The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-03-01
Commerce Chamber Inquiry
Discloses No Evidence
of Extortion.
PRICES BEYOND
REGULATION HERE
Restriction of Cold Storage Sug-
gested-Will Forward Find
ings to Congress.

That the steady advance IN the price
Of staple products consumed BY resi-
dents OF the District, Is not due TO
local causes. but is the result Of con
|ditions beyond the control OF Wash
sington merchants. is the gist OF the
Report Of the subcommittee Of the COM
fnittee Of law and legislation Of the
IChamber Of Commerce, which has been
Investigating the reasons for the high
cost Of living in the District.
AS a result Of their investigation. the
members Of the subcommittee have pre-
sented 10 the committee Of law and
legislation. these resolutions for ap-
proval:
Committees Finding.
Resolved. by the washingto. cham
Der Of Commerce. after a careful in
vestigation by one Of its committees
into the causes OF the present high cost
OF living IN the District OF Columbia,
That the alarming Increases IN living
expenses affecting the residents Of the
Capital Of the nation are beyond local
control. and are not due in any degree
TO extortion practiced by our local
wholesalers and retailers in commodities
entering into household and family use
Resolved further. That in the Judz-
ment OF the Chamber remedial legisla-
ton should re enacted by Congress reg
ulating the cold storage Of food prod
Ucts. limiting the periods of storage Of
particular classes Of articles and posi-
bl, restricting the operations Of cold
storage companies 70 a purely ware
housing business.
VIII Forward Resolutions
Resolved further. That a copy Of
these resolutions be forwarded by the
secretary Of the Chamber 70 the spe-
ctai COMMITTEES Of Congress- now investi-
eating the high cost II Hvfng. and to
the Senate and House Committees on
the District CT Columbia
The findings OF the committee are
the result OF an examination that be-
gan January "a into local conditions.
the work being confined 10 such in
huences affecting prices and values as
were subject to local control The
committee felt that an examination OF
conditions affecting in national
sense the cost Of Sod supplies was
beyond its province and too vast for its
consideration.
J.. Hence the fnvesti cation was purely
local. Information being secured from
reputs bic dealers IL household articles
and from authorities on the cost Of
dwellings aud the rates OF rentals of
the present day compared with those
of a decade back.
Sources Of Information.
In addition to securing information
from trade journals and the market re-
ports II the daily papers, the investi-
gators were assisted by Johnson Broth
ers. Burr Brothers, and the J. Maury
Dove Company, relative TO the price
OF coal and wood; DuIln & Martin
Co, china. glassware and house furnish
ings; Sacks & Co, Parker, Bridget &
Co, d. J. kaufman, 3. Nordlinger. and
3. Rlch.s sons. clothing and shoes;
Golden q Co. Jams F. Oyster John
Miller. Walker Hughes Market Com
pany, J. T. ID. Pyies. and CorbiD Thomp-
son, eggs, butter, milk and produce:
Hoge-McDowell Company, F. RogersOn,
and Golden & Co, meats, provisions and
general commission business. stone i
Fairfax, Moore & Hin. WniKe. Gibbs
q Daniel, real estate, j. Lynn YeaEie
also appeared.
II was noted that the testimony OF the
local dealers. based on entries in their
original bSoNs Of account, was in har-
nlony with the prices quoted IN the
press and trade journals
Following this examination, the com
nnittee concluded that in no instance
CID II learn of extortion having been
practiced by the local dealers upon the
general public. The profits exacted By
sthe wholesaler and retailer. in the
opinion or the committee. have been rea-
bonable and only such as are neCes-
barry TO justify the conduct Of the re-
GDective lines Of business.
Local Men Ezonerated
In returning "clean bilT' against the
local merchants, the committee re-
ports:
Fhe committee Is convinced. after
weighing carefully all OF the evidence
presented for It's consideration, that the
artificial condition. II any. affecting the
cost OF supplies Of every character en-
'tering into the needs of the Washing
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