The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-05-13
SMOKE MAY HAVE BEEN DECEIVED Meat Statesmen Possibly Palmed Off Inferior
 Goods.
MAJOR TILsoN TALKS
Estimate Made That About Thirty Have Left on Ac-
 count of Trouble.

On Thursday of this week, May 16, the new scale of charges announced at the Yale Dining Commons will go into effect. Not only does the increase af- feet the regular board rate of $S a week, which charge is exclusive of the meats, eggs, fish and extras served at the Commons, but the la carte prices on meats have been raised somewhat at the same time.
 The reason given for the raise is that the Commons was running behind financially, and that to make it pay expenses the increased charges were necessary. There has been complaint raised among the members who eat at the Commons that, while they are pay ing the prices for the best of meats, they are receiving what they consider inferior food
 | In consequence of this complaint in vestigation has been undertaken and in this investigation the accounts of the manager, Captain Smoke, audited. The books, according to Major Tilson, who is the regular auditor, are all right. T have made no special audit, but have simply gone over them in the regular way They show that the prices | have been paid for the purchase of the best quality of meats
 The major was asked If the difficulty might not be in the furnishing of in ferior goods by the dealers of whom the supplies were purchased at the prices of superior goods. Tn answer he said There you have just the point. There Is no question of the accuracy of the accounts or of Captain Smoke S | honesty. If the quality of the meats Is inferior it Is because inferior goods are supplied at high-quality prices" l K. J. Holder, bookkeeper at the Com mons, stated that the major portion of the meat supplies was bought from I the Boston firms of Alfred Sears & Co. and A. !. Legg From these firms the Commons purchases through agents I who visit here weekly and who are direct representatives of the firms A small portion of the meat supply is also obtained, it is said, of Armour & Co. through the Hoyt company of this city.
 F. J. Holder stated that the accounts of the number of men who had left the Commons on account of the raise were exceedingly exaggerated. Divide 1t by ten and you will have it nearer the i truth,' he said. He showed the book signed by the members of the Com mons and showing the list of names of those who had given notice of intention to leave on the 18th. Each week. he said about one page is taken up with names of the floating members who come and go right along. This week there is a page and a half. Above the regular floating change there are be- tween twenty-five and thirty-five who have left solely on account of the raise'
 The prices of the meats, according to Major Tilson, have been raised all round to assist in making up the amount the Commons is running be- hind. tIn some instances" he said, it is admitted that more is being charged for the meats than they cost. This is because of the attempt to make up the needed increase in receipts"
 Steps should be taken to inquire into the dealings of the representatives of the meat houses with the management to determine whether or not Manager | Smoke has been deceived by the sales men and has been sold inferior goods at the price of those of the best quail ity. It Is a well-known fact that such methods are sometimes employed by statesmen to their own advantage.