The Washington times., 1919-08-19

I'VE want cheaper meat" chorusec
! Washington housewives before the
Senate District subcommittee yester-
day.
1t was an appeal that struck home
for Senator Ball Immediately called
off today's intended investigation OF
Washington rents, and will delve
deeper into the food situation, to see
why Washington housekeepers can't
get cheaper meat.
Washington housewives not only
want cheap meat. but want il badly
Mrs. z. a. Calvin, Mrs. r. w. Stan
Gill, Mrs. w. A. Shelton, and Mrs
L. B. Bagby informed the committee
in emphatic tones. They said there
would be no difficulty selling cheap
meat IL it were offered.
But surely, it's possible to buy
some cheap meats?" the committee
queried. The housewives then amend
ed their complaint by demanding
cheap meat that is "fit to cat"
Not To Be Found.
Search high and low, they said
cneap meat good enough for the din
ner table. 1t is possible to get cheap
cuts from a very inferior grade OF
beef, but when il comes to getting
cheap cuts from a good grade OF
beef, it simply is not to be found.
The committee suddenly discovered
ray of light.
What about fish?' the members
asked the housewife. 1t seems that
fish was a popular item on the home
menu during the war, according to
Mrs. Calvin, but, apparently, it be-
came too popular.
Then, up went the price" Mrs. Cal
vim said, and that's why fish is no
longer the popular substitute for
beefsteaks that it used to be.
Investigation of the food question
by the committee, the Senators were
informed, brought meat prices down
a trifle last Friday and Saturday
Senator Ball was quick to catch at
this. He hinted that something be-
yOnd investigation would make them
go still lower. But the housewives
were not so inclined to agree with
him.
Mrs. Bagby and others said the de-
cline N prices didn't last, as was evi-
denced yesterday by the fact that
they were generally back to the for
-
brought from % cents down TO Is and
20 cents.
Calls Families Helpless.
Washington families are suffering
a very great deal fro mthe high cost
of living, Senator Capper was inform
ed by Mrs. Calvin. They feel the
pinch of high prices and are helpless,
she said, because "one must cat to
live" The average Washington salary
has been stretched to the breaking
point, Mrs. Calvin said. and one hears
OF much suffering on all sides
If left to the Washington house
keeper to determine who is respon-
sible for the high prices, the decision
would be unanimous against the
mfddleman and the retailer
when men testify before this com
mittec that they can make an income
OF $4,000 a year with nothing except a
desk and a typewriter as capital"
Mrs. Calvin said. its not hard to see
why prices are going up" Previous
ly +. g. Howard, a food broker. had
testified that he had no capital except
a desk and typewriter" but made
$4,000 last year buying and selling
food.
MIS-. GAVIN Sdl0 inc women or
Washington realize that the retailers
cannot do business successfully this
wear on the same profits they made
last year. But the reports of tn,
Federal Trade Commission and other
ORGANIZATIONS she said. "show that
they are making more than their
share Of profits and are making high
er net profits than ever before. Not
only arc they doing that but they
seem TO be passing their taxes on TO
the consumer"
AbsOIVe the Farmer.
The women generally were inclined
to absolve the farmer from blame for
high prices. Mrs. w. \. Shelton. who
lives outside Chevy Chase. said she
gets food direct from the farmers bv
parcel post much cheaper than she
can buy il in Washington and also
much cheaper than the commission
testified that they are COM
PEELED TO pay the farmer She gets
good apples through the parcel post
for GO cents a half bushel. The same
apples cost her recently Sl2J at a
store in Washington, which is regard
I'd as a very reasonable" one. Big
lunches Of carrots and onions can be
bought direct from the farms for five
cents, she said, something unheard
Of in the average retail store. Corn
costs her 20 cents a dozen.
Mrs. Shelton said she has lots of
trouble trying to get around the high