The Washington times., 1919-10-20
Lacks Constructive Proposals.
10 the local consumer.

Lacks Constructive Proposals.
Taken as a whole, the report con-
sists mainly OF a general review of
the testimony given before the, sub
committee of which Senator Ball Of
Delaware is chairman, by wholesalers,
retailers, middle-men and consumers.
From the viewpoint of constructive
proposals for legislation to curb
profiteering. IL Is lacking in many re-
spects-
tation of existing conditions, intend
ed to serve as a basis for study and
consideration by the full committee,
II IL sees ht to recommend a COM
prehensive bill to cut down the cost
OF living in the National Capital
Pronteering in foodstuffs, with re-
tAiiess branded as the special Offend
ere, IL exposed in many pages of sworn
testimony. 1T is clear that the diff
ferentfal between wholesale and retail
prices Is very large at the present
time. and shows no evidence of de-
creastng." the report states. Retail
prices frequently are 200 to 500 per
cent higher than the wholesale; there
has been no check until recently of
pthe teDdency TO charge all that the
traffic viii bear and the psychology
cf she public 1imilaxly has haensaH
IN the direction OF acceptihg almost
any price rather than to curtail the
consumption of goods
BASED On Groeer~' Testimony.
This statement by the committee
was based on testimony representa-
tive of the 1.1s7 retail grocery stores
IN Warrington But the charge of
prcnteerins Is made not only against
the grocers, but against practically all
lines Of business dealing IN food
stufHs.
1T was claimed that Washington
ranks as the fourth most expensive
city In the country in its food budget,
and that since 1913 there has been an
increase OF s5 per cent in the cost OF
food here and practically 80 per cent
increase In the cost of living" the re-
port states.
This much for the retail meat deal
er: Retail meat dealers, for cutting.
handling and delivering to the con-
sumer, receive a greater per cent
pront than the farmer. the live-stock
raiser. buyer. railways, commission
men and cold storage and packer
combined"
Dealing with the rent situation, the
report points out that while the
Salisbury resolution served some of
its purposes in protecting tenants
from exoreftant demands of land
lords, IL did not check profiteering
IN renta"
That the resolution did not pre-
vent merciless profiteering in the
subrenting OF both furnished and IN
furnished rooms. apartments. and
dwellings, is apparent from a glance
IT the testimony" the report goes on
4 say.
Ne Suggestions offered.
In view OF the. fact that Congress
already has enacted an antirent
profiteering law, putting the rent sit
uafion under control of a Federal
ssnmission, the subcommittee did NOT
see nj TO OFFER any Legislative sug-
sesuons on its part, contenting IT.
Ssu merely with a summary OF the
tsstimony bearing on that phase of
.ke Investigation.
Constructive programs relating To
the lowering OF present price levels,
20 simplifying and standardizinz the
processes OF distribution. and to
snninate the parctices grouped un-
aer the general category OF prof
ieeering are discussed in wide range
and variety In the COMMITTEES report
Out OF this program. tha suhcom-
mittee has singled out for special
recommendation, legislative suxxes
lions based upon two general funda-
nnentAls- These are the estabIisb ment
and operation Of a system OF co-onsra
i've marketing and purchasjnp
which calls for a complete reorranI-
xation of existing marketing condi-
uons, and the creation OF an inforna-
aon service under the Bureau OF Mar
ksts IN publicity and listing producers