The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-25
FOOD PRICES AKRON
DOWNWARD GRADE
Decreases VIII Be More Pro-
nounced When Retailers
Are Checkmated.
COMPARISON OF FIGURES
Beef, Lamb, Mutton and Poul-
try Show Drop in Cost
to Consumer.

| Since men IN the grain and provision
trade launched the movement In various
parts Of the country week ago looking
to the removal Of Governmental restric-
tons on grains and provisions there has
been a decline in the wholesale prices OF
various commodities. which Is being re-
Hected in the retail prices to the man
who pays in the end-the consumer.
More consumers win get the benefit OF
| lower prices as soon rs the retailer
makes up his mind that he can no longer
get away with war prices with which
the consumers have been so long accus-
toned.
One of the biggest influences respon-
Gble for the drop in wholesale prices Is
believed by many to be the country wide
demand In favor Of a return to the natu-
raj laws OF trade without the restraining
hand OF Government activities. There
are many who contend that knowledge
BY the public concerning the enormous
quantities OF these commodities In the
warehouses Of the country has aided
materially in starting the law OF supply
| Some Comparative Quotations.
| Tho following comparative quotations
show what has happened during tho last
| week:
| January corn closed on January II at
| S1.361s. and closed on January "a at
<1.23is. a decline Of 10 cents IN a week.
January oats closed on January II at
67S cents, and closed on January 20 at
5sia cents. a decline Of s1s cents.
January pork closed on January II a.
| $+6.25 and closed on January - at $44,
q decline of 32.25.
January lard closed on January II at
s23.75 and on January "a at so2.75, a
| decline Of 81.
January ribs closed on January II at
| S24.75 and on January 20 at $3.50.
a decline OF sl.S5.
January rye closed on January "a at
$1e1 and on January "a at 1856, a de-
cline Of cents.
| so cents 4 bushel and in Chicago 20
cents
Drop in Meats and Poultry.
1t was pointed out in THE SUN a few
/ y .
the market reporter. that the drop in
the wholesale prices of beef. lamb and
mutton. veal. pork, live poultry. butter
| and eggs during the preceding seven or
| eight days would manifest itself IN re-
| duced prices to the consumers, at least
by the end OF the week. This was gen.
| orally true OF these particular commodi-
| ties yesterday. although there were some
| storekeepers who simply couldn't get
over their habit Of charging topnotch
prices for everything on the theory that
consumers wouldn't know the difference.
Edward Flash. Jr.. president of the
New York Produce Exchange, made
| trip TO Washington to deliver personally
to Joseph p. Tunulty, the Presidents
| secretary, the resolutions OF the board OF
managers, which were unanimously rati-
fed by the members Of the exchange.
| The resolutions appealed to President
Wilson TO take prompt action TO remove
the restrictions and to discontinue the
practice OF price fixing as now applied
to hogs, grain and other foodstuffs. Mr..
Flash was still in Washington yeterday
, II 10 understood he had an appointment
| TO confer with United States Senator
Calder and Representative Gould re-
garding the action OF the exchange and
the general situation.
There was excitement on the Produce
Exchange yesterday over the decline IN
corn and oats. Those who insist that
the Government should no longer counte-
! nance the fixing Of hog prices from
month to month by the so-called Hog
Price Fixing Committee argued that by
the natural order OF things when the
price of corn goes down the price Of hogs
should be allowed to 30 down too When
high priced corn goes into hogs, the re-
suit Is high priced pork in normal times
Tho converse is equally true when the
pig is fed low priced corn. Things,
however. do not work this way in price
fixing days There seems to be a grow
ing impression that when the Hog Price
Fixing Committee meets on January %
hog prices will be fixed" for at least an
other month.
That Great Britain Is not casting en-
Hous eyes upon tho vast stocks Of S2.26
wheat in this country Is Indicated by the
following cablegram. received yesterday
by a Produce Exchange house:
There Is now confirmation that the
,, British Government has sent n large
fleet Of steamships to load wheat and
other foodstuffs at Australian ports,
while Melbourne cable announces that
twcnty-nine steamships are shortly ex-
pected there. all OF which will load
wheat. This weeks clearances of wheat
from Australia are expected to show a
substantial increase. The Importance of
Australia's prospective contribution to
the international supply Is easily real
lied II We remember that the disposable
surplus Is some 1875, 100000 bushels and
may be oo.000,000 bushels"