The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-05-05
By BASIL M. MANLEY.

WASHINGTON, D. c., May Sin
the very shadow of the nations capt.
tai, where legislators now talk only
in terms Of billions Of dollars, thou
sands of families, unable to pay the
prices asked for even the poorest cuts
of meat, are now eating what in past
years was considered fit only for the
rendering kettle.
have seen with my own eyes
butcher shop after butcher shop in
the poorer sections of Washington
where no real meat was for sale, and
only such things as pig tails, hog kid
neys and hog faces were on the coun-
tiers.
Let me quote from the official re-
port Of the food commission Of the
District of Columbia, just made pub
lie. This commission was composed
Of George NJ. Roberts, superintendent
Of markets; c. F. Nesbit, superin-
tendent of insurance, and VIM. G..
Woodland, health officer-all govern
ment officials.
Here is their official statement:
Interesting figures were obtained
from proprietors Of some OF the smaller
stores, whose business is with the
poorer people. They show clearly
that the poor have been compelled to
resort to the strictest economy to pro-
vide food, on account Of high prices.
Their purchases are of the cheap
est possible articles and in smaller
quantities than heretofore.
"The sale of ordinary cuts of meat
in this class of stores seems to have
been discontinued and the meat now
purchased consists of hog livers, hog
kidneys, neck bones, hog faces, etc"
The suffering among the poor in
Washington is probably more acute
than in any other city in the Union.
Official statistics show the average
increase in wages throughout the
country since 1907 has been 16 per
cent, although there were numerous
cases of increases as high as 30 and
40 per cent.
But in Washington the poorer peo-
pie, who are practically all employees
of the government, were able after
the strongest kind of appeals to Sc
cure from Congress only a 10 per
cent increase for those getting less
than 800 a month, per cent for
those getting from $500 to $3.50 per
month, and nothing at all for those
getting over $3.50.
In the meanwhile, the cost Of food,
as shown by the official figures of the
bureau of labor statistics, increased
81 per cent!
It is impossible to go into one Of
the large Washington markets with
out seeing pinched-faced mother
wandering from stall to stall trying
to find some kind of food cheap
enough for her slender purse to pur-
chase filling meal for her family.
It is no uncommon sight to see wo'
men IN the markets weeping bitterly
because they cannot afford to buy
what they know their children and
husband need to preserve health and
Are present prices justified?
Here is what the official food COM
of the District OF Columbia
says:
"After all the causes which may
reasonably tend to increase prices are
there appears no Just
ground for such high prices OF many
products as are demanded Of the con-
sumer at this time"
AS principal causes contributing to
this unjustitied increase the commits
sion ranks at the head of the list
speculation and the virtual break
down Of the railroads. Here is the
evidence Of the artitl-
cial character Of the prices created
by speculation: ~
ION February 26 potatoes were
selling IN washington at IS per bar
rel; onions for s14 per 100 pounds,
and eggs at 4Sc a dozen, Three days
later, on March /, after this COM
Inittee and certain departments Of
.lt