Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-05-13
Senate Increases Great Disparity
between Wholesale and Re.
tail Prices.
SOME STARTLING EXAMPLES
HaviIard China That Costs rJO.sO Sold
for S36--Razors THAT Cost 1895 n
Dozen RctniIcd nj s24--'Tea
That Costs 10 Cents n Pound
Sold for co Cents.

Washington. May il Substantial, prog
iess was made IN the consideration Of
the tariff bill to-day the amendments
Of the committee on finance being upheld
hv the Senate by substantial ma iorities
A feature OF tho days session was n
roneral discussion concerning the great
dirnarity between Wholesale and retail
rr.ccs Of commodities Republican sena-
tors declared that this difference was so
great as to demonstrate that tire duty
levied by q protective tariff had small
effect on tho prices paid by the cor
sumner.
This feature of tho discussion was par
tidpated in by Senator Scott, himself
glass manufacturer.
Mr., Newlands suggested the appoint
iHent OF some kind of official body to
inquire into and report concerning the
differences in wholesale and retail prices
SO that Congress might have proper in
formation.
Saying he had mach Information to
illustrate the great difference in whole
sale and retail prices. Senator Flint said
he had in mind an instance u set Of
lIaViland china. costing to import 81
with a6 cents packing charges. re- cents
making in all sloso which retailed for
S26. He nstanced another case of an
article costing a cents to import which
r"taile1 for $3.50 Those. he said were
the prices in the great department stores
o. the East and in tho Northwest States
tho prices were increased 80 per cent
Senator smoot made another contri-
button to the fund Of information con-
Ca min
case Of razor the manufacturers
Wholesale price on which was s3a5 A
dozen which sold FOR 50 each to consur1-
ois Gloves he said. manufactured for
$40 per dozen sold for s. per pair M
81 4 dozen. These high prices. he said.
had nothing 10 do with the protective
tariff because compared with the retail
| price the tariff charge was small.
SEN. SCOTT DENIES AGREEMENTS.
Senator Fletcher inquired whether
there were not agreements between
manufacturers and the iobbers and
later between tho iohher and the re-
taller to sell at stipulated prices
"f have hcen manufacturing glass
| for 40 wears" declared Mr.. Scott in
dignantly, and | never knew of any
such"
prices can he produced here to
: show" said Mr.. Flint that the retail
! merchants make n larger percentage
OF profit than in any other line OF
| business"
Mr.. Mc1.aurin said the high prices
resulted from the tariff.
Does the senator know" interrupt
ed Mr.. Hale, that tea which is admit
ted free in this country is sold here
at an advance Of three. four and five
hundred per cent. on the wholesale
price,
| Mr.. Lodge said that tea selling at
is cents a pound in this country is re-
tailed throughout the land for 90
cents n pound
Mr. McLaurin insisted that tariff
of 10 cents a pound on tea would in
crease the price of tea to that extent.
The schedule covering the products
of lead was passed over upon the sug
gcstion of senator Aldrich because, he
said. the finance committee desire 70
Hake some changes in the duties a
previously recommended.
At $50 o'clock the Senate adjourned