The sun., 1919-09-21
Delegates at Ottawa Hearing
Resent Threats to Cut
Off Exports.
HIDES CITED AS INSTANCE
American Bacon, With Duty
Added, Sells Cheaper Than
the Home Product.
p. . s,sg correspondent, Of Tus son.

salary Of the Chairman Oh tho Aoefu
J, commerce to $4,000 and two assist |
ant commissioners to $4,000, DR.. Michael |
cpsrt Of RED Deer. Alberta. offered some |
nhln criticism Of the threats made by |
cenmisslorer W. r. o'Connor in To-
,onto TO stop exports unless prices came
AVN. That was characterized as
economic insanity" by Or. Clark Other
rsmbers Joined in the criticism Of Mr..
o,connor, asserting that talk OF the
swashbuckler kind was no encourage
nsnt TO men to make q success or busi-
ness or increase production. Threats TO
nut farmers in jail II they put the price
OF milk up we're cited.
Edward Proulx of Prescott said the
Government had taken the wrong step
IN forbidding export Of hidsa It would
have been better to take the duty on
than 20 stop export. Donald Suther-
land asserted that the regulation had the
effect of leading to the export OF thou
sands of live cattle to the IJnked States
that otherwise would have been kept
here. because their hides would bring q
higher price over there. Another rural
nen,ber thought there were too many
commissions in the county.
on a point OF order that the board
IA a court and judges are not subject
to criticism, the discussion was Neonfined
To policy But 1t was added that two
members were lawyers and the third
journalist.
Food Inquiry Ordered.
The Board OF Commerce, according
10 the announcement Of the chairman,
H A. Robson, will open an inquiry Into
prices Of food commoditiesN and costs Of
production in Toronto next Tuesday.
Vigorous action is promised to reduce
the cost Of living. once the required In
formation Is available.
The board has power under the act
70 make Investigations, fix prices and
take the initial steps for prosecution OF
prohteers under the Criminal Code. The
entire programme of the board IL quite
EXPERIMENTAL in the light Of American
experience, but public opinion demanded
action and it will be provided. Some
Of the wlsest men in politics at Ottawa
gave no support to the plan to reduce
prices by law or through this court, but
they found themselves in minority.
The moral reformers have taught this
generation strong faith in the power OF
specific law and II Is entirely probable
that some of the same limited desired
results will follow. The opportunity for
making money which the war afforded
has gone The unrest OF the people is
also passing. Labor supply In becoming
more equal to the demand at home and
with the increased production which is
sure 10 follow in all countries as they
settle down prices are due to fall. But
the change will be gradual. Meantime
the Board of Commerce will be able to
reap some credit for Its activity and
give evidence of results for money spent
Earlier Hearings Unfruitfu1.
The sessions OF the board in Toronto
and Hamilton were not productive Of
any substantial results. In Hamilton
one man came seriously before the Com
missioner and complained of the price OF
cheese sandwiches at 10 cents. He had
samples of the sandwiches In a bag and
proceeded to spread them over the Com
missioner's desk. action which Mr..
OConnor resented, saying he did not
care TO have his work desk decorated In
that way. The informer was insistent
on his charge of profiteering, but the
Commissioner was obdurate and ended
the interview with: II don't think pa
thence Is expected when one is sitting
IN judicial capacity, and ones reputa
ton or ability is assailed."
But a semblance of Importance was
lent to the sessions by consideration of
the bacon stocks. and how and where to
sell them Export demand was given
the credit of keeping pork at good
prices by packers testifying. Live hogs
are worth $3.50 to s1s on the Winnipeg
and Toronto markets. Live stock men
and packers assert that II the export
market is denied them the price Of hogs
will 20 down Immediately. One, Winni-
peg packer testified that the prices paid
for pork so far this year were as fol-
lows: January s16,54 a hundred
weight; February. $3.50 March, 1881;
April, s2O.2s; May, $2o.51; June, $20.41:
july, S22.1S; August, $21.0s.
1t came out at the inquiries that there
Is million pounds of lower grade bacon
in Toronto and half a million in Winni-
peg such as has been going TO the Eng
hsh market 1t In now proposed to give
The Canadian consumer a chance to buy
that quality. The packers testify that
The cheaper commodity will not sell in
Canada hut the Commissioners are
going 10 give the packers lesson in
how 10 run their business and show the
public what they want. A packer on
The witness stand said the stocks of pa
con had increased during the summer
chiefly because Of a shortage Of ship
ping. Lower prices were not due to ac-
tion Of the board but to lower prices OF
live hogs.
American bacon Cheaper.
The board found that in Winnipeg
American bacon could be imported and
sod for less than the home product.
Tie Armour bacon could be laid down
LOT 80 10 cents after paying the cents
ouIN while the local packers wanted
ioh, difference of more than " cents
pound That was for second grade.
ph Inc first grade bacon the price of the
imported was 49h and b0& for the
nome product These facts lad tho
chairman to state that the board
would have to consider the question OF
requesting the Government to take on
ohe duty on bacon, procedure which is
provided for in the Act under which the
BOARD was given its power
me board aims to prohibit the sale
" al fancy bacon. II Is also intended
ADOPT regulations covering packing
pants and those products handled by
u'eh--butter, eggs, cured meats and cold
forage material In general. Direct in
Jury VIII be made into the cost Of Nv
ing IN Calgary Edmonton ana Regina
oy an officer Of the board. and 1t is
stated that II is the purpose OF the
commissioners to deal with ali the nec-
essaries Of life, including boots and
shoes and clothing. Another series Of
'eS,lops will be held In Montreal.
,.ontreal prices for eggs and meat at
~ local stores over a wide area OF the
WY snow that eggs are sold nj from, K Q