Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-05
HIGH PRICE Of FOOD
Progress of Movement to Dis
cover the Responsibility.
RESOLUTIONS OF INQUIRY
Senator Elkins and Senator Craw-
ford Bring Matter Before Congress.
ARMY FACING DEFICIENCY
Increased Cost Of Products Calls for
Emergency Fund for Sub
sistence Purposes.

| the progress today of the movement to
| discover the responsibility for the high
| cost Of foods. Senator Elkins of West
| Virginia and Senator Crawford of South
| Dakota introduced in the Senate reso-
| buttons for a congressional investigation
| into the cost Of living. The War De-
partment informed the House that there
| was deficiency of 81. 5a5 $50 for the sub
| sistence of the army, large attribute
| BILE TO the advanced prices of articles
used in the army rations. Secretary of
| Agriculture Wilson said that if Con-
gress investigated the cost of living he
would wash his hands Of the matter.
| That Congress is aroused to the neces-
sity of action of some sort is plain by the
interest taken at the Capitol in the reso-
| luton OF Representative Douglas. intro
duced yesterday, and those of Senators
Elkins and Crawford. introduced today.
These resolutions were ordered to be
printed and to lie on the table, but unless
congressional interest ceases suddenly
they are not apt to rest in pigeonhOles for
any length of time
The fact that the army is facing a de-
ficiency in one of its most important
branches will probably give impetus to
congressional action.
Secretary Wilson's Comment.
Should Congress take this matter up
Secretary Wilson said today. our in
vestigation will be called Off All we
can do is to turn over what information
we have hand to the congressional
committee and let them do the rest
Secretary Wilson feels competent to
carry out his plans.
1t will cost me nothing. | have the
men already and our work could be done
without extra expense.
Senator Elkins' Resolution.
Senator Elkins of West Virginia in
troduced resolution providing for the
appointment of committee of five SEN
ators to make thorough investigation
into the cost Of living in the country.
with view to determining whether or
not it has increased in recent years. and
who or what is responsible for any in
crease. and TO suggest a remedy and
present bills to carry the suggestion into
effect. The resolution was ordered to be
printed and lie on the table
Senator Elkins' resolution provides:
THAT there shall be appointed by the
President of the Senate a select commit
tee of five senators with authority to sit
during the sessions of the Senate or dur
ing the recess of Congress- either as a
committee a subcommittee. with in
structions to make an exhaustive investi-
cation into the cost of living and any in
crease OF the same since 1900; to ascertain
whether the necessaries of life which en-
ter into the general use and consumption
of the people have since the year 1900
been increased, and, il so, to ascertain
the cause or causes which have Influenced
the Increase.
I'm making such investigation special
attention shall be given by the commit
tee to the subject of wages and income.
and If the increase of the same has kept
pace with the increase in the cost Of liv-
ing: Increased prices. II any. OF such
cotton. wool. clothing. lumber. COAL iron.
Oil, brick and cement stating in said re-
port the price to the producer the whole
| saler or jobber. the retailer and the con-
sumner at which said articles were dis
tributed and sold in year 1900. and the
price for their disposition and sale at the
present term.
Cost of Production.
ut shall further be the duty OF such
committee to ascertain the cost OF pro-
duction and the cost of their distribution
and sale when in the hands OF the whole
saler or jobber and the retailer between
the same periods
IF, in the judgment OF such committee
such articles have been increased in price
by reason Of legislation by Congress or
by any monopoly. combination or con-
spiracy to control, regulate restrain
| interstate or foreign commerce. in the
supply, distribution sale OF such ar
ticles. it shall report the same to the SEN
ate with suggestions or recommendations
as to the remedy to be applied to reduce
the cost of living and accompany its re-
port with such bill as will. in the opinion
of the committee correct and remove
the causes which have enhanced the price
of said articles.
Such committee or subcommittee is
authorized to employ experts. administer
oaths, take testimony, send for persons
and papers and employ a stenographer
to report Its hearings and have such
hearings printed
The Crawford Proposition.
Senator Crawford OF South Dakota
proposed. in resolution which he sub
mitted. that the Senate call upon the
Department Of Commerce and Labor to
send to the Senate statistics which It
has collected on the range OF prices of
food and clothing during the last ten
years. Like the other. the resolution
the table.
Secretary Wilson says it is not in the
higher grades of meats that the great
profit Is being made by the retailers
Our Investigations show that the pur-
chasers of the poorer grades Of meat are
the ones who suffer most" Mr.. Wilson
said today. There is a far higher
profit to the retailers in this vicinity, for
instance. on the beef that is shipped in
from nearby localities
Discussed by Grocers.
The situation in Washington will be
fully discussed at a meeting tonight Of
the Retail GrOcers Protective Associa-
ton of the District
The object of the meeting is the cleo
ton Of officers for the year but so keen
ly do the retail grocers feel the force Of
public opinion on the matter of the price
OF foods that they will probably issue a
statement of their side OF the case.
The statement of the Secretary Of Agri-
culture in his annual report that the re-
tail meat sellers of Baltimore make a
profit of IL per cent as against a ~ per
| cent profit in Washington has caused
householders in this city to look into the
Washington and Baltimore and to con-
slider plans Of doing their buying in Bal
timore. This is another phase of the
question that is expected to come up at
the meeting of the grocers tonight.
Mr.. Macfarland's Views.
Commissioner mcfarland believes that
a congressional investigation would be
! productive Of good results. On this sub
| ject he said today
Il am very glad to see that Congress is
| to investigate the question of the high
prices of food products We all know
! the fact that they are high. but until an