The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1919-01-15
PR0F|7EERINC IS
Barred BY REPORT
Treasury Department Tells How
the American Public Has
Been Made to Pay.
BIG INCREASES OVER 1916
Producers Of Foodstuffs Made the Most
Enormous Profits, and Nearly Every
other Branch Of Industry Piled Up
Huoe Riches.

Washington, Aug. 1.-THE treasury
departments report on profteering
lust completed in response to a senate
resolution and covering 81 500 corpo-
ratiOns, reveals the fact that aston
ishing profits have been made in al
most every branch of industry In
America in 1915 and 1917. The names
OF the concerns are not made public.
The treasury department takes the
position that 1t would be a violation
OF existing law to make public the
names of corporations and their earn.
ings. The senate resolution is not suf
fclent TO suspend the law; it would
require joint resolution, the treasury
department holds.
The most extraordinary profiteering
revealed by the report was in food
stuffs. Producers of nearly all the
common necessities of life were shown
to have made enormously increased
profits in 1917 over 1916, although their
earnings in 1916 were in numerous.
eases far above the 100 per cent mark.
Meat packers profits were shown to
have increased substantially. One
large packer made $4,000, 600 more in
1917 than in 1915.
In the iron and steel industry sensa-
tional profits were disclosed. In coal
and oil profits mounted to unparalleled
figures. Public utilities of virtually
every character also came in for lib
'eral share of the increased prosperity.
Large Profits Of Diaries.
Among the dairy concerns large in
creases Of profits were shown. One
company with 100000 capital made
$4,000 in 1917. against $4,000 the
year before. The small dairymen
made the largest percentages of in
creased profits. One little concern
with capital of s2,4OO made s11 $3.50.
as compared with $4,000 for 1915.
Fruit and vegetable growing indus
trys profits increased considerably
over those for 1915, although they
were fairly large for that year. One /,
concerns profits were 24O per cent
more for 1917 than for 1916. Concerns
win small capital showed the largest
increases.
wheat, corn and barley growing was
moi so profitable. according to the re-
turns One concern with s4o5 OOO can.
Hal lost money.
STOCK breeding showed substantially
increased profit in nearly all the con-
Germs listed. The Industry also showed
large profits for the previous year.
ohe concerns profits were 255 per
cent more In 1917 than in 1916.
A large number of industries listed
20 miscellaneous agricultural indus
'r'es showed some strikingly large
pronts beginning in 1916 and increas.
ing rapidly in 1917.
Food Men Gain Riches.
!, VI no concerns listed under the cap.
'on Bread and other baking prod
uc.s' nrofiteering of an amazing char
a.'er was shown. For example. one
.ohlPahy capitalized at $4,000 in
'reased its profits from $50 900 in 1916
. slo' 900 in 1917. Few of them i
moved increases Of less than 20 per {
WI thelr capital stock,
:" 'ne canning industry one com.
o,c when earned 377 per cent in
'io earned 1.G47 per cent in 1917
e u capitalized at S93, 900 made q
o,c ''o IN 1917. against $4,000 in 5
o. no a $4,000 concern which made G
- ~, IN 1916 made $4,000 in 1917. l
- Nv manufacture Of syrups. molas- I
""" glucose netted much increas ed n
,,, one company with $3.50 900 fl
' 20 AL earned 1888, 600 in 1917 against
''o"o in 1916. Ice cream was an n
specially big money maker. :,
-. more than 500 flour, feed and G,
on 49,, nuns listed only few failed to If
-oo rnrseiy increased profits. One l.
concern made S75o 600 in h,
u, IT. and sl.oOo,OOO In 1917 " Nv
: mere was general upward rise in q
,s' packing companies profits. The ar
no Sv o'o concern listed had a capital of n,
n o"o upon which 1t earned s49.- w
~, ,,''o IN 1917, against $50, 600. 900 in Of
starving Profits In Leather. or
:, "'ier manufacturers, including the no
, Aver, IN hides. and makers of boots -
d. snoes and trunks and valises.
we we, pronts In 1916 and 1917 that are
mug One shoe manufacturing
a with 100000 capital, made gu
yer cent in 1916, but no excess in at
4. .
:, of boot and shoe manufac. =
r"S &C, concerns, whose capital was tel
:" sioo,ooO to $1,OOO,OOO, made all it
way from 20 to more than 1000 bot
cent in 1916. ho,
our Silver Goes to India. I con