Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-05-15
INCREASED FOOD PRICE
NOT MET BY HIGHER
WA GES IN AMERICA
In Washington Families Are
Eating Meat Which Was
Once Considered Fit Only
for the Rendering Kettle
BY BASIL M. MANLY.

WASHINGTON. ID. c. May I2-In
the very shadow of the nations capital,
where legislators now talk only in
terms of billions of dollars. thousands
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 butch
er shop after butcher shop in the poor
er sections of Washington where no
real meat was for sale. and only such
things as pig tails. hog kidneys and
hog faces were on the counters
Let me quote from the official report
of the food commission of the District
Of Columbia, just made public. This
commission was composed OF George
NJ. Roberts. superintendent of markets
c. F. Nesbit superintendent of insur-
ance, and William c. Woodward, health
officer-all government officials
Here is their official statement:
Interesting figures were obtained
from the 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 cheapest
possible articles and In smaller quanti-
ties than heretofore.
THE sale of ordinary cuts of meat
i'm 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. Of
fetal statistics show the average in
crease of wages throughout the country
since 1907 has been 16 per cent. all
though there were numerous cases of
increases as high as 80 and 40 per cent.
But In Washington the poorer people
who are practically all employees of the
government were able after the strong
est kind OF appeals to secure from con-
gress only a 10 per cent increase for
those getting less than 500 a month.
per cent for those getting from 800
TO $3.50 per month. and nothing at all
for those over $3.50.
In the meanwhile. the cost of food. :
shown by the official figures OF the bu-
reau of labor statistics. increased 81
per cent,
1t is impossible to go into one OF the
large Washington markets without see
ing a pinched-faced mother wandering
from stall to stall trying to find some
kind of food cheap enough for her slen-
der purse to purchase a filling meal for
her family.
Tt is no uncommon sight to see women
In the markets weeping bitterly because
they cannot afford to buy what they
know their children and husband need
to preserve health and efficiency.
Are present prices unjustifed?
Here is what the official food commits
sion of the District of Columbia says:
after all the causes which may rea-
sonably tend to increase prices are con-
sidered. there appears no just ground for
such high prices of many products as are
demanded of the consumer at this time"
AS principal causes contributing to
this unjustified increase the commits
sion ranks at the head OF the list specu-
lation and the virtual breakdown of the
railroads. Here is the commissions evil
dence of the artificial character of the
prices created by speculation:
con February > potatoes were selling