The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-28
Wilson Investigating Oues-
ton of Increased Cost
of Living.
FIGURES ARE SHOWN
IN PRICES OF MEAT
Plans TO Garry Inquiry All Through
the List Of Table
Stuff.
BY JOHN SNURE.

oJ JOAlN oNO NJ.
Secretary OF Agriculture Wilson is
probing deeply into important phases Of
the question Of why the cost OF living is
going I'D.
Through tho hundreds Of employees Of
the Department of Agriculture who are
IN the field, ne is finding out to what
extent retail prices of food products ex-
coed wholesale prices, or, in other words,
what are the gross profits OF the retail
ers OF food products. What the Secre-
tary wants 10 know is just why II is the
ultimate consumer Is complaining OF
the high cost of living and the increasing
cost OF living. He would like TO find out
~ II Is because the farmer is getting
high prices for the things he sells or the
wholesaler Is exacting too high profits
OF whether too much is going to the re-
taller.
IN the annual report OF the Depart
nent OF Agriculture, Secretary Wilson
told of the results of an inquiry into the
prices OF meat. He pointed out that the
question of high prices Of fresh meats
and their products was one felt by the
incomes OF 100000 families
Will Spread Inquiry.
Through employees Of the Bureau OF
Animal Industry, inquiries were made
in fifty cities. large, medium, and small,
IN all parts of the country, and It was
found that for these cities the mean
Gross profit in selling beef was IS per
cent That Is, the total retail cost
charged consumers above the wholesale
cost paid by the retailers was, as stated,
% per cent.
Publication OF the figures, which in
20
per cent. and Of Nashville. So per cent,
has caused a great stir. Many letters
are being written TO Secretary Wilson.
protesting that his figures must be
wrong
To all such letters he IS responding
with the request for definite evidence
on the question Of why the figures are
wrong and to what extent they are
wrong. on the other hand. he IS get
ting many letters Of approval
Will Garry Probe On
But Secretary Wilson does not intend
60 let the matter rest with an inquiry
into meat prices. He intends TO find
out similar facts as 10 the common
kinds Of food products. such as butter,
eggs milk. apples, potatoes. and ap-
pies. and the common fruits and vege-
tables.
When Secretary Wilson gets through
he will be able TO tell pretty closely
VINO IS making the bulk OF the profits
IN tho things that go on the table Of
the average family OF the United
States. InasmuCh as the series Of IN
uuiries. like the one into meat prices,
viii affect about 100000 families, the
results will unqUestionably be Of sur
passing interest. as well as highly i'm
portant.
Secretary Wilson will have little trou-
bic making the Investigations. He has
a large force of men IN the field in vari-
GUS lines OF activity. In the Bureau Of
Animal Industry, many field men are
required 20 enforce the meat inspec-
ton law and for other purposes. The
enforcement OF the pure food law re-
duires many more men, who are con-
stantly I'm the field. And there are
various other employees of the Depart
u1rnt OF Agriculture. who are scattered
al over the country.
VIII Cost Little.
on any Of these. Secretary Wilson
can draw for the information he wants.
Therefore. the Investigations will be
made with litue expense. and at the
same time they will be made by ex-
perienced and trusted officials OF the
department.
For one thing. Secretary Wilson has
been impelled 10 this inquiry, just as
into the one on meat prices. by the re-
pested charge that the farmers are get
ting higher prices for their products
than they ought to get. Secretary vii
son does not believe this and has never
believed IL. He does not believe the
high cost % living. so fare as food
products arc concerned, can he laid Al
the farmers door. He thinks that n
lies somewhere along the road between
the farmer and tho ultimate consumer
That Is. he puts the burden at the door
OF the middlcmcn.
Other Profits.
In his annual report he did not at
tempt 20 say what were the profits OF
the wholesaler lie only went 20 the
point OF saying that tho average gross
profit Of tho retailer Of beef I'm fifty
cities was . per cent
The question IS now whether in Tho
handling Of other food products, there
is a. large retail gross profit
OTHER questions which Secretary vii
son expects 10 have light on before he &.
through is whether there is combination
20 enhance retail profits and whether
tho distributiVc processes which obtair
IN the retail business arc too expensive
n Is not At an impossible that irr.
portaut legislation viii grow ont OF tho
Investigations which Secretary Wilson q.
making.