The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-16
STRIKE BOOSTS COST
OF ALL MEATS HERE
Packers and Wholesalers Blamed for
Increase Up to 35 Per


New York. Dec. 10 Widespread
proflteering In al kinds OF meats en-
tered yesterday into the situation re-
sulting from the str Ike OF cutters,
packers. chauffeurs and others en-
ployed in the meat packing industry In
this city
Packing houses III the last week
have increased wholesale costs by va
rying percentages This increase has
been passed from the who esaler3 to
the retailers. who though they appear
TO deplore what has happened, have
Increased the prices to consumers.
Wholesale prices OF meat In the last
few days have increased from 10 TO 35
percent, but reta. .lers have not passed
all OF this Increase to the public.
The meat on which the price has
been raised is the same meat that was
iu this city and ready for distribution
many days before the strike started
1t has not been brought into the city
under new conditions which may have
grown out OF the str ke. The indigna-
tlon OF the householders at the serious
rise in prices was shared in part by
retailers, who met late yesterday in
the Offices OF the Meat Council OF New
York, II East 43d street II IL thet
position that their direct dealings
with the consumers place them in Jle
unfortunate light of be ng responsible
for the price rise, whereas they are
only protecting themselves.
No. e,Io Vf..rf ~ hstt alr
ers is that the Chicago market. cou.
pied with the strike in that city and
the expenses OF the strike here, has
forced slight increase.
There is no shortage Of meats In
this section" said statement issued
by the Meat Council, "snd there are
no indications that such a shortage
will develop. The strike has inter.
fered In some measure with the nor
NAL channels OF di-tribution which
has brought about an increase In the
wholesale price Of most meat products
THIS increase In wholesale prices is
being reflected in retail prices and is
q natural economic deve opment.
This arrangement In the movemen.
of supplies and the price increases ap-
pear to be only temporary and should
disappear IN the near future as the In.
dustry becomes adjusted to the exist.
ing situation. The reta members OF
this council pledge themselves TO DO
all possible TO bring about restora-
tion of normal conditions"
Individual retailers do not want TO
be quoted on the reasons for price in
creases because they are afraid they
Will antagonize Their sources OF sup
ply The most conservative retailers
Of Washington and Jefferson markets,
however, declared that they had to
pay on an average OF 20 per cent
more for all meats than they did a
few days ago.
The Labor Bureau, Inc, which han
dies the publicity for the Ama'ga.
mated Meat Cutters Union announ
ced the results of an investigation OF
prices The findings of the bureau CO
incide pretty we'll with statements OF
individual retailers and wholesalers
The figures cover thlrty-one kinds and
qualities of meatJ distributed by the
packers and eleven kinds sold over
the counter. The bureau says whole
sails prices have advanced 29A per
cent. In the last ten days and retail
prices 1914 per cent. in the same
period
Wholesale prices says the state.
ment, were inreased 10 per cent.
two days in advance OF the strike,
The packers had knowledge of the
strike IN advance"
John Kennedy, president of the
Eastern division of the Amalsamated
Meat Cutters Union, SAID he was
pleased with the fight being made by
the union for an agreement with the
employers. The strength OF the un,
ion was Increased by several thou
sand yesterday when the meat store
clerks walked out IN sympathy with
the cutters The total number of men
on strike now is set at between 1900
and 10000.
The strike against the Big Five
subsidiaries" said Mr.. Kennedy "is
80 per cent effective. The norma
daily kill of these concerns is little
over 10000 head and only few more
than 800 were killed yesterday"
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