The Washington times., 1919-08-19
'Give Us Cheaper Meat,'
Is Cry of Housewives
Before Senate Probe

cost of living in Chevy Chase. Every
time she prices anything she wants
particularly, the storekeepers tell
her it's going higher" next week.
She said she has been putting by
supplies of soap, which is going to
jump from 6 cents TO cents next
week.
Her difficulties first began with
coal-Oil. The gas company can't af-
ford to put down pipes where she
lives, she explained, SO she is de-
pendent upon coal-Oil for lighting
purposes. At first it was only l2
cents; then it went up TO II cents, Is
cents, 16 cents and now it costs II
cents.
why don't you go on a strike? 20
asked Senator Dial.
Il would if only 1 could" she re-
'plied.
"snow-Iee" zoe Per 100 Lbs.
ice" at 20 cents a hundred pounds.
How much does that ice cost your"
she asked the ice-man. only IS
cents he replied. Mrs. Shelton said
she didn't think 20 cents was very
difficult to bring ice out to Chevy
Chase. But somebody is making a
whole lot OF money of ice" she said.
THE real estate people evidently
haven't engaged you to advertise
Chevy Chaser" Senator Dial laugh
ed.
Il guess not" Mrs. Shelton said
emphatically.
II Mother Hubbard were in Wash
ington she would certainly have
hard time keeping her cupboard filleI
with bones, according to the testI-
mOny of Mrs. Bagby. But, perhaps,
the Mother Hubbard OF the fable who
went to her cupboard, only to find i:
bare. really did live in Washington,
for Mrs Bagby said people can't af-
ford to buy even soup bones at ran
dom these days. Not long ago 10
make a whole lot Of coup" she said.
Now it costs % and 80 cents.
Won't Trim Meat.
Mrs. Bagby told the committee how
the butcher trims a piece of meat. It
requires a great deal of persuasion
to get the average butcher to trim
piece Of meat before he sells it to you.
Once in d while, she said, an Obliging
one will do so.
After trimming OF a very small
piece of bone" said Mrs. Bagby, the
butcher holds il up and says, Just
see what I've done
"Oh, but cut off some moro of the
bone" Mrs. Bagby tells the butcher
Mrs. Bagby said, the butcher
replies that il can't be done
other witnesses heard were George
A District farmer; !. L. Mil
Ter, a farmer Of BeItsville, Nd:
Charles A. Ryon, Of Richie, Md; T.
c. Howard, w. ]. Dyus and +. J.
Davidson, produce brokers.
Clarence Z. Wilson. former District
food commissioner, attended the hear
ings, and intends 10 keep in close
touch with the committee during the
rest OF the hearings.
The three produce brokers testi-
fed that they represented the Farm
ers' Cooperative Association.
Another Link in Chain.
Senator Capper brought out the
fact that they are another link in
the long chain of middIemen who
handle food before it gets to the
consumer. Without any capital they
realize incomes OF $4,000 d year and
more Senator Capper said he
thought food prices perhaps would
be reduced if some Of the number
Of brokers was reduced. but each
broker claimed that he was a very
necessary cog and that the retailers
were able to buy cheaper from them
than they could from the regular
houses.
The committee will take up the
rent question next Monday. Senator
Ball announced during the session
yesterday.