The evening Republican., 1902-04-09
RAISE OF
PRICE OF MEAT

The price of meat is exorbitant. l
is still soaring higher AMI the peopl
of Wilmington must either ply til
price or do without meat. Hotels
restaurants and boarding house EeeE
crs are thinking of raising the pric'
| for meals and boarding. They cAnno
| pay their bills.
Chicago has cornered the beef mar
ket, and cattle in the east are bring
ing better prices. Retailers in vii
mington say that some one is sure t.
60 to the wall. Clear minded people
| say the best possible way TO reduce
the price of meat is to abstain from
| it for week.
Philadelphia, Penaa., April S.
In city the size Of Wilmington it
estimated that over fifty tons of meat
daily supply the demand Of the pco.
pie. Shad are now in market and 81,
Founders can be bought at 40 cents
so that over two pounds OF sfa1 can
be had for one Of beef. In Pliladel
phia the dealers are in the same beat
as Wilmington men.
The arbitrator of the Beef Trust
in this city, the man whose alleged
rulings have compelled the retail meat
dealers to operate for mutual pro-
lection, according to William Spencer
president of the RetGIl Meat Mer-
chants Alliance, is II. b. Hayes of
the tirm of II. b Hayes e. Co. public
accountants, l40 South Fourth street.
When seen at his home at Ridley
Park last night and asked whether
he occupied such a position and what
the merits Of the complaints Of the
retailers were, Mr.. Hayes replied: |
have nothing to say and excused him
self.
The duties of the arbitrator in this
city are said to be similar to those of
the Beef Trusts arhitrators in New
York, and other cities Throughout the
country. This official is chairman OF
the committee composed Of represen.
tatives from each Of the big Western
packing concerns which meets every
week to consider the condition of the
market and to arrange the prices for
the coming week.
His power is unlimited and his ru!-
ings are final. He decides the fate of
delinquent butchers and is the auto
crat of the "blacklisu. The Beet
Trust officials contend that such street
measures are necessary in order to
protect themselves The retailers
claim that that the system is unfair,
and that they are unable TO secure
justice.
A meeting of the members Of the
Retail Meat Merchants Alliance wll
be held .to.myrruw night at Ninth
and Walnut Streets to plan vigorous
campaign against the monopoly.
There are 800 retailers in this organi-
zation, and one of their grievances is
that when meat is shipped them from
Chicago, it is weighed in the stock
yards there. and upon delivery they
are charged according to the Chicago
weight, despite the fact that there is
considerable shrinkage in transit.
when we complain about the un.
fairness of such charges" said Presl.
dent Spencer Of The Alliance, 1--WE are
told that if we resist we will be plac-
ed on the "blackliSt' and such vic
tins are unable to secureany Western |
beef"
It's expected that the meeting vii.
be largely attended as there are many
members who have grievances and |
who have been unable to get any
Raymond MacNcllie,
counsel for the Alliance, declared
that after the meeting il the differ.
ences with the Western packers were
not amicaby adjusted the cases would
be carried into the courts
The retailers,' be declared. "are
tired Of this injustice and are going
to put up big fight.
Leading Philadelphia retailers
and wholesalers say there is no
'ause for the IS per cent. increase
in the price of meats. One big
pork dealer stated that the latest
'eport of the pork market in
Chicago. complied by the Board
'f Trade OF that city shows that
mere now are 2O,6l9,754 pounds |
more of this meat in stock in the
establishments of the Western
packers than there was at this
ime last year.
A child could see that
here is absolutely no ground for
nch an enormous increase at
his time Of the year according to ,,
his report, said the wholesaler.
he only explanation to my mind
that it. is pure and simple
orner Of the market, that they
ontrol almost all the meat supply
nd can dictate prices at their will
the people refused to buy their
leat and becam egetaliaps for