The Washington times., 1919-08-09
PRESIDENTS
WORDS SPUR
Dc. PROBERS
witnesses in Food Prices In
Vestigation to Be Sworn.
Consumers to Answer Dealers

Spurred to renewed energy by
President Wilson's admonition to
Congress for drastic legislation
against the prohteers in the National
Capital, the Senate District subcom-
mittee viii prosecute its investiga-
ton Of the food situation along more
direct lines.
With the Presidents powerful sup
port behind it. the subcommittee Is
expected to adopt more forceful tao
Tics when ii meets again next Tues
cay with local retailers on the grill.
Heretofore witnesses appearing be-
fore the subcommittee have not been
required to testify under oath. This is
going to be changed. When the Wash
ington retailers appear Tuesday each
witness il to be put under oath.
senator Ball Of Delaware, chairman
OF the subcommittee, promises there
win be no hedging. Men and women
who buy daily from the local markets
are to be summoned, their testimony
concerning the prices they pay for
looostuffs to serve as a check on the
ngures given by the retailers.
Experts To Check Up.
Expert accountants will be en-
RA1s 70 G4dAuAuG uOL Only Lne DOCKS
OF the retail concerns that sell food
stuffs. but also the books of the
packers agencies, whose representa-
tiVes have been on the grill during
the last week
Members of the committee were
highly pleased with the Presidents
request that Congress lsgislate with
| out restriction against profiteers OF
ali kinds in Washington. It Is the
g. IL.
States has made such an appeal on
behalf of legislation for the District
OF Columbia. Coming at a time when
I Congress is keenly aroused over con-
ditionS here, the Presidents admoni-
ton viii serve TO excellent purposes
UrEed District As Example.
After outlining what Congress could
do in legislating to meet national
needs, particularly in reference to the
storage OF FOOD. and methods OF dis
closing to thu public the margin of
profits by suitable labels, the Presi-
dent said. In referring to District
needs:
) at would serve as a useful example
20 other communities of the country
"a we'll as greatly relieve local dis
tress II the Congress were to regulate
all such matters very carefully for the
District of Columbia, where its legis-
iative authority is without limit"
Whatever may be the constitutional
obstacles IA the way OF some Of the
Presidents recommendations mem
bers Of the committee believe Con-
gress has almost unrestricted author
fly in legislating for the District. The
Presiderit's appeal will have the pur-
pose OF broadening the committees
Legislative recommendations when its
final report Is made. to the Senate.
Neral EJECT Believed Great.
It Is believed by members Of the
committee that the Presidents appeal
to the dealers of foodstuffs for fair |
play" to the public will have a whole |
some effect on Washington producers
and uiddlemen. With the realization 1
that public as wen as the Executives /
eympathfes are against them, the /
committee expects more cooperation /
on the part Of 5he retailer than he |
has heretofore, shown. When Sena-
tor Balls subcommittee meets Tues
day. Il will have q long list Of retail
erS- obtained from the packer agen-
cies. who sell directly to them Sena-
tor Ball believes examination Of their
books, showing the margin Of profit
which they realize. particularly In the
ale ~ meats, will. lead at least 70
some Of the profiteers.
Paekers' QuIE1fng Ends.
with the conclusion Of yesterdays |
hearing. when H. A. Timmins, secre-
.ary Of Morris & Co.. gave the com
rnittee some information concerning
washington conditions inquiries into
the activities of the Big Five" pack
ers were ended. The committee in
tsnds 10 resume hearings Tuesday
nth representative retailers On the
grill
hone Of lower prices. I'm the old
5aI,a ~ he said, ~only a year or so
sro- the scent loaf Of bread was the
order Of the day, and we all think
OF flour as the principal item enter
ing into the cost Of bread, but as
FOOD an authority as Director Julius
~ Rarnes. of the United States Grain
Torporation, stated that if flour were
furnisbed to the baker free (the pres
mt cost Of labor and other materials
-.naJnfns the same), we could hard
~ attain a retail scent Loaf
Claims Loss on Meats.
. ,r..t a. being sold in Washington
-, - local branch of Morris & Com
,,sry AZ a loss of 80 cents on the
hundred pounds at present, Mr.. Tim
Minis told the committee much TO Its
aEtonishment. A hundred pounds Of
meat cost s4o.14' nc Se'S'
T,r S1eI1. Carcass beef is selling
from 1924 cents per pound to "a
cents. There has been a decrease Of
about 6 cents a pound for beef since
ApriI. he showed. The price on April
3 was 1888 cents a pound, and 17.39
cents August ?.
Bacon also base decreased IN price
IN the washington market. The best
Grade sells at An cents a pound,
while a good ordinary grade sells at
S676.
Hams bring 1910 cents a pound for
the very best grade and 1910 cents
for the ordinary grade. There is one
Grade of ham that brings 20 cents,
Boiled ham sells for about 80 cents a
Mound: lard for 361l cents and com
sound made OF cotton-seed oil, for
"a cents.
Mr.. TimmiAs followed the course OF
the other packer representatives in