The Washington times., 1917-02-14
CHARGES BAKERS
WITH CONSPIRACY
Congressman Rainey Says Con.
certed Effort Has Been Made
to Boost Bread.

Bread made out OF Minneapolis flour
at Sl1 barrel is selling cheaper to-
day In ireland than bread made out
OF the same flour sold in the United
States before the present increased
prices Of bread, Congressman Rainey
OF Illinois. today declared in a letter
to David Houston. Secretary OF Agri-
culture.
Rainey charges there is a conspir-
acy by the Master Bakers Association
of the United States and the wheat
millers TO prevent passage OF the bill
repeating the tax on mixed flour
cornstarch or corn flour and wheat
fldur-also concerted effort on their
part to boost the price OF bread
throughout the country.
Rainey says he will tell the Fed
eral Trade Commission all details in
its investigation of food prices as
ordered by President Wilson.
Text Of the Letter.
Il note that the President has
directed that a broad investigation
be undertaken by the Agricultural
Department and by the Federal Trades
Commission into the increased prices
OF food stuffs. Permit me to suggest
that you investigate the present high
price OF bread. in connection with the
concerted effort in the country to in
crease the price of bread.
THE movement to Increase the price
Of bread commenced at the Salt Lake
convention last year of the National
Bakers Association, at which time It
was determined that there should be
q nationwide movement to increase
the price OF that article of food, ac-
companied by a publicity campaign
to be undertaken for the purpose OF
educating people as to the necessity.
from the bakers standpoint of in
creastng the price OF bread
Large Fund Determined Upon.
AT this convention 1t was deter
mined that q large fund should be
contributed for publicity purposes.
The publicity campaign commenced
Immediately afterward and continued
until this day.
Il am prepared to show that bread
made out of pure wheat flour as sold
In the United States reaches the ulti-
mate consumer at a higher price than
pure wheat flour bread in the coun-
tries Of Europe now engaged in the
present world war. am prepared to
show that at the present time in Ire
land bread made out of Minneapolis
flour at sI1 a barrel is selling cheap
er than bread made out of the same
flour sold in the United States before
the present increased prices OF bread.
sugEests Tax Removal.
Il suggest that the removal OF the
tax on mixed flour in the United
States, with the Moonshine Whisky
regulations which go with IT, would
make It possible to place on the mar
ket q bread flour much cheaper than
pure wheat flour and just as whole
some-in fact containing more nour-
ishment Of the kind demanded by men
engaged in hard physical labor than
pure wheat flour bread contains. I
am prepared to show that fifteen or
sixteen ounces of bread made out OF
this mixture even at the present high
prices OF wheat and corn can reach
the ultimate consumer at cents,
leaving the same margin Of profit all
along the line as the present wheat
flour leaves"
That the National Master Bakers
Association considers all 'aS not less
than renagades." who do not unite
with it to educate" the public to a
1O-cent loaf was noted. in a letter
received today by Rainey. He will
turn over the communication to the
Federal Trade Commission The let
ter was a circular sent out by J. NJ.
Bell. secretary of the bakers or
ganizAtion.