The Monticellonian., 1918-08-23
PROFITEERING iS
 BAREDBY REPORT
Treasury Department Tells How the American Public Has
 Been Made to Pay.
BIG INCREASES OYER 1876
Producers of Foedstuffs Made the Most Enormous Profits, and Nearly Every Other Branch Of Industry Piled Up Huge Riches.

Huge Riches.
 Washington. Aug. 1.-The treasury departments report on protiteering, just completed in response to a senate resolution and covering 31. 500 corpo- rations, reveals the fact that aston ishing profits have been made iR al- 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 a violation of existing law to make public the names of corporations and their earn ings. The senate resolution is not suf- ticient 10 suspend the law; it would require joint resolution. the treasury department holds.
 The most extraordinary profiteering revealed by the report was iii 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 S19.o00,000 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 ih for iib- eral share of the increased prosperity.
 Large Profits of Diaries.
 Among the dairy concerns large in- ereases of profits were shown. One company with S6o0o00 capital made s1e6,00o h 1917, against s25.000 the year before. The small dairymen made the largest percentages of in creased profits. One little concern with capits! of s2.400 made s11s659, as compared with s4,oo0 for 1916.
 Fruit and vegetable growing indus try's profits increased considerably over those for 1916, although they were fairly large for that year. One eoheern's profits were 240 per cent lhoit loi Iol4 lHdu 1uI 11lo 1uuC6IHS with small capital showed the largest increases.
 Wheat, corn and barley growing was not 30 profitable. according 10 the re turns. One concern with S425 900 cap ita1 lost money.
 Stock breeding showed substantially increased profit in nearly all the con eerns 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 inereas- ing rapidly in 1917.
 Food Men Gain Riches.
 Of 216 concerns listed under the cap ton Bread and other baking prod uets." profiteering of an amazing char aeter was shown. For example. one company capitalized at s40,000 in- creased its profits from S50,0o0 in 1916 to S1o7,00o in 1917. Few of them StitNtd LII itSS iiitH -t Der cent on their capital stock
 In the canning industry one com pany which earned BIT per cent in 1916 earned 1,047 per cent in 1917. Another. capitalized at S93,000. made s2470oo in 1917. against se6,ooo in 1916. A S50.000 concern which made S25.00o in 1916 made s142. GOO in 1917.
 The manufacture of syrups. molas- ses and glucose netted much increased profit. One company with s350.oOo capital earned S363. GOO in 1917 against S1760o0 In 1916 Ice cream was an especially big money maker.
 Of more than 300 flour, feed and grist mills listed only few failed to show largely increased profits. One s2.500.o0o concern made s752,0oo Ill 1916 and ST 200 ooQ In ial7.
 There was general upward rise in most picking companies profits. The largest concern listed had capital of s1oo.o00,o00 upon which 1t earned s49- 000000 in 1917. against S30.o000 0o0 in 1916.