The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-01-14
PEOPLE FURNISH
PROBE MATERIAL
Tell Beatty How Storage Men
Rob Consumers.
ENORMOUS PROFITS REALIZED

l
Green Grocery Combine at 90 Cents
Bushel Found Them Retailing on
Market at $3-Attorney General
Denman to Rush Resolution Pro.
vidina For Legislative Probe Into
Conditions.
Columbus, o., Jan. 11.-People
from all ovN Ohio are flooding Sena.
tor Beatty's mail with letters describ-
ing the methods adopted by cold
storage men, commission men, gro.
GERS and butchers to boost the prices
Of food commodities.
The facts brought out in the letters
are of such a startling nature that he
has decided to ask for suspension
Of the rule forbidding the introduc-
tion Of bills before Jan. "a. in order
that he may present resolution pro-
viding for a bipartisan probe Of con-
ditions which have resulted in the
high prices of food products.
His idea Is tu collect enough evil
dence to bring actions under the Val
entine antitrust law against coal ex-
changes, organizations of storage
men, produce exchanges, insurance
men, middle men of all kinds and re-
tailers who deal in meat and farm
products. He has formed the opinion
that violations Of the law are COM
mon, basing his opinion on the infor-
nation which has come to him In
letters which have been written to
him since last Friday.
From Cleveland comes the state
ment that apples bought by cold
storage men at $1.25 in the fall are
being held at $3.50 and $3.50 barrel.
Farmers Experience With PIums.
According to q farmer living at
Waterville, Lucas county, he took a
load OF choice plums to Bowling
Green, but was unable to secure more
than 80 cents bushel, although he
offered them at every grocery in the
city. Afterwards he learned that his
| plums were retailed at So bushel.
Other informants insist that there
are combinations of cold storage men,
grocers and butchers, who adhere
rigidly 70 prices fixed by their organ
izations.
Attorney General Denman, after q
conference with Senator Beatty,
agreed to draft resolution for the
appointment of legislative commit
tee to probe trusts and combinations
that have increased the cost of living,
and also to draft bill limiting the
time food products can be held in
cold storage. Mr.. Denman suggests
stead OF GO days. as first proposed by
Senator Beatty. He will hold con-
ference with Dairy and Food Com.
missioner Dunlap and will later pre-.
sent to the legislature expert testi-
mony showing deterioration in food
held for long periods in cold storage.
The resolution will be introduced this
week and will carry an appropriation
of $4,000 for the preliminary expenses
OF the committee.
Opposition Develops Early.
Opposition to the cold storage bill
| aoo bhN"Ny AhhhO ieo oPPSai ohNOs bhO
objection raised being that 1t will re-
qulre an army of inspectors to en-
force 1t, but Senator Beatty will meet
this objection by providing for Its en-.
forcement by the inspectors in the
dairy and food department. In this
connection, suggestion is made Of a
consolidation of the dairy and food
department, the department of In.
spection OF workshops and factories
and possibly the bureau of inspection
and supervision of public offices into
one law.enforcing department.
Lobbyists In the employ OF the In
surance companies are already work
ing among the legislators against the
bill to abolish the state inspection
bureau and providing that the state
insurance commissioner shall fix in
surance rates.