Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-19
Bread Is Reduced by Major
Companies After Inquiry
by Capper Committee.
DAIRYMEN's COOPERATIVE
PRAISED BY CHAIRMAN
Merger of Two Companies Will
Give Them so Per Cent of Capt.
tai Business, Official Says.

The Senate Food Committee is turn
ing its attention to meat prices today,
following a study of milk costs yester-
day, during which Washington dairy
men defended prices here, pointing out
that they have been paying farmers
the same basic wholesale rate for more
than three years.
Inquiries by Chairman Capper as TO
what reorganizations or mergers have
taken place in the milk business here
developed testimony to the effect that
two years ago the Chestnut Farms
Dairy became part of National Dairy
Products Corporation and that within
the past month the same concern has
taken over the Chevy Chase Dairy.
Doubts Control of Supply.
Henry N. Brawner, jr., head Of
Chestnut Farms Dairy, was asked by
Capper if National Dairy Products is
on the way toward control of the local
milk supply. Brawner replied he did
not think it would be in control, but
estimated it might possibly have so
per cent Of the business when the two
QhIrleS are merged.
A. L. Thompson of the Thomson
Dairy, testified his dairy is independent.
Asked by Capper If any efforts have
been made by other organizations to
absorb it, Thompson answered in the
affirmative, but said such offers have
been turned down and that it Is the
intention to keep the Thompson Dairy
independent.
While the committee went on with
its study of milk and meat prices,
another echo of the recent bread hear
ings came in the form of an announce
ment from the Great Atlantic & Pacific
Tea Co. of reduction of approximately
20 per cent in the price of its standard
whole wheat loaf. A statement from
the company said it acted on the sug-
geStion of the Senate committee, and
estimated the result would be a saving
Of about 100000 to consumers of
whole wheat bread throughout the
country. Several days ago the same
company announced it was bringing a
scent ne-pound loaf of bread to its
Washington stores from its own bakeries.
A notice from the Holmes & Son
Bakery put in the record yesterday,
announcing 8 two-cent reduction in
the price Of whole wheat bread, from
IL cents to cents, brought the state
ment from the company today that all
LIE DdkSTleS Ildu CuC GLe pTICe IdSG
Monday and they we're merely follow
ing the cut.
officials to Testify.
Among those who will testify today
regarding meat costs are: Joseph A.
Becker, Department of Agriculture;
Ethelbert Stewart, who will give quo
tations gathered by the Bureau of Labor
statistics; F. z. Mollin, secretary of
American National Live Stock Associa-
ton; w. w. Woods, president of In
stitute of American Meat Packers, and
Davis van Gelder, president New York
State Association Of Retail Meat Deal
ers, Inc.
Brawner told the committee while IS
cents quart may seem high for milk,
in contrast to prices in other cities,
Washington is getting a quality of milk
for Is cents which Is the equal Of pre-
MUM milk selling for higher prices
elsewhere.
The witness said the farmers receive
basic price of 80 cents a gallon. to
which is added a premium for quality
cattle and farm scores. He said the
premiums average cents a gallon,
making the average price 81 cents. The
spread between the farmer and con-
sumner price, he said, is cents bottle.
After the expenses Of processing
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