The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-11-18
Reports Underestimate Crops
to Deceive Buyers.
Forced Fictitious Prices for
Grain and Produce.
INVESTIGATED IN 20 STATES
Food Costs Consumer 25 Per
Cent More Than 1t Should.
But Egg Spectators Continue
Cleanup of Million a Week.

New York, Nov 1S-An asser-
ton that western farmers underesti-
mated their crops in reports submitted
to the federal government and thereby
forced up the price of wheat, pota-
toes, onions and cabbage is the latest
contribution to the high cost of food
investigation here. The charge is
made by Joseph Hartigan, commits
sloner of weights and measures, who
has just returned from a tour of
tWenty-nine states, undertaken to de-
term1ne the reason for the high cost
OF living and incidentally to complete
arrangements for a farmers congress
to be held here in February
Mr.. Hartigan's investigation con-
vlneed him, he said, that the govern
ment estimate of wheat crop in this
country this year was based on sta
tlstcs furnished by the farmers who
knowingly concealed at least % per
cent of their wheat crop" According
10 Mr.. Hartigan this surplus has been
neld in reserve to be dumped into a
market. supposedly short many mil
unobtainabIe
declares Farmers Unpatriotfc
do not charge the farmers with
pelng out and out dishonest" declared
Mr. Hartigan, but the least that can
De said of them is that their action
was unpatriotic. They are doing the
same thing in many parts of the coun-
ery IN regard to potatoes, cabbages
ana onions. 1 have not the slightest
oouot If these reserve supplies were
released we would hear considera hIv
less about crop shortages and the cost
OF these farm products would be re-
duced to the retail purchaser at lea
20 per cent from the prices now pre-
vailing" y =
commissioner Hartigan said that
me cost OF food in New York is SO
per cent more than it ouaht to be.
fIespl.e tne fact that it is 20 per cent
| lower than it is in most other parts
CT the country. The reason for this
ne explained, is that the city is able
to buy cheaper because so large a
supply of food is sent here.
The high price now den anded for
the necessaries of life is being recog-
nized by large emplo- ers and meas
ureS have been adopted to anchor
ate the situation. The Brooklyn Trust
company with the approval of its board
of directors announced a cuhstantial
| bonus for each of its ninety employees.
Accompanying each check was a note
! explaining that the money had been
voted ito relieve the strain among en-
| p1oyes on account of the high cost of
! lving.''
, Help Employees Battle High Prices.
Announcement was also made that
the Underwood Typewriter company
planned to distribute $250,000 among
| it's employees in the middle of the win
ter when the cost of living is usually
| the highest.
I Food speculators last week made 4
profit of more than 100000 on a
single item of eggs, according to state
food experts. This weeks total from
the city househol6ers, they say, will
exceed $1,000,000. To prevent a re-
currence of such conditions the state
legislature will be called upon at its
next session to pass an act enabling
| the city or state to own or control its
own cold storage facilities. John ].
| Dillon, state commissioner of food and
markets, is one of the prime NOV
ers in this campaign.