The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1919-07-31
Thursday, July 81, 1919.
BUTTE INVESTIGATION FINDS
PLENTY OF PRoFITEERs.


the mining companies at Butte few
weeks ago, local investigation wa!
started to forestall any attempt O
dealers to advance prices of li~inl
commodities coincident with the ad
vance In wages. The results of tn,
first days work disclosed a condition
that called for an investigation on
much larger scale than was first an
ticipated. The situation was present
ed to the governor Of Montana, who
promptly sent the efficiency ant
trades commission to Butte to investi.
gate all lines of business dealing ir
living necessities. Conditions in the
Occur d'Alene district are similar tc
those in Butte so far as the wage
question and cost of living are con-
eerned 1t has been charged here tina,
living commodities have advanced In
price following each increase of wages
by the mining companies, just as ii
Was charged in Butte. While the Butte
Investigation has not proved so far
that prices We're arbitrarily raised, II
has proved that there has been a
combination among commission houses
to maintain high prices for fruits
vegetables and produce of all kinds
OF the results of the investigation up
to date, the Anaconda Standard of
last Sunday says;
The testimony that has already
been adduced by the commission
has made IA deep impression on
the public. 1t has been shown
that in one section of, food distri-
button at least in the city, the
consumers are at the mercy of
combination of interests which
operates under the motto keep
the market short and the prices
up Further testimony. regarding
the commission house system in
vogue in Butte will be brought
out That fruit and produce are
held in the cars in Butte, and al
lowed to spoil when there is dan
ger that If they were put on the
market prices would be lowered,
has been demonstrated.
'''rhis spoiled fruit and produce
are not always dumped Or de-
sthyed, but often when the city
inspector gets knowledge of II,
the cars with their loads of per-
ishable and half-rotted fruits are
spirited out of the railroad yards
and sent to other cities, some
times in Montana and sometimes
out of the state. Very frequently
commission house merchants of
Butte have played game of hide
and seek with the inspectors Of
Butte and other cities. Cars of
goods that have been ordered I'M
loaded to prevent rotting have
beeH sent away DN CHtuitouS
routes to make their appearance
in another city.
whatever the outcome of such
methods, the result has always
been that prices of such commod-
tiles In Butte have heretofore been
maintained at the highest possible
level"
These are highly interesting and
significant disclosures, and suggest
that Idaho might follow the lead of
Montana and make an investigation
that would prove greatly to the ad-
vantage of the people of the state. The
Butte investigation viii not be limited
to the commission houses. The next
in line for overhauling win be the
meat business, which will embrace
not only the prices charged the pub |
lie but will also include the sanitary |
condition of the slaughter houses, |
NHlcn tle SlaHudIu Says III SUNG NasVS Il
are known to be in "A "deplorable and 1
condition. The scope OF
The investigation will include the gro
Gerry, shoe, clothing and all other lines
II business affecting the cost of the
accessories of life.
The cost of living has reached a |,
point that men with an ordinary in 4,
'ome are driven to exercise rigid II
economy, and even then frequently n
all to make endsS meet. The convic- |,
ion is rapidly crystallizing that there t
$ conspiracy somewhere that con- h
inues to force prices up and that If Ic
here was freedom of trade in living c
commodities prices would soon be ad- d
listed on lower level. The federal 10
overnment has failed completely to b
o anything for the relief of the peo- Is
lie in this respect On the other hand Fl
here is evidence that the war depart