The Benson signal., 1918-08-24
PROF|TEERINC IS
Barred BY REPORT
Treasury Department Tells How
the American Public Has.
Been Made to Pay.
Big INCREASES over 1916
Producers of Foodstuffs Made the Most
Enormous Profits, and Nearly Every
Other Branch Of Industry Piled Up
Huge Riches.

Washington, Aug. 17.-The treasury
departments report on profiteering,
just completed In response to senate
resolution and covering 31,5O0 corpo-
rations, reveals the fact that aston
ishing profits have been made in al
most every branch of, industry in
America in 1915 and 1917. The names
of the concerns are not made public.
The treasury department takes the
position that 1t would be a violation
of existing law to make public the
names of corporations and their earn
ings. The senate resolution is not suf-
fcient to suspend the law: it would
require joint resolution, the treasury
department holds.
The most extraordinary profiteering
revealed by the report was in food
stuffs. Producers Of nearly all the
common necessities of life were shown
to have made enormously increased
profits in 1917 over 1916, although their
earnings in 1915 were In numerous
cases far above the 100 per cent mark.
Meat packers profits were shown to
have increased substantially. One
large packer made $19,0O0,O00 more in
1917 than in 1916.
In the iron and steel industry sensa-
tional profits were disclosed. In coal
and oil profits mounted to unparalleled
figures Public utilities of virtually
every character also came in for a lib
eral share of the increased prosperity.
Large Profits Of Diaries.
Among the dairy concerns large in
creases Of profits were shown. One
company with 100000 capital made
$166,OOO in 1917, against $4,000 the
year before. The small dairymen
made the largest percentages of in
creased profits. One little concern
with a capital of $2,4OO made $11 $50.
as compared with $4,000 for 1916
Fruit and vegetable growing indus
trys profits increased considerably
over those for 1915, although they
were fairly large for that year. One
concerns profits were 24O per cent
more for 1917 than for 1916. Concerns
with small capital showed the largest
| increases.
Wheat. corn and barley growing was
not so profitable, according TO the re-
turns. One concern with $425,000 cap
ital lost money.
Stock breeding showed substantially
increased profit in nearly all the con-
Germs listed. The industry also showed
large profits for the previous year.
One concerns profits were 255 per
cent more in 1917 than in 1915.
A large number of industries listed
as miscellaneous agricultural indus
tries'' showed some strikingly large
profits, beginning in 1915 and increas-
ing rapidly in 1917. ~
Food Men Gain Riches.
OF 216 concerns listed under the cap
ton Bread and other baking prod
ucts," profiteering of an amazing char
acter was shown. For example, one
company capitalized at $4,000 in
creased it's profits from $4,000 in 1916
to $1O7, 900 in 1917 Few of them
showed increases of less than 20 per
cent on their capital stock.
In the canning industry one COM
pany which earned 377 per cent in
1916 earned 1047 per cent in 1917.
Another, capitalized at $4,000, made
S247 900 in 1917, against $4,000 in
| 1916 A $4,000 concern which made
$4,000 in 1916 made $4,000 in 1917.
The manufacture of syrups, molas-
| OH
profit. One company with $350,O00
capital earned S3G3, 900 in 1917 against
| $4,000 in 1916. Ice cream was an
especially big money maker.
OF more than 500 flour, feed and
grist mills listed only few failed to
show largely increased profits. One
| $25OO,0OO concern made $752,0O0 in
| 1916 and $1,2OO,OO0 in 1917.
There was a general upward rise in
most packing companies profits. The
largest concern listed had capital of
| $1OO00O,000. upon which 1t earned S49,-
100000 in 1917, against $3O,0O0,0OO in
1916.
Startling Profits in Leather.
Leather manufacturers, including the
dealers in hides, and makers of boots
and shoes and trunks and valises,
made profits in 1916 and 1917 that are
startling. One shoe manufacturing
concern, with $1.OOO000 capital, made
313 per cent in 1916, but no excess in
! 1917.
Scores of boot and shoe manufac-
turing concerns, whose capital was
| the way from 20 to more than 1000
! per cent in 1916.
Our Silver Goes to India.