New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-09
THE GATHERING or FACTS,

The inquiry regarding prices and wages was
continued by members of the Senate Finance
Committee at sessions in this city during the
last week. OF the sub committee there were
present Senators Aldrich, Hiscocx, Carlisle and
Jones' and as before the sessions were char
acterized by entire unanimity in action. Colonel
Wright the United States Commissioner of
Labor submitted the schedules and instructions
prepared for experts in his department, who
are to collect retail prices in all parts of the
country, and also wholesale prices within the
last two years at the principal points of dis
trbution. These were examined and unani-
mously approved and it was further decided
that inquiries should be made by the same ex-
pertS regarding the wages of labor in many
empiOyments. A statement Of the limitations
of this inquiry was also prepared and agreed
upon by the committee without dissent. and it
is believed that the information 10 be thus OBJ
tanned will be of especial value in connection
with the statistics showing the actual increase
or decrease in the cost of living during the last
two years.
But the instructions to the Senate Finance
Committee, embodied in the resolution of the
Senate under which it is acting, did not confne
the proposed inquiry to the last two years nor
even to this country 1t called for an inquiry
generally as to the effect of different tariffs
upon prices and wages, the cost of living and
the remuneration OF labor, upon the condition
of the people and the production and progress Of
industries. As the work of the committee must
necessarily be limited prior to the session of
next December, it was determined to begin an
investigation Of wholesale prices of commodities
IN previous years, which is to be conducted
during the summer and fall through experts
selected by the committee. II is the object to
carry back the record OF wholesale prices of each
article as far as possible, though changes in the
modes OF production and of living render it
impossible in many cases to obtain prices of the
same articles and qualities for long period
Nevertheless, it is believed that a very inter-
esting and useful body of information relating
to the course of prices prior to the last two
years may thus be collected before the sub
committee resumes its session in the fall
1t is worth while to notice that in this case. as
in many others, while sincere and candid men
of opposite opinions find no difficulty in uniting
in respect to the methods and terms of an in
vestgatOn, since such men Of both parties want
only the truth without distortion or conceal
ment, yet it is by the Republicans OF the SEN
ate and the friends Of Protection that this in
quiry has been proposed. 1t has been in the
power of the Democratic majority in the House
during any year of the twelve that they have
had control of that body to institute and carry
through a similar official investigation. in order
TO test the actual results of the tariff which the
majority in the House has so often attempted
to change. But year after year there have been
great volumes of speeches delivered regarding
the outrageous burden of the Protective Tariff
and bills framed and passed by the House rad
ically changing the conditions Of American in
dustry, but there has been no serious attempt to
ascertain the facts, or to determine how far
were enhanced by protective duties or how far
the cost of living had been affected, or how
far the wages of labor had been increased. In
divldua members on both sides of the House
have from time to time made such inquiries as
they could, and some Of these have been exceed
ingly valuable in results. But no official in
ve5tigation of the sort has ever been authorized
although the Democratic opponents of the Pro-
tectve system have controlled action in the
House for twelve years ont of the last fourteen
Everybody recognizes the proprety and even
the necessity of an official determination of the
facts in this matter. Everybody sees that in
no other way can disputed questions regarding
the effect of the tariff be settled. But while
ts Democratic opponents make no effort in that
direction, the Republican supporters of the Pro
tectiye system are not afraid of the facts and