The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-12-15

sions was to secure the adjustment by
the Salt Lake Retail Butchers & Gro
GERS association of what was known
as the Current Price List
1t was the general understanding of
the public that this price list was ar
ranged by the association weekly and
that members who refused TO abide by
it were disciplined. This. according to
the grand jury, was not the case. I'VE
have not been able" says the report,
TO find any instance where an estab-
lished dealer selling standard groceries
has been required to raise the price of
any commodity that he was handling"
However, it seems significant that, on
December 2, while the grand jury was
still in session, the association thought
it was advisable to pass this resolu-
ton:
This association through its officers,
committees or members is forever pro-
hibited from establishing or maintain
ing a current price list for groceries
or meats and from regulating or max
ing uniform or attempting to regulate
or make uniform the retail price of
groceries or meats either among its
members Of among nOn-members. Any
member of this association who does
anything in an attempt to carry out
any one of the things above prohibited
shall at once and without any action
on the part of the association forfeit
his membership and become a nom
member of this association"
The retailers have been compelled,
according to the grand jury, to in
crease the cost of food products to the
consumer because the wholesalers have
compelled them TO pay more. The list
supplied in confederation of this seems
disingenuous. 1t includes only soap.
imported English currants, California
English walnuts, jam, California raj
sins, sugar. oysters in cans, rice. The
average increase for this list is % per
cent. Now we wonder if it occurred
to the grand jury that 1t is possible for
a small percentage of householders, at
least. to get along without imported
currants, without jam, without raisins
and without canned oysters. The only
items in the list that may be classed
properly as necessities are soap, sugar
and rice.
The grand jury recommends in the
matter of farm products. the estab-
Iishment of a city market, place des-
ignated by the proper municipal au-
thorities at which the farmers may
gather for the purpose of disposing of
their stuff to housekeepers who come
with baskets. Either this should be
done, in the opinion of the grand jury,
or the license farmers are required to
pay now for peddling should be re-
duced. 1t is suggested that the farm
ers be assessed reasonable fees for the
maintenance of the market. The idea.
though not original with the grand
jury, is sensible enough. It is an es-
tablished institution in many large cit
les, and small cities, too, for that mat
ter
The report calls attention TO the fact
that Utah salt is sold more cheaply in
Spokane and other cities than in Salt
Lake City. The grand jury says that
any determinations of this character
are fit subjects for discussion in the
legislature, as they cannot be reached
by a grand jury.
Incidentally the secretary of the Re
tail Butchers & Grocers' association
jury says. Hereafter the association
should be more careful in selecting it's
secretary and should see TO it that he
sticks to his business and does not
undertake TO regulate the business in
terests of the city"
1t must be confessed that the report,
as a whole, is of little value It lacks
a good deal of being worth what it
cost. Still, it may be some satisfac-
ton to housekeepers who have been
grooming under the increased cost of
living, TO know that there is no such
thing as a food trust in Salt Lake City.
The grand jury has said so, and that
does settle it.
Now try TO cheer up, for Christmas
will soon be here.