Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1910-01-14
To Investigate CAUSES Of High Prices OF
Food.


The subject Of Increased eost Of food
IL being extensively discussed hna W.
rions theories are offered To account Tor
the prevailing high prices. To endea-
Vof 10 reach and explain the true eaus-
20 for the remarkable rise Of prices OF
food within the past few years two Sc
parate lines OF Investigation are To DC
started. Ono by the Agricultural DE
pas.men., and the other by special
committee OF Congress.
The Agricultural Department propo-
ses starting Its Investigation by gong
tirst To the producer OF each class OF
food In each section Of the country and
learn from him what prices he gets Tor
his products; then following the srti'
Gle along from purchaser TO purchaser
until he reaches the consumer, and
learns from him what he pays for each
article consumed in the family Each
investigator takes a large field for his
inquiries, which does not Interfere
with territory assigned 10 any other
Investigator.
In this way these investigators bring
| their several reports, which cover the
entire country, la the headquarters al
" ashingten, where they are eellated
and classified Nth these facts spread
before the eollalet he can easily detect
= = :. - -. t.tt.t a,ft.t. an uunecgs-
sary high price has. been eNaeted'
special Investigation i ordered To as-
certain why thc unnecessary high price
has heen laid ga any class ot articles.
II II is discovered that il is done by n
trust az other combination 10 control
and exact a larger profit than condi'
lions warrant. the remedy is found IN
existing Laws,
The Agricultural Department, with
lis large cops Of agents Nil over The
country, can do this service readily
| and at once.
\ sweeping resolution Mas been in.
tfodneed in congress 10 assist tn the
proposed investigation of the Agrteui
tnral Department. The tntfeduecf Of
the resolution sets forth that during
the past twelve months there has been
ain advance in the ptice Of commodities
of from II 10 a. per cent and during
the past thirteen years Of more than Is
per cent.
No keen are the feelings of people in
regard to the high cost Of living thai
various propositions have been sagsvs.
ted 10 NEE. tho case. Al Kansas city
the grand jury has been trying 10 ind
cut whether there is food trust. Ii
suspects that there IL one and IL has
indicted The officers and directors of
the Kansas Gty Fruit and Produce
| Exchange, charging them with com-
hlning 10 control the price Of butter,
eggs, vegetables, and other foodstans.
A National Antitrust League has
been formed in Washington, 10 boy
coil those combinations that increase
the cos, OF living. A large number OF
! Ssnalors and Representatives Of Con
4
grcss arc interested in the movement.
/ aud immediate steps are 10 he taken 10
ward perfecting State organizations.
" omen are 10 he taken into memeer.
ship With equal rights With men This
+ is practical movement and Will hieSe
etfeetAai II one quarter Of the families
vii Iein it. When prices soar the
League members, hy stopping The ase
81 such articles o. cemnaoileS a. have
aone aeoNe legal level, @ill put them
hack again ~ refusing Is furnish a
market, The plan i one that " - tried
ia Germany n few years ago and which
according 10 IMPORT, broke up eom-
blne In coffee that lad raised the prize
Of the bean and made IL almost prohib-