Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-11-27
NAVY BUYS BEEF
FROM AUSTRALIA
Congressman Wants to Know
Why American People Can
not Benefit as Well.

Washington, Nov 2i--Another federal
Investigation into the high cost of living,
promising criminal prosecutions, if At
torney-General McRcynolds can find an
alleged cold storage conspiracy, got UNI
Her way to-day and congressional in
vestiGation of a different phase of the
cost of living problem was threatened.
While special agents of the department
If justice are Sitting charges that eggs,
poultry and dairy products are being
piled up in cold storage to maintain high
prices and even force them higher
Representative Britten of Illinois is pre-
pairing to ask for a congressional in
vestlgation into prices Of mrat
The proposal for meat Investigation
was prompted by an announcement that
the navy had bought nearly 800 ono pounds
o. Australian fresh beef at a hall a
cert a pound lower than the best prices
of American packers, and 10000 pounds
Of canned corucd beef from the Aus
tralian packers at eight cents a pound
cheaper than the lowest price in the
United states. The price paid was 40
cents a pound for the fresh beef and
1881 cents for the corned product
Announcing his intention to ask for a
congress ional investigation of the navY'S
beef contract. Congressman Britten de-
clared he wanted to develop why the pub
lie could not benefit by the advantage Of
buying from Australia If the navy could
DO so.
Representative Mcclellan of Tennessee
has pending in the House a bill t. pro.
hibit interstate transportation of au.' food
products kept in cold storage more than
81 days. He contends it's enactment into
law would go far toward solving the
cold storage question.
Agents of the department of justice
took up their work to-day in all the rrln-
Cipal cities. They will report Darticu-
larry on eggs and dairy products and will
attempt to make an estimate of the guam
titles in cold storage and how long they
have been there. Statistics systemntical-
" gathered by agents of the department
of labor and made public here from
month to month, show that in all the
principal Industrial centers Of the Init,
States the prices of foods needed by the
average workinEmans family have stead.
lily been soaring for the last % years and
in great many instances have passed
the high price marks of 1907, which Vera
then unprecedented Sugar, according 20
these statistics, is the only commnditN
showing a reduction
Any congressional investigation will be
separate from that of the department Of
justice Attorney General McReynolds' s
agents will make their reports direct to
Washington and what evidence is gath
cred will be weighed to determine
whether there are any grounds for pro-
secution.
FAILS TO BREAK PRICES
San Francisco, Nov 24.-Frozen Aus
tralian beef has been imported here at
the rate Of 100 to 80 tons monthly for
HE last six months in an effort to break
prices charged for American beef. It
has been sold at retail at three to SIX
cents per pound under the prices charged
or the local product.
Thus far the experiment has not lower
ed prices, for the reason that not enough
Of the Australian meat has been import
d to have an appreciate effect in meet
ne the demand. 1t is the intention grad
Tally to increase the size of the ship
nents
Prior to this year Australian beef has
zen contracted to supply the American
'arrison at Honolulu.