Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-26
SENATE FOOD PROBE
McCumber Resolution Calls
for Thorough Inquiry.
$4,000 FUND PROVIDED
Author of Measure Would Vindi-
cate Farmers of Country.
HEPBURN MAKES OBJECTIONS
Opposes Government Interference in
"Senseless' "Sham Battle"
Measure Referred.

Measure Referred.
Pronouncing present prices of food eek
brilliantly high" Senator McCumber of
North Dakota introduced resolution in
the Senate today providing for an in
vestgation of food prices by the Senate
committee on agriculture or by a SUBJ
committee of that body.
In presenting the resolution Senator
McCumber declared that he believed the
investigation will show that the prices re-
ceived by the producers on the farm are
not high and that the increase is made
after the products leave their hands.
Text of Resolution.
The resolution, as presented, is as fol-
lows:
Resolved, That the committee on agri-
culture be, and it is hereby. authorized
and directed, by subcommittee or other
wise, to make a thorough investigation of
the prices of food products on the farm
In various parts of the United States, the
wholesale prices of such food products at
the wholesale trade centers of the United
States and the retail prices of such food
products in the larger cities of the United
States, and to report to the Senate at the
earliest possible date, such report to con-
tain also a comparative statement show
ing cost of production on the farm, the
cost of transportation to the trade GEN.
tiers and the cost and expenses of han
ding such food products by the retail
dealers; and,
hereby authorized to visit the larger
| trade centers of the United States for
the purpose of securing this informa-
ton and to appoint such clerical as
-ic<.v sa6v licf<a
| oaths. examine witnesses and hold such
hearings as may be deemed necessary;
and
BE it further resolved. That sl5O,Ooo.
or SO much thereof as may be neces-
sary to pay the expenses of such in
vestieation, be and the same Is here y
i appropriated out of the contingent fund
of the Senate to be paid upon vouchers
signed by the chairman Of the commit
tee on agriculture.
Referred to Committee.
On request of Senator McCumber the
| resolution was referred to the committee
on agriculture and forestry.
After the resolution had been read
Senator McCumber called the attention
Of the Senate to the fact that a bill had
been introduced in the House yesterday to
remove the tariff on beef. He said ne
had always maintained that the tariff
Il have always maintained" he con-
tinued that the exorbitantly high prices
of foods are not due to the high prices
received by the food producers. l have
maintained that the price to the con
sumner ranged from 200 to from 1900 to
| 5000 per cent above the price paid for
the product on the farm
He introduced the resolution, he de-
clared. SO that the committee on agri-
! culture could report the true facts as to
| the cost of products on the Iarm and as
| sold by retailers and to show that the
added cost is placed on food after 1t
leaves the producer.
Hepburn Opposes Plan.
Senator Hepburn declared he had sup
ported the tariff in the belief that it
would add to the prosperity Of the coun-
try. More than 80 per cent of the peo-
pie, he said, are producers, and about -
| per cent are exclusively consumers He
said he did net think producers should be
| divided into classes, as Is contemplated
| by the res o.it.on.
| 1.-The sham battle now going on relative
| to exorbitant prices of products of the
| people of this country" he said, is
| thoughtless and sense.ess."
He declared against The interference OF
| the government in such matters.
Pretty soon," he declared, "a bulletin
will be issued each morningS fixing the
| price of labor. of wheat und other prod
ucts for the day.
Beveridge After Export Figures.
Senator Beveridge suggested that the
resolution also call for statistics showing
the corresponding prices in otner coun-
tries and the prices of products of this
country sold in other countries, after
being exported.
-n;l r. Lo- b.
| lection to such an amendment, but sug-
gested it could be added by the Commit
tee to which the resolution is referred.
Everybody vans all the faces IN this
NATTER concluded Senator Beverage.
J. j. Hill Blames City Life.
1T isn't the high cost Of living, but the
| cost of high living that is bothering this
| country at the present time," according
| TO the ep. grammatlc view OF James j. hill.
| MI Hill came to Washington yesterday
| to see the President He did not hest
| tate to give corps of interv ewers an
| other angle Of his theory regarding the
| evils of the decrease in the production Of
| the necessities of life in the farming
| communities of this county.
I'VE do not find the prices of tea, COT
| fee sugar, rice and the like increasing by
leaps and bounds" Mr.. Hill continued.
| ''These staples are imported. Rich and
poor alike have some of them on the Ia
BILE every day
1T may safely be estimated that 65 per
cent Of our great population at the pres
ent time Is concentrated in the cities and
towns. To my mind, this condition points
pretty clearly to the cause Of the increase
| in food prices.
Added to this is the tendency toward
extravaganza. Everybody seems to want
I to live as well as possible en- just as little
productive work as is absolutely neces-
sary.
Restore the balance of production and
demand, and prices will drop automatic
ally. We must either produce sufficient
of the standard foodstuffs to meet our
needs or we must keep on paying those
who provide for u.s.
| Anti-Food-Trust League Grows.
President E. l.. Scharf of the National
| Anti FoodTrust League said today that
| he had received letter from fourteen
| prominent citizens Of Medina, N. Y, in
which they stated their desire to Join the
! league The letter explained that the de-
cision of the writer's was reached after
| a public meeting in the town pre- testing
| against present food prices.
| The fourteen said they represent I'd sew
eral hundred other citizens of the town,
| who will apply for membership later.
Women Join Food Crusade.
| At the Arlington Hotel yesterday after
noon a number of Washington's most
prominent women met to indorse the
crusade against high rr.ices of food ond