The sun., 1910-02-27
.NBAHPACKERSMAYBECALLED
TO TELL If THEY NAVE CON.
SPIRED TO RAISE PRICES.

N@mAtc CommAtLee InVeSUBnWm8 nhBm
/, Cost oC GAvlnS Has DoosSed op the
Scope of the Lnauiry, winch Inclades
the Eject Of the TaFiff on Prtces.
2 WARRINGTON. Feb. as.-The meat pack
ers. who are having their troubles In
Federal and State courts. will In all prob
ability have the opportunity OF explain
ing to tho Senate COMMITTEES that Is Under
taking an investigation of high cost OF
living the charge that they have con-
spired TO raise artincially the prices Of
meat products TO consumers. The Senate
committee decided at a meeting to-day
TO include within the scope OF the investi-
cation an inquiry into the effect Of COM
binations ON the prices Of commodities.
The suggestion was advanced that, the
meat packers should be among the FIRST
witnesses summoned before the oom-
mittee and Il met with the immediate ap-
proval OF several Senators A member
OF the committee said:
sThe committee has authority to send
for the executive and responsible officials
in the beef trust and / shall move that
they be summoned to appear before the
committee and testify. We don't went
any Of the underlings TO appear before
ns, but the men who are responsible
for the alleged combination that has
resulted in increased prices OF meat
products.'
At the meeting to-day the COMMITTEES
framed lines for the conduct OF the gen
eral inquiry. The subjects to be covered
were gone over and agreed upon. These
will be submitted to the Government de-
partments with the request that all in
formation pertaining TO the subjects mem
toned be placed at the disposal OF the
committee. Until this information 10
obtained there will be no definite deicsion
an to the witnesses who will be invited
before the committee.
In addition to its decision to inquire
into the effect Of combinations on the
prices accommodates the committee also
agreed to meke an Investigation OF the
eject OF the cold storage plants upon
prices and their methods OF doing busi-
ness.
In the Investigation OF the prices OF
food products the inquiry will begin at
the farm end extend 70 the wholesaler
and retailer. showing a. far as possible
the prices by years from 1900. With ref
erence TO prices OF manufactured articles
the inquiry win begin at the factory and
win also cover the wholesale and retail
business.
As 70 wool. hides, leather. lumber, coal,
iron, steel, oil. brick, cement and farming
implements the inquiry will be devoted 10
the initial price at the point OF production.
the wholesale price and the retail price.
The committee decided also to investi-
gate any effect the tariff may have had
on the increased prices. The invoice
prices and the market prices OF all inn
ported articles mentioned in the tariff in
April. iB08 were obtained aud compared
with the invoice prices and the maricst
prices at the present time. Foreign and
Wholesale prices As far back as 100 up
70 and including the present. year also
The other subjects into which the COM
mittee decided to make inquiry are:
Wages and salaries At home and abroad
by years from 1900 to 1910; the production
OF gold and the additions to the gold
coinage both In the United States and
In the world by years from 1897 to the
present time: worlds prices OF COM
modities by years from 1907 to the present
time: the tAbulation Of all information
reports. the reports OF the British Board
Of Tradc and similar onicial reports,
reports OF other countries, the Journal
OF the Royal Statistical Society. the Lon
don Economisf aud the London Stated and
other Journals OF high standing which
give statistlcs a. TO wages and price9
by years from 1897 10 1910.
II the packers are summoned to appear
before the committee they will be oom-
pelled to answer all questions. This
matter was discussed at the FIRST meeting
OF the oommittse. and the chairman,
Senator Lodge, recalled that during the
sugar Investigation q witness was sent
to jail for three months for refusing TO
answer questions.