New-York tribune., 1910-03-09
RETAILERS HEARD
BMME THE PACKERS.
Dhy That Small Dealers
| Cause High Prices.
rrs-cm The Tribune Bureau. !

TFrcu The Tribune Bureau
We&hfngton- March S-Retail meat deal
err fo-osy placed upon the packers and
the karners responsibility for the higher
prac@ Of meat in testimony given before
.he eenate committee, which began its in
cutrt into the Increased cost of living
Fite retail men from New York PhiIa-
delrtia. Baltimore and Washington were
nesrh, and Walter Brown. a Washington
ceaier. who kills his own meat was the
onlytone who did not admit that the price
cf neat had gone I'D at least 10 per cent
durtts the last FIVE years. Mr.. Brown in
fist4 thst prices were practically the
tsrnf now as then. All agreed. however
that competition among the retailers kept
tlse price TO the consumer as low as possi-
bic. consistent with the price charged by
the Wholesaler.
Esrh witness vigorously denied the
ohsrfe that the retailers were responsible
for prevailing prices. and none would ad-
NIT ftnst any agreement existed among
ther1 as to prices. While no one charged
tiatsthe packers were all I'm combination.
sIi fhe witnesses who had dealings with
tbeH declared that there seemed to be no
eomfetition among them for the trade OF
reisflers and that their prices ranged
anolF the same. When complaint was
nasdf TO the packers about advancing
prices they said The latter explained that
stec1 was scarce.
Tht committee viii meet again to-mor-
TOW fafternoon. The wholesaler VIII next
he 4ard and after that the packers.
a Witness from New York
Joff- Rohlman, = retail dealer u meat.
hsil snd groceries at Nos. T63 and go Co
lunlhls avenue. New York. was the prin-
ciBalS witness. lie said he WAS a member
II the Retail Butchers Association Of New
York; hut this association did not attempt
t. dfrtate prices lie took no interest in
the affairs of the association, he said. and
ues'er attended its meetings. lie knew Of
70 arrangement or agreement whereby
Nev'&Y ork butchers We're required by the
N-isolesalers 10 sell their meats at a stipu-
lated< pT3ce Competition among tie re-
{ tsilers was free. he declared, although he
VAS @ot 50 certain that this was true as
10 IL wholesalers. lie bought his meats
fromefhe agents OF the Western packers
froms)1lew York dealers and from indie
pendents The prices we're the same. al
I. though in some instances he might he able
40 find 2 wholesaler who would make
-lft Of one-fourth Of a cent a pound from
the general price.
Mr. RolHman said that competition
among The retailers in New York was 50
keen that they had been una ble 10 keep
pace with the steadily increasing prices
which the wholesalers had forced upon
fl7eIn in the last fifteen years. He said
Inc increase in that period amounted to
about four GEMS a pound on beef both 10
the retailer and the consumer.
Asked by Senator Simmons why the re-
iaiior had NOT added something 10 The price
= tho consumer 10 cover his increased e2-
peHsn for ilcip and rent the witness said:
Tho merchants in New York City are
hoing crushed 10 the wall 10y the whole
sslerS who represent The packers. We have
70 sell - tho lowest possible price; other
viso others VIII undersell US, ana we viii
ios. ouT trade
fscof had Increased about - per cent n
f'F scars. he said. and pork ana poultry
bs0 doubled 81 reu years.
Assed il ho know tho reasons for the IN
c'razfd cost of meat Nj. Rohlman said he
l-.5 Boi solved TINS puzzle lie had been
ffs1d 1iT-rt tho farmers were getting such
i-h Pricer for their corn. oats and other
Vaodlfcis isat 1t would he poor economy for
, - "a % foed- caft5c for Tho market unless
sssllred cf hirh prices Tor fheir stock.
Z Ss~-l--cr Snloot wanted to know r there
lid fern au .ncrefEo III re-Gts i'm New York
in ihe lset Eve yes'@ Mr. RohIman said
ihe-e hsd bocn ~ advance in rents since
siae esn:c Of 1qoe Many landlords were
rla6 70 eet tenants ne added
: Is Harrison. rcprasopjinE retail
rreoeTs and Tnnat dealers of Baltimore. tes-
tiara Thai tho trend of prices had been
higheE ali along tho limo in the last fifteen
.esrF: Tic -aid the retailers had been maxi
.nE - and less profit from year 10 year.