The Washington times., 1902-04-30
BE TRUST FEELING
DECREASE OF TRADE

York. and the investigating committee ap.
pointed by the New York Republican Club
which was rumored TO have been arranged
for Thursday in this city.
Attorney General Davies action in stat
ing that he could see no reason why he
should confer with the representatives
. of the concerns against which he will
sooner or later institute proceedings is
thought to have destroyed the chances of
a conference If any were in contemplation.
( The further rise Of beef in Kansas City
] has not yet made Itself felt in the local
( markets.
! Inquiry at the War Department yester-
day disclosed that despite the great in
/ crease in the price of beef the army is
now making contracts Tor the next fiscal
year, by which it will get beef at a
number of military posts at lower rates
than II has been paying under the con-
tracts arranged year ago. Those with
whom The Times reporter talked yester-
day expressed the conviction that there
was some reason for a slight increase in
the price Of beef in the short corn crop
of last year which compelled many cat
tie raisers to sell their herds before the
winter began. but they cannot find any
Justification for the large additional cost
which the dealers ask.
Lower Imam Last Year.
Dealers in some of the big cities have
offered to furnish beef to nearby army
posts at prices lower than those Of last
year. and in most cases where there is
an increase it is very small In some
cases the increase over last years prices
is due not to any Of the causes given by
the beef men but to the fact that Chilled
Ilgfi cd snr
slaughtered beef, which is, of course
cheaper.
Figures taken from the official records
Of the Subsistence Department furnish a
striking comparison with the prices de-
manded of private consumers.
Under the army system OF food con-
tracts bids are invited for supplying COM
missary supplies TO individual military
posts and not Of the army as a whole
The bidders are restricted. therefore, to
agents and dealers doing business near
each separate post. The commandment of
a post calls Tor proposals for supplying
his command with beef, bacon, vegetables.
etc. for the fiscal year beginning July /
or. in some cases. for the six months be-
ginning July ] and January /. Abstracts
of the bids offered in each instance are
forwarded to the Commissary General of
the Army. who directs that a contract be
made with the lowest responsible bidder.
Bids Now Being Received.
Bids for the hscal year beginning July
j. 1902, are now being received and con- |
tracts awarded.
From the records of contracts awarded |
SO far this year the figures given below |
were taken.
Contracts have already been made for
supplying with beef three posts near New
York city. and in two of these there is a
decrease from the prices agreed upon a
year ago.
At Fort Wood. on Bellows Island. the
price for the coming fiscal year viii be
l..S cents a pound, against S25 cents for
he year TO end June 30
At Fort Wadsworth, On Staten Island.
he price just fixed by contract is ia
'ents, as against 7.l9 cents under last
ears contract.
AT Fort Columbus, New York harbor
he price will be increased from 7Ga
ents to 7.S7 cents.
In this city, where there has been a
rarked rise in the price of beef TO private
consumers. the Subsistence Department of
he army has made contract with a local
ealer TO furnish beef to the Washington
barracks at IA cents a pound, against ~
ents under last years contract, de-
rease of three-tenths OF cent a pound.
The official records show that beef deal |
RS are now offering to furnish supplies {
[ lower rates than last year TO army ,
osts in the vicinity OF Washington as
blows:
Fort Washington, Md, near Washing !
On, 10 new refrigerated beef. S.i old {
freshly slaughtered beef.
Fort Myer, Va, near Washington, 7.19
ew, $50 old. v
Fort Hunt. Va, near Washington, So a
CIV. SIS old. /