Evening journal., 1919-08-01
FOOD question
IS WORLD PROBLEM
England aud America to
Take Steps to End
Profitsering
100 PER CENT PROFIT
MADE BY BUTCHERS

come the greatest world problem.
Attorney General Palmer. at Wash
inelon. said that Federal laws would
be employed in curbing pronteers and
that new laws probably would be ask
ed. II necessary.
The supreme economic council. sit
ting IN London. began consolidation
or establishment Of an international
economic council TO control the worlds
food supply ard 0ehi trusts.
senator Kenyon I'm an interview de-
mandod immediate action 10 meet the
hish cost Of living. pointing 10 the fact
the House Is about 10 take a months
recess with scores Of bills and resolu-
tion aimed at pronteerins pending.
President Wilson and members Of his
calr1et have interested themselves in
the situation and are expected to take
the lead In the campaign against high
prices
stale officials throughout the coun-
try are taking steps TO insure disiribu-
ton In their territory Of army food
purchased from The government.
Mrs. Julian Heath. president OF tie
Housewives League suggested creation
Of a food portfolio I'm the cabinet
The French government formulated
plans for sale Of necessities al cost, in
cluding The entire stock OF supplies re-
Gently purchased from the American
army.
Laws now on the statute books, Pal
mer believes VIII enable The govern
meni TO bring a measure OF relief.
Palmcr's announcement followed a
meeting Of high government officials In
his oflce at which the whole living
cosls situation and possible remedies
were discussed.
4 committee has been named 10 make
a report to the President It's members
are: Director General Hines, Federal
Trade Commissioner Colver and Assis-
tant Secretary Of the Treasury Letting
well
This committee will formulate a
memorandum embodying al practical
suggestions offered al our meeting in
90 a comprehensive program for at
tackng the problem all along the
line Palmer said.
This will be done by way OF law
enforcement and possibly new meas !
urcs which may be asked.
There are OF course. natural causes /
respons bic Tor high prices but these 1
are aggravated by artificial ones. These 1
ihings can be checked"
Palmer said the committees report /
viii be whipped nto shape by Monday /
ard VIII be put before another con-
ference 10 be held The following day.
10 is intimated that the high price /
of wheat bringing 10 increases In 9TH !
or commodities VII receive a large !
share OF attention.
Members 0f the conference are /
known 90 favor the plan OF selling /
wheat 10 consumers in this country /
a. lower prices and letting the Gov I
sr1ment bear the deficit from the ST. /
l0OO00O0O fund appropriated to guar /
intco The wheat price.
LONDON. Aug. 1 United Press
Consideration of the world food sup
Div was scheduled for today at
meeting Of the Supreme Economic
Council Of the Allied nations.
Food Controller Roberts Of Great
s-ilain was expected 10 propose an IN
lcrnational economic council emDrac-
lne the Nlies. Central powers and nen-
trails. for the purpose Of controlling
the worlds food supply and hshlins
combines.
WA-HINif IN, +NuEt T. i-"' 20
showing that retail meat dealers IN
Washington are averagins 100 per cent. I
profit on All sales of meat were cited [
yesterday before senate District oi
Columbia subcommittee investigating
living costs in the district
z. g. Calvin, representing the cot'o,
state official advisory marketing board
told the committee that while on july f..
I. retail dealers in Washington, accoru-
ing 10 figures of The Department Of Ag-
riculmre, were paying from is 10 ~
cents a pound for dressed beef. mey
worc dsposing of the entire carcass al
an average price of not less than &"
cents o pound The witness said me 4
same profits were being made today.
The butcher or retail dealer, Mr. Cal
vim said when selling at 100 per cent.
pront adds more TO The cost OF the ,
meat TO the consumer than The com
hincd profits taken by the farmer. the
livestock dealer and the packer win
Transportation and storage charges in
cludcd And he asks that profit said !
Mr. Cal,n. FOR simply cutting the ]
meat an6 handing it over The counter
10 YOU. assuming no risk whatever. II
The witness also cited beef quota
tons at Boston. Philadelphia Pitts
hurgh and other large cities showing
that although the price Of dressed beef
10 the retailer declined on an average
N % pcr cent. at those points from
July TO July -. there was am aver 4
age decrease of only s per cent. IN the
price 10 the consumer
These figures yearly show, inter {
lected senator Yapper. Of Kansas, a
member OF the committee. that the !
retailer. or the man who is selling over
the counter IL nro0foorinr