The Washington times., 1904-02-01
RETAILERS GET
ALL THE PROFITS
Secretary Wilson Says 1t Is
True of Beef.
CONSUMER PAYS TOO MUCH
Declares That Between the Farmer and
Citizen a System Exists Ruin
Gus to Both.

Agents IneA are the n-feu men
The packers are taking the profits.
have already made a statement regard
ing present conditions and do not sec
how can add anything 10 it
These were the words Of Secretary
Wilson. OF the Agricultural Depart
ment. when asked 10 whom the enor.
nous profits on beef are now COINS.
The agents referred TO are the retailers
here and elsewhere IS
Some one between tho producer and
the consumer is getting enormous
profits" continued Secretary Wilson.
who is it. the retailer or the trust?''
asked the reporter
The packers are the retailers. Are
they not retailing meats here in the
markets of Washington"
But are these men who sell the meats
here. are they not the agents Of the
packers
Then came the answer of the Secre>
tary Of Agriculture as given above.
si Public and Trust.
On Saturday Secretary Wilson made
the following statement, which shows
at the public is again in the hands OF
the beef trust, and is again being
squeezed in its vice-like grip:
EITHER the farmer is not getting
eneugh for his beef, or the consumer Is
paying too much.
s:iFat cattle are not so dear as they
We're a few years ago. and there are
good reasons why they should not be
But there are no very good reasons why
the. consumer should pay much for
his beefsteak as he paid a few years
ago.
The margin between those prices
a "A what
retailer pays-is much greater than II
should be. When beef was at its high
est two or three years ago, it was
clearly apparent that there was a
scarcity in the material of which beef
is made; the corn crop had been very
short. and consequently beef became
very dear
-inThe retailers put their prices up. Now
their prices are about the same. al
Though cattle on the hoof are perhaps
SkSo. per hundred less than they We're
How much. difference ought this to
make in the price OF beefsteak?'' was
ASKED.
x Hard Question.
saThat's aquestion that cannot be very
Tell answered in brief. The highest
pFiced beef, isrfound on the back of the
spimal, and on the ribs The price of
tRis should vary much more than that
81 the round and the neck. and other
Cheaper pieces. But beef should be in
round figures 20 per GEM 3ehesper 20
tie producer than it is row. or the
farmer should be getting 20 per cent
'-aore Tor his stock. The trouble is
1ostiS-with the retailer. ana where the
packer is~~himself engaged in retailing
TIE trouble is clearly with him"
H'.Nith regard to the worlds prices of
6eef. have taken steps TO ascertain the
sktent 10 winch We are meeting competi-
Eon in the British market from South
Afrerican countries While all the facts
afe not at my command. / am strongly
SUSPICIOUS that the Argentine people are
seEdlng an Increasing amount OF re-
Irlserated quarters of beef TO Grcqa [
Efltain, This economic movement ought
normally TO affect our beef prices for
TIE retailer or the farmer.
Argentine Hampered.
q The Argentine people cannot ship their
I've stock because Of the foot and mouth
disease which they>have there. So they
are compelled TO slaughter and ship
their product IN refrigerated quarters.
asnd they must sell it for what they
ean get. The volume Of this trade is in
eFeasing so fast. from what learn. as
"a account in some part for the cheaper
prices OF beef that are now prevailing
Rbroad over those Of a short time ago
aThis should give us lower prices
UtIer BECAUSE Aue price IN LsoDuOn OF
our live animals and our refrigerated
BEEF has much TO do with our prices
here. We sell abroad every year $3.50.
1000 worth Of animals and animal pro-
duets"
- Would the removal of the duty or
Beef coming into this country from Can
tda have any effect I'm bringing the
price for the farmer and the retailer
nearer together"
Tariff Not Involved.
'The removal Of the duty would not
much affect the retailers. and that
would be the trouble in making the ad-
vantage Of any such change sift
through to the consumer.
Ell have always believed that II the
\ DUTY were taken of all agricultural
Products the people on the line would
get their meat and eggs and hay and
FISH aud some other things cheaper than
they now do. But we should hear a
Protest from Gloucester about fish
ahouldn't we?
u Il suspect We should hear from I'll,
Rew England farmers who raise hay
and eggs and butter and fat cows. You
know / am not much OF tariff student
anyway. II gives me more than / car
90 TO keep. track Of these agriculture
questions which are pressing for settle.
uEnt- But am a protectionist You
Hissy put me down for that.