Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-01

in City Compared Be-
fore Committee.
Far too wide a margin exists be-
tween the price paid the farmer for
his products and the price charged
the consumer Of foodstuffs and of
cotton goods, e. A. Calvin, represent
ing the Cotton States Oficial Advis-
DRY Marketing Board, told the Senate
District subcommittee investigating
alleged proflteering in the District of
Columbia at its hearing yesterday
afternoon.
Mr.. Calvin presented to the COM
mittee figures which he had obtained
from the Department of Agriculture
regarding the price of potatoes.
onions, tomatoes and meats paid to
the farmers who produced them. He
also submitted to the committee a
list Of prices paid for these commodi-
ties by himself in Washington.
Potato Prices to Farmers.
The figures obtained from the De-
partment Of Agriculture were for va
rious days from May 5 to July 81,
been paid per bushel for potatoes the
following prices: Rochester, N. Y,
1924; Portland, Ore. $1.03: Los An
geles, $1.41; Norfolk. Va. $1s4; Oh
ney. Va. SOL. These were fob.
prices. In Washington, Mr.. Calvin
said. he had been paying from $3.50
gin between the price paid the pro-
ducers and the price charged the ulti-
mate consumer, he said, was much
too great. He did not attempt to say
whore the difference in the prices
went.
With regard to onions. Mr.. Calvin
said that the farmers received for
them at Los Angeles 81 cents Del
pound; at Olney. Va. 4.25 cents. etc.
while in Washington the consumer
paid from 10 to 20 cents per pound.
Tomatoes and Cabbage.
For tomatoes the farmers received
at Crystal Springs, Miss. So cents
per pound; at Swedenborough, N. J..
4.6 cents per pound. In Washington
he said, he had been forced to pay
always no less than 20 cents and
sometimes as high as IS cents pc,
pound.
The farmers received at Los An.
geles 2.36 cents per pound for cab.
bages, he said; at Crystal Springs
Miss, 81 cents. In WASHINGTON the
people have had to pay from 10 to Ia
cents per pound for cabbages.
100 Per Cent Profit on Meats.
Mr.. Calvin had the wholesale prices
of dressed carcasses at Boston, New
York. Philadelphia, Washington and
other cities on March and July l.
In no case did they run more than &c
cents per pound. The prices in
26 cents per pound, and on July Is
to 10 cents. Mr.. Calvin told the COM
mittee that these meats had averaged
not less than 40 cents per pound
when sold to the consumer here.
Round steak, he said, which had
never been considered choice cut
sold for IS cents per pound. The re-
over the wholesale price for meats
OF 100 per cent. With the present
day methods of refrigeration, he said
the retailer takes no risk whatever
on the meats he has for sale.
14OAt vi xSOdl VI !oxCdus
Mr.. Calvin exhibited two loaves of
bread he had just purchased and
weighed them each on a small scales.
Both weighed twelve ounces, though
one cost cents and the other 8
-four, containing 1876 pounds of flour,
after water and other ingredients had
been added, would make 400 loaves of
bread weighing IL ounces each. In
other words, such a barrel of -four
when put into bread and sold to the
he said, received not more than So
for the wheat that went into the
barrel of -four. In the case Of the
loaves selling for 8 cents, he said
the barrel would bring in $32.
Next Mr.. Calvin showed the COM
purchased in Washington stores. Six
yards of Bingham he said he paid
$3.50 for; it weighed fifteen ounces.
The farmer, he said, got 25.5 cents
for the cotton that went into the
bingham. He exhibited some voile
chiefs. also and weighed them, show
ing that the farmer received for the
cotton a very small percentage OF
the sum for which these goods were
sold to the ultimate consumer.
Urges Information Service.
Mr.. Calvin urged that an informa
ton service. covering the costs of all
kinds Of goods produced by the
farmers, be furnished regularly By
the bureau Of markets of the Depart
ment of Agriculture, in all parts OF
the country. He said that he believed
the public would learn what was
being done and that it would settle
the question of profiteering. -
william Bonat, retail meat dealer
in the Georgetown market, was cues
toned by the committee as to the rea
sons why he could sell meats to 1,
cents a pound less than they were solt
at the Center market, in Washington
He explained that he, was careful il
purchasing meats and that he wen
into the market both in Baltimore ant
Washington to get them. He purchaser
from representatives of the packer
in Washington, and in Baltimore from
the abattoir companies.
Mr.. Bonat was asked how he wa
able to take 10 per cent less prof
than other dealers. He replied tina
1t was a matter Of conscience ant
business, too. for while he did no
care to charge as much As others, h
found that his business was not In
jured thereby. Others, he said, Qoul,