The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-05-07
Profit hogs LOOT
AMERICAN PUBLIC!
Is Charge Of Expert Who Reveals
Sfartlinr Increase-inP Prices =.

WASHINGTON, May Profits Of practically all big
before the war W. Lau former secretary of the
tiona labor board told the railroad board today
In support of his testimony Lauck submitted United
States treasury reports and published statements of groups
of corporations showing net profits compared with
capital stock totals for the three year periods l99l4 and
19l6-19ls.
Sugar profits auck showed increased generally 800
cent packing profits between 800 and 400 cent
clothing 500 per cent Shoes 100 per cent and COAL 400
per cent
Profits of from per cent capital invested
for hundreds of corporations during the three
years. according to Laucks evidence This would nd
that many big corporations earned enough during the
period to entirely return their entire investment he said
APPEARS IN BEHALF OF RAIL
WORKERS ASKING WAGE INCREASE
Lauck appeared in behalf Of railroad workers asking the
board approve their demands for increases otang
approximately S1000000,000 annually. He blamed ad
vancing living costs almost entirely upon profteerng
Lauck called the boards attention to public statements of
aoe
corporations include 81 dealing in the basic
ds n i0ppsi meat s packing
clothing Ga in fuel light and housing and 36 dealing in
mercantile goods and agricultural supplies.
The outstanding fact said Lauck, "is that during the
years 1868 these corporations earned 81 250000
t s "a pT s se or the
years of l9124 They were due in large measure to the
fact that those corporations took large proportion OF every
dollar spent by purchaser"
all did ooo well the 21s cited
years. than in the prewar period, Lauck said
WIDESPREAD PROFTTEERING ADDS
TO BURDEN OF FAMILY MEN
"a total of $4SOOOO0000 year." he said "means $24O
per family of five hrout the nation Consider that each
family paid toll not to socaed legitimate profits but
to excess war profits profits $240 year. and
one gains idea of the total burden which profteering
meant to the country.
Durng the three years. 1863 the consumer has been
paying the food corporations whose reports available
over two and onehalf times as large profits
sidered acceptable before the war;
The profits pound of sugar. Lauck showed three
times great during the war as before.
he high price of sugar. he sad was the direct result
speculation The net profits of IL refining and producing
companies shown by their reports toaled $11 100000
during 1912l4( but to $34000O0O during 19161S
that is from 61a to 19 cent on the capital stock
OCEAN OF MONEY SWEEPS IN
ON MEAT PACKING FIRMS
big meat packing houses earned during the years
1915-17 total of $140000000 Such profits made
despite deductions for excessive salaries advertise
and overhead charges All together in 01218 these
concerns took onequarter of billion dollars in profits
nearly double the pre-war value of their stock"
Lack also submitted treasury data to show that of 1921
btumnous coal companies reporting 334 showed neprofts
20 per cent after every possible deductions 218 Sol
cent capital stock while 118 earned net profits oil
over 100 cent