New Britain herald., 1914-08-25

CTS bargained them down, but he de- nied that the salesmen, knowing that they would have to reduce before they made a sale, put on mice, fat juicy price to start with.''
 Denies Stock Is Held Back.
 MT. Higgins said that the unis formity of prices was, due solely to market conditions. As for the cattle and hog raisers holding back their products in the hope of further ad- vances in price. he said he did not believe it. He thought that cattle and hogs were simply not in the country, because any raiser would certainly sell at. the prices being paid now by the packers.
 August F. Grimm, president of the East Side Retail Butchers associa- tion, and Herman Kirschbaum, for mer president and a member of the West Side Retail Butchers associa- tion. asserted that these organizations have never tried to induce their mem- bers to maintain a uniform retail price for meats. MT. Kirschbaum said that the packers sell at prac- tically uniform prices despite the bar SdhAllS bObWC ShASA 1eA'~ofhSA ~AaN the retail butchers.
 Such variations as there are, he said, are due to the quality of respec- tive lots and purely local conditions, but they are so small as to make lit- tie difference to the buyer. No buyer, he said, could afford to run from one packer to another in the hope of sav- ing a quarter of a cent on a hundred pounds of beef.
 Richard webber, the owner of big market at Third avenue and 120th street, also agreed that there is prac- tically one market for the retail butcher. He can haggle with the salesman of the packers. but doesn't gain enough to make it worth while to trade elsewhere.
 Argentine Supply Hampered.
 MT. Benjamin is the representative here of the San Salina company, im- porters of Argentine beef. He said there was no American money behind his concern and that most of their trade is with England. Nevertheless, he said, since the new tariff law. be- came effective this company had done a profitable business in America. of the beef sold goes to the independent trade, and no effort is being made to extend the business with the big packers here. He said that it was true that the importa- tions from Argentina under the new tariff have not reduced the prices of meat, but he said they had kept the prices down.
 ''There are several reasons why prices have gone up since the Euro- pean war began" he continued. Tn the first place foreign exchange has been knocked sky high. There IS no gold in Argentina, and even the most distant ranchmen insist on get ting it rather than paper. We have to get gold from London and, there- fore. have to pay double exchange be- cause London is getting it from the United States. There is great need in rgentina of branch American banks. The National City bank has started, I ,ut they are not doing business yet. 1
 Again there has been a great in- .rease in insurance rates because of 1 he war. and the Argentine ranchers ,ra not behind the Americans also in | ,oldine back their cattle in the hope l if getting higher prices. All of these | hings contribute to raise the price, 1 which the consumer must pay.''
 MT. Benjamin added that the sale if Argentine beef here is restricted | because his company has no facili- les for cutting up carcasses and must ell to jobbers or retailers who can fford to buy in large quantities. They To little business except with the utchers who can take at least car pad at time.
 No Federal Charges Yet.
 The investigation by the govern nent authorities has not yet disclosed nything to justify laying charges be- ore the federal grand jury, according n United States Attorney Roger E. Wood. He expects to make a report