Los Angeles herald., 1909-04-18
BREAD TO COST
I MORE; 5 CENT
LOAF ABOLISHED
BAKERS IN AGREEMENT TO
RAISE PRICES
THIRTEEN FOR A DOLLAR WILL
BE WHOLESALE RATE
Rolls, Douahnuts and other Similar
Products to Be Higher-Tribute
Los Angeles Pays to the
Wheat Deal

agreed at meeting at 517 South
- Broadway last night to secure IL
possible a promise from all the local
bakers to abolish the scent loaves OF
bread as far as possible and to sell as
a 10-cent retail loaf one with Welgnt
of twenty-six ounces at wholesale
rate of thirteen for 81. A proportionate
raise is to be made on doughnuts, roiis
and similar goods. They will endeaVor
to enforce the agreement by refusing
to take trade that attempts to shirt
from one bakery to another because OF
the change for at least sixty days.
Several of the most representative
firms of Los Angeles were represented
at last nights conference, at whlcn
William Meek of the Meek Baking
company presided, and others sent
word that they would abide by the
agreement. If the bakers secure sucn
an agreement, which they are conf
dent of doing, and the city sealer or
weights and measures succeeds in his
plan to compel bakers to make their
loaves weigh either one or two POUNDS,
the consumer will find the price or
loaves raised to 10 cents possibly, with
the small loaf selling at cents.
A committee consisting of George 5.
Barnes. Joseph Walker, F. l.. Hart
and a number of other volunteers who
will be secured today, will draw up a
form of agreement and canvass the
bakers to secure the necessary num-
ber of signatures to make II operative.
Under an act of the last legislature CO.
operation of this sort is allowable in
California to bring prices to level IN
suring profit.
Committee to Work
The committee expects to have the
work well under way by Wednesday
night, when another meeting Will be
held at the same place. Resolutions
setting forth the reasons Tor the
change will be presented to the meet
ing by a committee composed OF Z. II.
Bradford, William Meek, George >.
Barnes. c. w. Stone and Alex Fother-
gill. The resolutions will show in
substance that the bakers feel that as
prices. wages and other cost items
have prevailed there has been no
profit generally in bread making for
the last two years. They Will also
explain that a small loaf, such as a
weight of but eleven ounces, does not
furnish as good bread as can De mace
with a larger loaf, which is one or the
reasons for eliminating so far as pos
sible the scent loaf.
The sentiment for some sort or con-
certed action because of the advancing
price of -four was unanimous at tne
meeting last night, and Chairman
Meek stated that large firms VINO
could not be represented had promised
10 cooperate in a movement of that
character. The committee will lose no
time in energetic work for making the
agreement effective as quickly as pos
sible.
my work keeps me busy about
fifteen hours day." said Mr.. Meek,
but / can find time to help on this,
and others agreed to give half day
il necessary each day in the week
until the signatures had been obtained.
The form of agreement will be pre-
pared today.
Councils Action Discussed
The probable action of the city
council was fully discussed. and Mayor
Alexander's ideas were approved by
the meeting. His statement that the
master bakers should be consulted be-
fore passing an ordinance was partly
responsible for fixing the next meeting
Wednesday evening, which permits
conference between council commit
tee and the bakers if the council takes
any action at Tuesdays meeting. The
bakers agreed that there would not be
great objection to an ordinance fixing
the weight If variations accurately
labeled were allowed.
shall not accept another's trade Is
necessary because some bakers are
now selling thirty or more loaves for
ST. said Chairman Meek. IF those
bakers cut down in the number, as
they must, their customers will go to
those of us who have not been selling
that way and insist on buying of us.
Hence the baker who suffers most by
the present price of flour would lose
his trade and could not agree to main
tain living prices unless he were so
protected. We are willing to stand by
him on this, hence such an agreement
Is proposed"
Flour Scars
Bakers are now paying $500 for
their -four and selling bread at price
which would bring a fair profit at
about half that" said Charles Brad
ford They can't stand the present
situation, and in fact should have
taken this up long ago. We do not
wish to take anunreasonable position,
but we can't continue to do business at
a loss. Perhaps in July we shall see
lower prices for flour. At present,
however, even the Kansas millers are
out of wheat and are buying 1t back
from outside their state"
Charles Clark of Pomona, one of the
Oldest bakers in Southern California,
was an Interested listener dt the meet
ing. He said that he came down to see
what Los Angeles would do las the
prices and wage rates for the smaller
cities were virtually fixed by Los An
geles.
1--WE have to compete with you," he
said, "and / hope you will make
reasonable change, but whether you
do or not l am compelled to change
the size of loaves l make. Otherwise
| cannot afford to make bread If 1
have to sell as have been doing late
ly l will say, Keep the flour in the
bag; / can't use it,"
The bakers made little reference to
the speculators' influence in forcing up
the price of flour, and did not once
mention the name of Patten or speak
of his corner, Which is indirectly bear
ing down on Los Angeles through the
changes in the amount of bread for a
dime. They took 1t for granted that
every one present knew that flour is
sky-high and that time was wasted in
discussing anything but the methods
necessary to bring about cooperation
in reducing the amount Of bread sold
for a dime.