Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-17


unable to say whether not lie would
be able to attend. In speaking of the
matter afterward, Secretary Wilson said:
we have the men for getting at the
facts without additional expense to the
country at large. We have correspond
cnts all over the United States, and when
we call on them for figures they are in
a position to give them to us. and, hay
other philosophers and meta ply sicians to
deal with them
Plan to Organize.
Mr.. Clark. III speaking of the present
situation, said:
I'VE want to form AT organization with
committees all over the country that will
gather the facts and not only present
them for academic discussion, but put
them In such shape will be the basis
for legislative action.
There is no doubt said Mr. Stewart,
that such q conference is opportune.
When the time has arrived when onions
are selling in the city Of New York at the
rate of $640 barrel. apples at the rate
of SO a barrel, potatoes at the rate of
80 barrel, and all other food sup
plies at proportionate prices. it seems as
though the entire consuming population
should arise III protest and to ascertain
the reason why, as now seems more than
likely food produced In the United States
should cost more to the American con-
sumner than food produced in the United
States costs in the countries of Europe,
to which some Of Il u exported.
In connection with my duties as trus-
tee of the Morrisviile school," continued
MIR. Stewart, II have had occasion to in
qure into conditions in central New York,
and have found instances where the
farmer-producer got cents a bunch for
asparagus which sold at g cents in
neignboring village and 10 cents in the
city of New York: where apples, in one
instance sixty bushels, were sold to
commission house in the city of New
York, the return to the farmer for which
was S4.65, a statement accompanying a
check Enclosure explaining that this was
the balance due to the farmer from the
sale of the apples by the commission man
after the latter had paid the freight and
taken out his commission. which apples,
1 may state, were afterward found in the
warehouse of the same commission man
and unSold.
merely the victim of swindle, and
common swindle in New York city
among a certain class Of commission
men. In almost every instance l have
found that the cause for high prices
must not be sought for upon the farm,
but must await discovery when a thor
ough and fact-fnding investigation is
begun. which begins at the railway
freight station and ends in the store of
the retailer. SO far as ascertainable
from, cursory invest CATION, the law
of supply and demand does not govern
the distribution of food products in the
large cities, but the price which is paid
to the producer is arbitrarily fixed by
cliques of commission men, and these
same cliques as arbitrarily fix the prices
at which. these food products Shall be
sold to the retail dealer, Who in turn
charges the consumer all that the traf-
&c Will bear.
Burden on Wage-Earners.
1T is stated as fact that the work.
ing man in the manufacturing centers
today pays larger proportion rela-
lively Of his wages for food than his rival
in England or Germany or France, and
that the cost of living and THE profit on
American products is less in these coun-
tries than 1t is in the United States. In
the opinion or thinking men such con-
ditior as obtains today is not possible
of continuance unless the manufacturers
Of the United States are willing to see
this country take second place, or
perhaps third place, in point OF manu-
features. American manufacturing pre-
dominance is based upon a practically
illimitable supply Of raw material and
cheaI, motive power in combination with
a cheap, varied and wholesome food
supply.
.'One cause of high prices in many ar
tices of consumption finds All example in
the habit of fishing corporations of keep
ing the price OF fish at certain rate
through the Wanton destruction of the
overcatcll; that is. If the catch is more
than the market can dispose Of at a Ger
tain retail figure the rest of the catch is
destroyed. j do not state this as a fact.
but only as hearsay, but if it be true 1t
is abominable Another cause Of an up
ward tendency is the lack of interest in
farming the part Of the population
east OF the Allegheny mountains and the
indsposition of the United States govern
"a Il r,tfX, AVID nj IF
uuI. incoming immigration whose training
has been along agricultural lines. The
fulfilling of this duty should take the di-
rection OF a very extended application
of the government present division of
distribution in the bureau of immigration
Every effort should be made by the ma
tional and state governments to extend
agricultural education, knowledge OF in
tensive farming and information as to
opportunities to be had in farming on the
cheap lands Of New York and other sec
tions east Of the Allegheny mountains.
Secretary Wilson has demonstrates that
gage as low as Sc an acre is capable of
producing about 500 bushels Of potatoes,
which are selling in the markets of New
York now at about 40 to 10 cents.
Reform in City Distribution.
Secondly. there should be radical re-
form in the facilities Of city distribution
through the establishment or municipal
markets and public water and railway
terminal facilities for the reception, stor-
age and distribution Of food products
This distribution should also comprehend
a drastic administration of the laws re-
lating TO pure food under an extension Of
the powers of local boards Of health, and
the passage of state laws which should
make impossible the combinations of COM
mission men. which are unnecessary in
the carrying out of any rational scheme
of distribution.
Cases in point are plentiful. am told
that in the city of Washington fish not
fresh and preserved through chemical
treatment are sold by hucksters in the
suise of farmers as fresh fish. l was also
told by a man doing business with farm
ers i'll Maryland that every obstacle is
placed in the way OF a farmer who de-
sires to sell produce whose prices are fixed
by weight unless the man have card
from some commission merchant in the
District. If lie have no card so this man
said. he might as we'll take his produce
home. because he cannot sell it unless he
sells IL at guess weight.
In view of all these circumstances,
finally said Mr.. Stewart. 1T would seem
that such a conference as Is proposed by
the Syracuse Chamber of Commerce
would result in very considerable add
vance in the direction nf a more plentiful
fer u