Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-17
EXPENSES. !. OF LIVING
General Advance in Cost Of
Foodstufs.
RET ALTERS SUFFER
THE RISE IN BEEF CHARGED TO
THE TRUST.
Trade in Provisions Said to Have De-
creased 80 Per Cent-Talks With
Local Dealers.
RET ALTERS SUFFER

Local Dealers.
today that have been compelled to limit
their consumption Of meat. The cause OF
the existing condition Is unknown to thou
sands of persons who patronize the markets
and pay the prices that are asked.
Occasionally there is change In prices
Of meats and other necessaries Of life, and
the advance is paid without protest. Dur
ing the past few weeks, however, there mas
been a general advance in the price OF
meats, and the advance has been so mark
ed as to make the serving of steaks and
roasts almost prohibitive to families whose
heads receive modest salaries.
Hotels and restaurants that usually get
what Is considered good prices for their
meals are complaining. The managers
find that at present prices they cannot con-
tinue to serve the best of cuts without ao-
vancing the price to patrons
Effect on the Retail Trade.
So far as could be learned today, none
Of the hotels and restaurants had made
change in price. but it was found that thin
ner and smaller portions were being served
with the advance in the price of meat, for
which the beef trust Is responsible, the
retail dealers are suffering materially.
Where heretofore they were kept busy,
now they have plenty Of leisure, and their
old patrons are buying substitutes for meat.
The demand for rice particularly has been
greater in Washington during the past
week than for years. Rice Is possessed or
| lfe-giving properties to great extent,
and 1t is cheap diet. However, the big
demand for rice Will quite naturally nave
a tendency of putting up the price of that
commodity.
A tour of the city markets. particularly
the Center market, today developed the
fact that many butcher shops throughout
the city which handle the product of the
companies affiliated with the beef trust
were doing a much smaller business ana
were asking from the wholesalers a cheaper
grade of goods.
Views of the Dealers.
There can be no doubt that a great
amount Of suffering has been wrought by
the action Of the beef trust in advancing
prices. At number of the smaller butcher
shops visited the answer was the same.
Nothing doing. Our patrons can't afford
to buy meat" -
One butcher said that his trade had fallen
off at least 80 per cent.
Il usually employ a couple of men as
helpers" he said; but 1 have had to lay
them Off There is nothing for them to do"
DO you hear many complaints?' was
asked.
"It is the main topic Of conversation.
Women are among my customers to a great
extent. During the past week they have
reduced their purchases, and some have
contented themselves with goods that be
fore the advance they would not have
thought Of buying. Many are inclined to
the belief that-the- retail dealers are re-
sponsible. but we have nothing to do with
1t. We buy our meats at wholesale and
we have to pay ythe prices that are de-
manded by the wholesalers"
My business has fallen off half in the
last week." said another keeper.
will any combined effort be made by the
retailer to correct conditioner? asked The
Evening Star reporter.
Il presume not. What good would it do
any way? Resolutions have little effect on
a corporation that is interested in stocking
up prices. We are all sufferers. Retailers
are dependent upon the consumers. l be-
lieve that the trust will suffer. too. for 1t
cannot do business without a demand for
Its goods"
In the Train Of Beef.
There is a small army Of persons In
| Washington, as in all big cities, who fairly
| live off the odds and ends Of meat given
| away by the retail dealers. These persons
| as a rule, are without any visible means
| Of support. They are sufferers because the
| retailers find little for them because OF
| the falling off in business.
Not only has the price of meats gone up.
| but there is a general advance of nearly all
things necessary for sustaining life. Flour,
| which brought year ago $500, today is
| sold for IS. Butter of a high grade has
been sent up to 40 cents pound. something
| al most unheard of at this time of theyear
| Potatoes that could be purchased a year age
at 80 cents bushel now bring $1.2O. They
| are article of food that is almost as
| much in demand as meat. The advance in
| the Drica of nOtat0pS however iS cd
| by the public without a kick, because it is
| known that a trust is not back Of it.
Affects All Glasses.
| Other foods that have advanced in price
| within the last few weeks, and which the
| laboring man and his family are dependent
| upon to great extent are oatmeal, which
| has just jumped cent pound canned to-
| matoes, which cost now $1.4O a Dozen
where before they brought $11O and ST.
| hominy, beans, hominy grits. lard, corn
meal and asparagus. The advance in lard
| is, of course, due to the increase In the
| price of beef.
Round steak, which is always in demand
| by the poorer classes, Is now sold at Ii
cents a pound where before the advance
| 1t seldom reached price beyond II cents.
| The best grades Of porterhouse steak to-
| day brought % and "a cents, where before
| they were II and 20 cents. Ham, sausage
| pork chops, shoulders. bacon, outlets and
poultry-in fact, everything in the way of
| meat food that Is sold in the market-has
| gone up.
The worst of the thing is there is no out
| look for a decrease in prices New York
| houses which serve hotels and restaurants
| in Washington with their best steaks and
| cuts of meat today gave notice Of an ad-
| vance in price This Is said to be some
| thing out Of the ordinary and is looked
upon as meaning that prices are likely to
| remain up.
| ----5--
REVISION ABOUT COMPLETE.
| preshvferiau COMMITTEES Exnacts m