The Washington times., 1919-08-16
Who Paid
The Tax?
Cock Robin Con
sumner Helps
MiddIeman,
Senators Hear

"who paid your income taxg' the
Senate District subcommittee asked
OF the Washington commission mer-
chant, with a weather-eye cooked on
a tempting list OF profits.
AZ" moaned a still small voice.
with my thin pocket book, paid
his income tax"
It was the voice OF the washing
ton consumer. speaking from the
mouth OF Robert L. Glove, middle
man dealer in fruits and vegetables.
The fable-old tragedy OF "Who
killed. Robin thus was solemn
" revealed in modern business meth
DDS before Senator Balls subcom-
mittee that has taken out search
warrants for Washington prohteers
/ In foodstuffs The forced admission
OF Commission Merchant Glove that
he "passes his income tax on to the
consumer" was enough to conYince
even doubling members OF the COM
/ mittee that the middleman Is the
wicked sparrow" and the consumer
/ Is the unfortunate "cock-robin" in
this moderntzed version Of the nurs-
cry Iaoie.
CIinehes CHASING Bueky Argument.
II clfnched the argument OF some
members OF the COMMITTEES that the
/ manufacturers OF the country, the
packers, the retailers and an the
other hosts of middlemen have been
passing the buck" in the shape Of
arrow-pointed war taxes on TO the
consumer until he Is -hollering" for
help from Congress.
The stand taken by all OF the half
dozen commission merchants who ses-
titled before the committee - shown
in the reply OF william G. Carter to
Senator Arthur Capper OF Kansas,
who asked II Il would not reduce the
! price Of food stuffs to, the consumer
II the number OF commission mer-
chants were reduced.
/ FWheuever you eliminate the mid
dleman," replied Mr.. Carter, you
viii create higher prices"
Again the blame for the high cost
\ Of living placed at the door OF the
consumer. The hrst step TO take
to reduce the high cost Of living is
to reform the consumer" said Mr..
Carter.
Family Basket Gone.
The old family-basket. borne on the
faithful arm OF the housekeeper Of
other days, II seems, has given place
to the fundamentally OF the modern
| telephone. The patient feet that
brought the well-laden market-6as-
| ket homewards have been transformed
into tireless rubber autO-tires- The
old content with moderate priced
meats has been superseded by crav-
/ ing desire Of INDUCED palates for
choice chops and high-priced porter
house steaks.
1The subdued consumer. his head
bowed in shame. listened mutely 20
this crushing Indictment
| Thorough examination OF the ousi-
ness conducted in the local markets
by the commission merchants brought
out general disclaimers that there is
any attempt on the part OF the MID
dlemen to influence prices, and also
that the price, fluctuating from day
to day, is controlled by the law OF
supply and demand
Charles B. Fillius, District market
master Of the farmers producer mar
ket, told the committee that no rum
or OF price fixing had ever come to
his ears. II there does exist such
a conspiracy he vowed he would
break it up.
sen At Highest Prices.
James N. Payne said the only price
fixing he knew Of Is what he fixed
himself. Keen knowledge OF products
and prices rules the commission mer-
chant field, with a result that prices
are nearly uniform. was the general
testimony. They buy at the lowest
price possible and sell at the highest
Sometimes they are forced to buy al
top-notch prices and must sell at bot
tom prices.
william H. Harrison, who realized a
net profit Of $4,000 in 1918, said his
business is Incorporated with a capital
stock of only $4,000, and that he
HiudEes all the commission merchants
are doing pretty well this year" He
explained to the committee that ''the
more stun brings the more money ii
brings"
Mr., Harrison's net prohts in 1914
were SS,T11; for 1915, $S,T91; for 1915
they jumped to $14,011; another jump
in 1917 brought them to $2o,666s His
total volume of business last year
amounted to 81, $4,000. THE commits
sion bushes just now wouldn't justify
a man in worrying" he said
At this point Senator Capper again
suggested that as far as he could SEQ
"the war taxes are passed on to the
consumer"
AIiddIeman Helpful
Mr. Carter, in his testimony. said
his net profits in 1917 were SLIP and
In 1918 were $23, 345. He not only is q
commission merchant, but manufac
lures butter and deals in poultry and
Ash.
He was not inclined to believe that
the cold storage system has any effect
upon prices. Before the systm was
inaugurated in Washington, he said
he sold eggs for cents a dozen in
June and 81 a dozen in January.
E. L. Merrick testified that the mid
dlman is a very helpful man to bust
: ness, especially to the farmers. He
enables the farmer to stay at home
and attend to his work. when other
wise he would have to spend most Of
his time in town trying to sell hi:
produce.