The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1910-02-18
MEAT PROFITS BIG.
SENATOR McUm5ER DECLARES
FARMERS GETS INADEQUATE
RETURNS FOR PRODUCTS.
WILSON COMPARES PRICES
Secretary Shows Enormous Advances
Both by Wholesaler and Retailer
Says Rates on Sugar. Tea, Spices,
Crackers Have Been Reduced.

Washington, Feb 5-Senator Nc
Cumber OF North Dakota. in a speech
in the senate discussing the increased
price OF foodstuffs. declared that the
farmer gets an inadequate return for
his products.
The senator made some statements
which, II they are founded on fact.
show that the packers. wholesalers
and retailers OF meat are making
profits beyond the conception OF the
human mind in their enormity RI
used his own knowledge, a report Of
Secretary Wilson and a price card OF
the senate restaurant to prove his
contention.
An average beef animal on a Da-
kota ranch brings $40" he said. "but
according to the prices here" pointing
10 the senate restaurant bill Of fare
1t is sold to the customers who eat
there for the enormous sum of $500
enough 10 buy half a farm. And
prices in the ordinary restaurant show
that the $40 beef animal is sold for
$4,000 The fact that the farmer gets
but $50 shows that he does not get the
money. and the effect of the bills 10
take the tariff of meat and the prod
ucts OF the farm would be 10 establish
a legislative boycott against the tiller
of the soil"
Wholesaler Gets Biggest Advance.
The comparison of.prices submitted
by Secretary Wilson Of the depart.
ment OF agriculture show enormous in
creases by both wholesaler and retail
er-the advance being greater for the
retailer in one product and for the
wholesaler in another. but mostly the
big advance was by the wholesaler
Here are some samples
Observation-Disclosures. 251: retail. 40.
Butter-Wholesale. Elgin. 2ss:
creamery extra. 27.5: dairy. 246: re-
tail 3O6: no quality indicated
Cheese-Wholesale 269; retail 2O.3.
Coffee-Wholesale. 90. retail. so.
Eggs. new laid-Wholesale 39.S:
retail 36.2
Wheat Wholesale. spring.
1876, winter eos; retail. PA. no quail
ity indicated
Lard-Wholesale. G3.3. retail. $50.
Beef-Wholesale. fresh. us: salt.
419: retail. fresh lie. salt. 100.
Dressed MISUNDERSTANDING. PA:
retail 26S.
Wholesale 54.5. retail. 500
Ham-Wholesale. 2l.9; retail. sl.S.
Milk-Wholesale. 500: retail. ISL.
Potatoes-Wholesale. zoe: retail.
255.
The report shows that prices on
sugar. teas. spices and soda crackers
have been slightly reduced
The advances shown by the secre-
tary were for the year 1907 over the
year 1899. which was regarded as nor
NAL And great as those advances
are, they have been greatly swelled by
advances since 1907.
Substitutes Are Used
In the report Of the secretary. which
was in response TO the resolution Of
Senator Crawford. he shows in a meas
ure why advances by the wholesalers
were generally greater than those By
retailers The substitution Of poorer
goods in the case he gives. the report
says:
1T is not possible. in taking the re-
tail prices over large area, to secure
results standardized with the same de-
gree Of accuracy as in the case Of
wholesale prices. II was known that
in the retail trade, as prices advance.
are made OF the same
name but Of inferior grade II is i'm
possible to determine 10 what extent 4
this process OF substitution may have
taken place in the various articles"