The Washington herald., 1910-03-10

A family OF FIVE can live we'll and have
meat twice a day for $50 a month, &C
cording to Edward F. Hall, Washing
ton green grocer. who testified yesterday
before the Senate committee that is IN
vestigating the high cost Of living
problem.
Mr.. Halls place of business is at Third
and c streets northeast, and no said
that he catered to all sorts and condi-
tons of people. from the laboring man
70 the man of wealth.
Mr. Hall did not undertake to furnish
the committee detailed menus that $50
per month would provide for family OF
I'VE, but rested on an expression Of opin-
Ion that that sum would provide abun-
dant provender of good quality. He dis
claimed knowledge of any trade agree
ments or stipulations for the maintenance
OF prices. and had no explanation TO
oner for the increased cost Of living.
He said he had TO do twice the volume
OF business now to make the same profit
that he made five or six years ago. but
at the same time he testified that his
trade Is buying a better quality OF goods
nowadays and paying its bills more
promptly than at any time during the
eighteen years he has been in business.
How Butter Price Is Fixed.
The only evidence adduced that prices
are fixed or maintained by any sort OF
combination was Mr.. Halls statement
that II was a trade suppOsition" that
the price of butter Is fixed every Monday
by a board representing the butter manu-
facturers in the territory Centering in
Flgin. III. He testified that Elgin butter
was recognized as the standard, and that
the prices Of all dealers were based on
the price dXed by the Elgin board the
first Of every week.
Mr.. Hall testified that the greatest in
crease within the last two or three years
had been in the prices of pork, poultry,
fish, canned fish, cooked beef, lamb, veal,
and -four Five years ago bread sold at
3 cents a loaf, whereas now the minimum
price is 3 cents and the weight Of the
loaves has decreased.
Members of the committee questioned
the witness closely as 10 his profits. and
he testified that hts gross profit was ap-
proximately Is per cent on an annual
business of S100.0o0. He estimated his ex-
penses at 10 per cent lie admitted, how
ever, that while the commercial agencies
had rated him at 5000 in 1900. he is now
worth in excess Of S35. 600. He explained
his success by declaring that he did about
three mems work
S i. Harrison, Of Baltimore, who was
on the stand on Tuesday. was likewise
questioned yesterday as to his profits. He
He said that his store did an annual bust
ness Of about SS0,0O0 catering TO the very
best trade in his city, and that his net
profit was from 10 per cent. That
made no allowance OF salary for him or
his partner. he said. and in response to a
direct question he testified that If he and
his partner had drawn salaries their bust
ness would have shown no profit what
ever.
Produces His Books.
MI Harrison produced his bills and
books 10 show the increase in prices since
1906 but he offered 10 explanation for
the advances except that he had had to
pay more. and, therefore, was compelled
10 charge his customers more. He de-
clared he knew nothing OF any organiza-
ton, agreements or stipulations that had
anything 10 do with prices. To the cues
ton as 10 whether the new tariff law had
affected prices he said there had been
no change since the law went into effect
that would attract attention.
The committee, after examining the two
witnesses. adjourned 10 meet at the call OF
the chairman. Senator Lodge. when addi-
tional witnesses are ready to appear.
The high-oost-of-living problem does
not bother folks in Chefoo. Hongkone
and other Chinese coast cities. according
10 report sent TO Congress yesterday
by Secretary Of the Navy Meyer. The
report shows tho prices paid BY naval
vessels during 1903 at the United States
and foreign ports for foodstuffs.
Prices Low in China.
China is much lower down in the list
OF prices for various staples. Fresh
beef, which costs in the United States
from cents a pound at Kew West
TO 10 cents at Pensacola, was only 4
cents pound at Chefoo. the cheapest
foreign port, and Is cents at Gibraltar
the highest. At the same time. beef cost
So cents at New York. cents at Bos-
ton, Washington. and San Francisco
and 916 cents at Newport.
Egg-buying is a pleasant dream in
China. They cost from to cents a
dozen over there, % cents a dozen at
Washington, p cents at New York, and
81 cents at Charleston. S. c.
Potatoes cost from cent at San Fran
cisco and IL cents at New York to 3
cents at Key West. Abroad. the prices
ranged from cent at Nice and Alglers
10 cents IN Venezuela. Other staples
ranged in proportion.