Evening star., 1919-08-23
RETAIL GROCERS
BEFORE SENATORS
Admit Government Regulation
Helps Consumer to Buy
More Cheapiy.
PRICES ARE c0MpAREn
PRICES ARE COMPARED

Retail eroeers from all parts Of the
city were questioned by the Senate
subcommittee investigating alleged
profiteering in Washington at its hear
ing yesterday afternoon, In an effort
to ascertain whether they were max
ing undue profits.
Out of the mass OF detailed figures
which were presented the committee
drew from the witnesses the fact that
government regulation, through the
food administration and its fair prices
On staples. had kept profits of the re-
tailers down somewhat. One of the
dealers frankly admitted that the gov
ernment regulation had been to the
advantage of the consumer. especially
the salaried man. This witness, w. E.
Hopkins. representing N. w. Burchell.
said that it was possible to do busi-
ness under such government regula-
tion as that Of last year and to make
a profit. He explained that the deal
ers made up by increasing their
profits on luxuries something If what
they lost in being compelled to charge
lower prices on the staples. This, he
said, reduced the cost of living to
levied the cost upon the man who was
best able to pay.
Discuss Retail Prices.
Prices of retail goods. the dealers
insisted were governed by the prices
which they had to pay to the whole
salers and the producers. 1t was tes-
titled that prices went up after the
armistice was signed and after the
government regulation was removed,
but that in the last three months
thSro bAa hoao M inrrea 40 in nrice9
of most of the groceries, but rather
tendency to decline.
Canned goods are being quoted to
the retailers now about rs cents
dozen less than q year ago, 1t was
said.
George G. Cornwell told the COM
mittee that he figured on Is to 80 per
cent profit on canned goods. When
asked IL this was not very large
profit, he replied that the food ad-
ministration had allowed the dealers
as high as 80 per cent on canned
goods. He explained that the dealers
suffered a loss on-some of the can
they sometimes have to carry these
gopds for a year before they realize
N ae s's.i testified that proflts to the re-
taller ON some of the more perishable !
goods were as hikh as SO per cent. |
but that the dealer stood a chance Of |
losing considerable money on such1
goods if they were not sold without |
delay.
In reply to a question by Chairman |
Ball of the committee, Mr.. Cornwell |
said that the containers OF some % |
the standard goods had been reduced |
In size by, the manufacturers.
he said. il credit business and much
of 1t comes in over the ph6iis4 perhaps
$500 q day being phone orders.
Comparison Of Prices.
tee prices which He paid for goods in
1914 and 1918 and the price At which
these goods are being sold today.
They follow, SugAr-1a14, e.5S cents
a pound Wholesale: 1919. s.21 cents
Il cents. F1our-isil wholesale price.
$3.50: 1919 wholesale price. $12.65;
retail price today. $500. Corn meal
1914 wholesale price, 2 cents a pound;
1919 wholesale price, 4;S cents; retail
Wholesale price, Sc cents 2 potnd;
price today. 8 cents. Bhtter=1sil
wholesale price. IS cents a pound:
1siee toSsy Cents se Rsss
wholesale price. 5.75 cents . pound:
1919 wholesale price, IA cents; retail
price today. IS cents. Lard-1sl4
wholesale 4psices- 12.2S -aentazA zpoanif:
1919 Wholesale price. s1.75; retail
price today. 48 cents. Bac6ri-1si4
wholesale price. "a cents a pound:
1919 wholesale price. 4S cents: retail
price today. So cents. Ham-l914
wholesale price. 21 cents a pound:
1919 1913 wholesale price, .s cents: retail
wholesale price, IS cents a dozen;
1919 wholesale price. SO and 10 cents;
retail price today, so cents. cheese
1914 wholesale price, II cents a |
pound; 1919 wholesale. price. SO cents;
retail price today 20 cents. Toma:
toes. canned-19N wholesale price,
s1,5 cents per dozen; 1919 wholesale
price, $2.17: retail price today, $2.40.
Corn, canned-ls14 wholesale price.
price. $e.12: retail pfice today, $3. |
Peas, canned-1914 wholesale price, |
$3.50 per dozen; 1919 wholesale price.
$2.14; retail price today. 1925. Cof-
fee-f914 wholesale price, 1875 cents
a pound: 1919 wholesale pfice. 80 s: I
retail price today. SO cents, Potatoes
.1914 Wholesale price, $2:15; 1918 |
wholesale price. $3.50: retail price
today. 80 cents a peck.
Burchell. told the committee that ths |
gross sales for 1917 were $2Os.6SS and |
the net profit had been $12.134, and in |
1918 the gross sales had been 1921. .635 |
and the net proft $s.sss. II WAS at |
this point that the committee asked IL |
government regulation in 1918 had not |
been effective in reducing profits of re-
tailers.
prirae al E>.la nk..Lhx