Evening star., 1920-05-24
TESTIMONY SHOWS
CORBYS PROFITS
GREATEST IN 1879
Bakery, Company Head In
sists Recent Bread Price.
Increase Justified.

Increase Justified.
GIVES FIGURES ON COST
OF MATERIAL AND LABOR
Declares He Informed Department
Of Justice Before Announc-
ing Last Raise.
Testimony given in the bread price
investigation by the Senate District
committee today showed that the
profits Of the Corby Baking Company
and the Havenner Baking Company
had been greater in 1919 than in
1918. The profits for 1919 of the
Corby Baking Company amounted to
$191,3S2 On bread. as compared with
$1So.04s.5s In 1913. The profits Of the
Havenner company for the year 1913
were $3s.s4a. as compared with $1s.345
in 1913. These profits were larger
Ior both companies than in any pre-
v1ouS year. i
Charles L corby. president of both
companies. the first witness before the
committee today, insisted that the re-
cent increase in the price of bread
charged in the Districtict of Column
b1a was entirely justified, notwith-
standing the profits made last year
He declared that the only fair way
bread business lay in the percentage
of the pront on the turnover, the per-
centage of profits on each dollar's
worth OF bread sold. He presented fig
nres to show that profit reckoned
in 1914 was 11.45 per cent; 1915. 6.23
per cent; 1916, S.43 per cent; 1917. 9.57
per cent; 1913, 9.21 per cent: 1919. S.4
per cent. and for the week Of May IT.
1890. since the last increase in the
centage profits on bread sales. he said,
was 81.
Calls Increase Per Cent.
The witness gave figures to show
that there had been an increase in
the cost of materials and of labor
entering into the manufacture of
bread. and said that they warranted
an increase in the price Of bread.
which was recently allowed. The in
crease was to 81 cents for a thir-
teen-ounce loaf. charged the retailer.
The price before this increase had
Mr.. Corby said he thought 1t was
about a 5 per cent increase in the
price Of bread.
The witness said that before this
increase in price was granted he had
Informed the Department Of Justice,
the fair-price committee and the
sealer Of weights and measures Just
what was being done.
AI1 departmental omcials had noti-
fieation OF what we were doing" said
Giving figures to show how the ma
terfals going into the manufacture
had increased. he said that the dour
cost on January 5, 1890. h1d been 10
ps.s ss's +. Of sns DTssfsassse W ns
on January s. 1913. and that the price
on April 26, 1890. had been As per
cent. as compared to IS per cent on
lie testified that the total inere-
dents cost on January s, 1890, had
been 60 per cent, rs composed to 81
per cont on January 6. 1919, and that
the total Ingredients cost had been
63-per cent 1on April 26. 1890. a. COM
pared to 50 per cent on April 2S. 1919.
Total Expense % Per Cent.
Total expenses. including labor, on
January 5, 1920. had been s8 per cent
of the price received for the bread,
as compared with s8 per cent on Jam
ury s, 1919. the witness testified. The
total expenses April 26. 1920. were 50
per cent. az compared with 81 per
expense on May IL, 1920, was IS per
cent. as compared with ss per cent
May 20, 1919.
Mr.. Corby told the committee that
there had been an increase granted
to the labor employed in May of 1919
and Of May of 1920. He said that the
bakers received per day in May. 1919.
$5.12 for day work and $5.92 for night
work In May, 1920. the bakers re-
esiyed s7.2o a day for day work and
DO all the baking concerns pay
the same wages to the bakers?" ask
ed Senator Capper.
Yes
How many bakers do you employ."
asked Senator Capper.
The witness said he employed sew
enty-eight bakers in the Corby COM
pany. Later 1t was brought out that
bakers and their helpers were approx
imately 122.
Price Fixed to Sale.men.
Mr.. Corby said that there were
ninety-three distributing wagons and
that the drivers acted as sales agents
and that they were paid through COM
missions on the sales of bread, the
This commission. he said. was the
same az last year He testified that
the drivers earned in this way from
SIS to $130 a month. He testified also
that the retailers pay Is per cent COM
mission to their statesmen.
You fix the price Of bread to your
own statesmen. do you not?" asked
Senator Ball. chairman of the COM
mittee.
The witness said that he did.
rs the retailer allowed to dx his
own price, or do you attempt to con-
Mr.. corby replied that he did not
hx the price which the retailer
charges and that he did not seek to
control the price of the bread after
it left the hands of his company.
isn't this plan of distribution a
very expensive one, when these drivers
make from SIS to $3.50 a week?" asked
Senator Capper.
That is something we have nothing
to do with" replied Mr.. Corby The
labor organizations nx these things"
''Is the system the same as in other
citiesT asked Senator Capper.
Yes. about the same. In Indianap-
oils the commission paid is S per cent,
bat in many cities 1t is 10 per cent.
Receives Salary OF $4,000.
In reply to questions by Senator
Ball. Mr.. Corby testified he receives a
salary of $25.000 as president of the
Corby company. That had been his
salary since the company had been in
coTporated in 1914, he said. The vice
president receives a salary of $500
and the secretary q salary of SIS, 900.
The witness testified that he had