The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-14
The Vmnans Firing Line Wholesalers Manufacturers Travelling

one of the largest canning factories in
New York State. This concern expect
cd to pack at least 10000 cases OF
tomatoes. l know by reason of the
failure OF the crops. that 1t did not
pack over $1,000. They also planned
to pack 100000 cases of corn and
could only put up 10000 cases. In
same proportion did they pack sue
cotash, beans. spinach. small fruits,
such as raspherries. cherries. etc. Is
IL any surprise that corn, tomatoes,
etc. have increased in price about
75 per cent?
we hear lot of noise about a
conspiracy to boost the price of eggs,
butter. cheese, etc. Let's get at the
figures and see If the evidence doesn't
warrant increased prices on these
articles. We have the records of cold
storage holding of eggs December l.
1916. showing q present stock oil l.
794.740 cases. as compared with e.
1880 cases last year, difference or
993,062 cases.
There Is a shortage OF eggs and
big demand for them, and 1t is self
evident that they will remain high.
Reports from storage houses on
creamery butter December /, 1915,
give 58627,236 pounds, as compared
with 71.s4S.767 pounds same day last
year. The big demand is decreasing
the supply of butter very fast. There
was in cold storage rooms December
!, 1915. 2b, 754, 366 pounds American
cheese. compared with last year same
time, 30.943,632 pounds.
This country is increasing In popu-
lation each year several millions, md
domestic consumption must increase
each year. and every one knows that
foreign countries have purchased hun
dreds of millions of dollars worth of
foods, so what can you expect but
increased prices?
Another cause Of high prices is the
result business is. getting from the
bankruptcy law. The attorney gen
erals report shows that In the past
two years there has been paid in bad
debts through the bankruptcy courts
half a million dollars. with results to
unsecured creditors of about seven
cents on the dollar. This great com
mercial waste must be added TO the
cost OF goods. and the honest person
stands this loss. Over half of the vol
untary petitions filed in the bank
ruptcy courts last year were on behalf
OF doctors lawyers. dentists, farmers.
conductors, motormen, carpenters
clerks, etc. These people wuold secure
credit from the grocer. butcher and
general retail merchant for a few
hundred dollars and when asked for
the money would escape payment by
filing a petition in bankruptcy This
law Is putting ? premium on dis
honesty and is corrupting the morals
of the public and should be repealed
Judge Lands says: For years |
have been sitting in this coura or
bankruptcy matters, while a process
sion of crooks and deadbeats have
marched past. To permit a person to
so easily get rid of his honest obliga-
tons is bad thing for business and
society generally. This unnecessary
loss by business of 500 million dollars
In the past two years Is added BY the
wholesale and retail merchants to the
goods, and, of course, the consumer
pays the loss.
If you would cut down the cost of
living. write your Congressman to vote
for the repeal of the bankruptcy Law.
The high cost OF up-to-date ser
vice which the average consumer de-
mands is another big item, causing
necessities to advance. If one goes to
the store, pays cash and takes the
goods there is a saving we'll worth
while. But no. you cannot get the
average housewife to do this. and the
merchant must give the service de-
manded and charge accordingly
THE waste going on in these United
States is appalling. We could easily
conserve foods from 10 to 20 per cent
If the lady in charge would visit the
kitchen more and see that servants
would not waste foods and that Ger.
tain dishes are prepared from good,
wholesome foods left over. When
most all other foods are high, ono OF
the best known and of highest food
value, that Of rice. is as cheap as it
has been in the past fifteen years, and
here We have another glaring evidence
Of values according to supply and de-
mand. This last year was one of tho
biggest rice yielding we have ever had
and that Is why rice Is cheaper and
If you want 10 cut down the cost OF
living. eat rice. There are many ways
Of preparing rice into dainty and APP
petizing dishes"