The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-16

Capt. James F. Oyster Of Washington.
defended the cold storage business yes
terday before the Senate committee that
is investigating the high cost of living.
arguing that it made possible the main-
tanning of uniform prices the year round.
and that there was no cold storage trust
or combinations.
Last year 6e.000O00 cases OF eggs were
sold in this country" said Capt oyster.
''Of that product only per ceHe went
into storage. Chicago had l.OO0,O0O cases
in storage, and that supply was owned by
SO firms or individuals. That. in my
mind. precludes the possibility Of there
being trust. Before We had cold stor-
age have known eggs to sell as low as
6 cents per dozen. but at the same time
IN the winter season they sold at 50 cents,
II it had not been for storage I would
not have been surprised 10 see eggs sell
as high At 70 cents. or even 81. this
winter.
only 6 per cent OF the butter product
OF the country goes into storage. In 1852.
before we had cold storage. we paid 4s
and 50 cents for butter
Do Not Buy and Sell.
It was explained by the witness that
cold storage houses do not buy and sell
the products they store. but simply
charge dealers certain rate per case, or
pound. or hundredweight. for the use of
their facilities.
Capt Oyster was asked II there was
much oleomargarine sold in Washington,
and he created a laugh by his answer
that little was sold here except 10 gov
eminent institutions, that ought not to
use It, He named the Government Hos
pital for the insane as one of those insti-
tutions.
Charles II. KastlebeTg, a wholesale and
retail butcher of Richmond. Va, told
the committee Of the range or prices in
his business for the past ten years. He
said that there had been an increase OF
20 per cent in the price he paid for cat
tie on the hoof. but that the price of beef
had not increased proportionately. be-
cause Of the utilization Of by-products
to-day that were a loss ten years ago.
The price of pork has increased 100 per
cent, he testified, and that is the only
thing he buys of the big packers.
Driven Ont of Business
The witness told Of a fight which the
packers made TO get control of the Rich
mond market ten years ago, testifying
that they had sold meat at less than II
cost them on the hoof. and that they had
succeeded in driving out of business all
local dealers except himself and two
other firms.
Questioned as TO the increased cost OF
his business, Mr.. Kastleberg said that
wages have almost trebled in ten years
Men that he formerly hired at Sc per
week he is now compelled TO pay SIS
to SIS
J. :. Brauer. wholesale and retail
butcher. also OF Richmond. who followed
Mr.. Kastleberg at the afternoon session
OF the committee. did not agree with him
as to the extent Of the increase in wages.
He fixed the increase at % or 80 per cent.
and J. F. Eubank. grocer and butcher, of
Richmond. the next witness TO take the
stand, testified 10 the same effect.
Clerks Wages.
Mr. Eubank declared that wages had
not increased proportionately as the cost
OF living had increased. II don't know
how I'd live on the wages I pay my
clerks" he said, and yet I pay Just as
much as ! possibly can" Mr. Eubank
fixed the monthly provision bili for a
family OF five at S35 TO $40
None of the witnesses examined during
the day offered any explanation for the
increased cost Of necessities, and all as
serted they were not benefited by the
higher prices.
on Thursday the committee viii hear