Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-06-07

WASHINGTON. June Following
an exhaustive investigation of the in
creased cost Of living the department of
commerce is about to lay bare series
Of the most startling facts on the sub
ject ever placed before the American
public
In this report it is shown that during
the last ten years the Wholesale prices
Of all meats have increased from p to
100 per cent 1t was in this period that
the beef trust established its malevoient
domination over the meat food prod
ucts Of the entire United States.
In the same period the wholesale
prices for poultry have increased mere
than 80 1-3 per cent, while eggs, which
in 1890 sold wholesale a the remuner-
alive price of II cents per dozen, were
in December. 1911 sold at the arbitrary
price of 40 cents per dozen
IN 1896 Elgin butter sold at IS cents
per pound. In December Of last year ii
reached the unprecedented price of SO
cents per pound
Considered in connection with bull
etin issued by the department Of com
MERGE and labor only a few days ago
presenting facts to show that not since
1907 have food animals been so plenti-
full as now, the indictment Of the beef
trust is complete.
Poor Man Hit Hardest.
1t is shown by the report that follow
ing the example of their big brother
from Chicago, by whom many Of them
are controlled, the great corporations
which held the balance Of the poor
mems breakfast in their hands have In
creased their toll in proportion.
SO startling are the facts contained In
this report that they win in large
measure be used by Attorney General
Wckersham as a basis for his new ac-
| ton against the beef trust In this
suit Mr. Wickersham will demand that
this trust, DESIGNATED by former Attor-
ney General Moody as "the meanest
aggregation of capital in the world" be
dissolved.
In making this investigation which
covers a period of % years, agents OF
the department visited practically every
packing establishment, and every great
source of other food supply in the Unit
ed States.
AS the prices presented are those at
which food commodities are sold whole
sale, the increased cost of living IS pre-
sented can not be laid to the avarice or
greed of the retailer
IN collecting their information inves
| tigators began with the year 1890, at
about which time combinations of CAPT
tai began to reach out after the poor
mans food sunply December, 1911 IS
the last month mentioned in the report
Since that time the price of meat has
steadily increased
officials of the department merely
present an array Of figures and ALLOW
them to prove the facts
Beef Prices a Record.
The wholesale price of New Yorl
| beef, regarded by the bureau experts a.
the best native beef, has seen a gradua
rise with inconsequential fluctuations
from Z As cents a pound in 1906 The
/ final month included in the report Il
lJanuary. 1911. New York beef cost the
retailer 3-5 cents pound Elght
months later or in August 1t went tc
10 1-5 cents and remained at that price
until December, when 1t rose 120 of a
cent to the record mark for the 22-year
period.
The most remarkable jump in prices
occurred in the market in 1897 Pork
sold at $3.50 a barrel, the low water fig
ure for the 20 years. In 1910 pork rose
to $2S73 barrel the rise for the thir-
teen years, with several minor fuctua !
lions, being gradual In January, 1911
the price was quoted as $22.47. 1t rose
to $22.75 in February, and then began