.
The matter was discussed vigorously, the
bakers insisting even to the last upon
their contention that -four was by no means
a controlling factor in bread making. The
price, however, was temporarily reduced
ard was kept at cents, retail, from the
latter part of October until the latter part
of the following May, when it was re-
stored to the scent rate. This action was
announced by the bakers as the result Of
two movements. Flour rose in price from
$3.50 to $3.50 a barrel, and at the same
time the journeymen bakers demanded and
received an advance in wages, from $13
to SIS a week. AS matter of fact the
boss bakers merely took advantage Of
these two advances to do what they had
determined to do from the beginning. Their
reduction in the bread rate was understood
by them to be ID temporary expedient to
quiet public criticism and they did not at
any time yield in their argument that the
ficur rate had little bearing on the bread
rate.
That this was so was amply evidenced
by their subsequent course. In the autumn
of 1895 and the winter of 1896 flour fell
again to $3.50 and thereabouts. Notwith-
standing this fluctuation the bread price
remain ed where it was. The Star under
took, without success, to secure a cor
responding decrease. The bakers insisted
that flour was a secondary factor as to
price and maintained their old bread rate.
Flour rose swiftly and to a high point in
the autumn of 1896, toward the close of
the presidential campaign, but caused no
change in the bread rates. 1t fell again
after the election, but the bread rates re-
maned stationary. 1t has risen and fall IN
several times since, but the bread rate has
been kept at five cents, retail.
Thus the record clearly shows that the
bakers have never acknowledged that
there is any material relationship between
flour and bread prices. The Star has
shown that the bakers can sell bread for
four cents, retail, with -four selling as
high $3.50 and 800 barrel. and still
n axe handsome profit. Flour is now
quoted at from S5.75 to $3.50 a barrel. ac-
col ding to the grade. The kind the bakers
generally use in their average work costs
now about the first-named sum. This
pI:ce does not justify an increase of
cent in the retail bread rate, according to
even the most nDeral estimate from the
bakers standpoint. 1t assuredly does not
from the standpoint of the consumer. who
takes cognizance of the bakers stubborn
resistance in the past of the theory of
relationship between the prices of flour and
bread. The bakers, in short are blow
ing hot and blowing cold in ,his matter
When circumstances favor a reduction of
the re te they shut their eyes and assemble
an aggregation of alleged facts about in
gradients. labor and accumulated stock
which they urge will prevent reduction.
When circumstances appear to favor a
rate increase they forget their former
arguments and assemble new set Of
alleged facts, pointing to rate increase Gs
business-lke necessity.
The increase in the flour price dollar a
barrel can only justify an increase of
cent in the price Of the loaf on the theory
that decrease Of a dollar in the price Of
flour justifies and demands decrease of a
cent in the bread rate. The bakers have
never admitted the decrease side of the
case. but they now show a tendency to
Insist upon the increase proposition.