Judsonia weekly advance., 1918-08-21
PROFITEERINC IS
 BARED 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. 1.-The treasury departments report on profiteering, just completed in response to senate resolution and covering 31 300 corpo- rations, reveals the fact that aston most every branch of industry in America in 1916 and 1917. The names of the concerns are not made public.
 The treasury department takes the position that 1t would be violation of existing law to make public the names of corporations and their earn ings. The senate resolution Is not sui ficient to suspend the law; 1t 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 1916 were in numerous cases far above the 100 per cent mark. Meat packers profits were shown to have increased substantially. One large packer made $19,000,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 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 $6OO,OOO capital made S166,0O0 in 1917, against $25,OOO the year before. The small dairymen made the largest percentages of in- creased profits. One little concern with a capital of $2,400 made $11 1,659, as compared with $4,O0O for 1916.
 Fruit and vegetable growing indus try's profits increased considerably over those for 1918, although they were fairly large for that year. One concerns profits were 240 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,O0 cap- ital lost money.
 Stock breeding showed substantially increased profit in nearly all the con- cerns listed. The industry also showed large profits for the previous year. One concerns profits were 255 per cent more in 1917 than in 1916.
 A large number of industries listed as miscellaneous agricultural indus- tries" showed some strikingly large profits, beginning in 1916 and increas- ing rapidly in 1917.
 Food Men Gain Riches.
 Of 216 concerns listed under the cap- tion Bread and other baking prod ucts," prof1teering of an amazing char acter was shown. For example, one company capitalized at S40,OO0 in- creased Its profits from $5O,OOO in 1916 to $1O7,000 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 BIT per cent in 1916 earned 1047 per cent in 1917. Another. capitalized at $93,OOO, made $247 900 in 1917, against $66OOO in 1916. A $50,00O concern which made $25,000 in 1916 made $142,OOO in 1917.
 The manufacture of syrups, molas- ses and glucose netted much increased profit. One company with $35OOOO capital earned $363, ,OOO in 1917 against $176,000 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 $2,500,O00 concern made $752,OOO in 1916 and $f,2OO,0OO in 1917.
 There was general upward rise in most packing companies profits. The largest concern listed had capital of s100,OO0,0OO. upon which 1t earned $49,- 100000 in 1917, against $3O,OO0OOO in 1916.
 Startling Profits in Leather.
 Leather manufacturers, including the