The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-04
MEAT WHOLESALERS
JOIN PRICE CRUSADE
Form Committee to Cooperate
With Officials in Keeping
Prices Fair.
MARGINS UNDER ONE CENT
Friedsam Says Surveys Show
High Production Costs Keep
Selling Figures Up.


dealers yesterday in the office of Arthur
Williams. Federal Food Administrator
foe this city, will come a permanent
committee for advice. consultation and
help" to the Fair Price Committee.
zone Of the objects Of this committee
VIII be to keep the Fair Price Commit
tee informed of the wholesale meat con-
ditions from time to time that causes
for changes may be explained TO the
public" Mr.. Williams said. This 10
another OF the most important groups In
the food supply which has pledged IT.
self to aid the Federal Administration
in every way lying In its power to re-
duce the cost Of living to the people Of
New York.
Those present pledged themselves to
the heartiest cooperation with the At
torney-General ana the Fair Price Com
mittee In the supplying Of meat In this
city at fair prices to the public. During
the course of the conference It was
brought out that at no time has the
wholesale price margin or! meats in this
city reached or exceeded one cent n
pound in fact. II seemed clear that the
average margin of the wholesalers is
mucn lower than one cent q pound"
Mr.. Williams said the wholesalers
reported widespread habit of buying
only tho more expensive cuts Of meats,
which made 1t difficult for retailers to
dispose of the cheaper. but equally
pointed out that II is obvious that IL
some parts of the slaughtered animal
must be sold at a loss the other parts
must carry the loss.
The committee to be formed will be
made up of the wholesale meat dealers
who attended the conference. They
were: George ]. Edwards, Of Swift q
Co. II. g. Mills, of Armour & Co. /;
Charles ]. Higgins. of Morris q Co. !;
J. c. Good. of Wilson & Co.: Leo S.
Josephs. OF the New York Butchers
Dressed Meat Company; Frederick
Bisbee. of Joseph Stems q Sons w. H.
Noyes. OF Swift & Co.; 1. Stiefel, of
Wilson Co.; A. E. GLASGOW, of the
Indianapolis Abattoir Company; L. NJ
Christian. OF West Washington Market,
and Irving Blumenthal, of the United
Dressed Beef Company.
Michael Friedsam. president of 3.
Altman & Co., chairman OF the sub
committee on drygoods. clothing and
shoe section OF the Fair Price Commit
tee, issued yesterday q statement con-
ce1ning the preliminary surveys Of con-
ditions in these industries showing that
the high cost OF production Is RESPONSE
BILE for high prices and setting forth
that NJ indication Of deliberate profiteer-
ing has been found.
Mr.. Friedsam said:
These surveys show that the cause NJ
the present admittedly high prices of
these goods Is almost entirely an in
creased or a high cost of production. in
fact the highest cost Of production that
has ever been known in this country and
at the same time an alarming decrease
in the amount of goods produced.
There has not been found any indica-
ton Of deliberate pronteerlng. On the
contrary these surveys show that both
manufacturers and retailers are worlIinS
on a closer margin of profit than ever
before. and this despite the extreme I'M
certainty Of the present business condl-
lions.
1T is inevitable that with the cost
Of production. OF raw materials and of
labor at their present high point that
retail prices should have increased ac-
cordingly.
1T is agreed on all sides that la
Dor programme such as was proposed
this morning by the State Federation OF
Labor Conference Committee would go a
long way toward meeting the problem
which the clothing industry is confronted
with. because 1t would insure the indus
try steady definite labor conditions with
respect to it's employees,
Even SO far as the sub committees
have proceeded to date It is evident that
a saner buying policy on the part OF
the general public will tend to meet the
problem of high prices. The commit
tees Investigations 80 far have shown
that there are available opportunities for
the purchase Of all necessities in wea ring
apparel at what are, under present coE-
ditions. reasonable prices. provided the
buyer purchases with an eye primarily
to service rather than style"
Food Administrator williams asked
the United States Sugar Equalizatio on
Board II something couldn't be done 10
help home Gamers get supply OF sugar
before the canning season Is over. Mr..
Williams was informed that the board
Will do everything In its power to aid
wholesalers in getting the sugar for e.
tribution. The refineries of the counTy
are now turning out 10000 tons Of re-
fined sugar a day. However, the can
ring season is so far advanced II IL
feared housewives will not be able to put
up their usual supplies of canned stuffs
before the fruits and berries are gone.
William T. Cuttrell, secretary OF the
New York Butter and Egg Exchange,
said yesterday the outlook is favorable
for a drop in butter prices. The weather
has been favorable for production. There
is practically no demand from Europe
for butter he added. and this will re-
lease supplies for the domestic market.