Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-20
PRACTICAL EFFECT OF THE TARIFF.

n.
Result of the Investigations by the senate
Subcommittee.
The Senate subcommittee to whom was in
trusted the investigation Of the practical effect
Of the tariff laws has made q partial report
The subcommittee consists Of Senator Aldrich,
chairman, and Senators Allison. Hiscock, Jones
OF Nevada, Harris and Carlisle. The report is
designed to be entirely non-partison and the
committee say on this point:
In order to give the statistics collected the
weight Of undoubted authority. the committee
decided ct the outset, with entire unanimity,
that the inquiry should be extended only 10
such subjects and be carried on through such
agencies and by such methods as were approved
by the unanimous voice Of the committee. and
this plan was scrupulolsly followed in all de-
cisions as to the character, general scope and
detnlls OF tho Investigation All concurred in
the view that IL the facts could be secured in
such manner a. to create general confidence in
their accuracy great step forward would be
taken in the solution Of important economic
problems. There was no expectation that the
members OF the committee would agree about
the political or even the economic bearings OF
the facts ascertained, but all were DESTROYS
that hereafter there should be no reason to
question the integrity Of the facts.
HOW THE WORK WAS DIVIDED.
The committee decided TO divide their work
into two parts. the first TO include the investi-
CATION into prices and wages on the LIST Of each
month for the period from June I. 1899. to Sep
TENDER 1. 1891. inclusive. The inquiry for this
period was directed TO the ascertainment-
First. OF tn, course OF retail prices Of 2l5
articles Of general consumption in seventy
cities and towns in different parts Of fhe coun-
try.
Second The course Of wholesale prices for
the same article at seven principal distributing
centers
Third. The farm prices of Heading agricultural
products at representative points selected by
the Department Of Agriculture.
Fourth, The relative rates Of wages in the
cities and towns where price statistics were col.
lected in fifteen general occupations.
Fifth. The course Of wages in special indus.
tries.
Sixth. In addition to the inquiries as to the
course OF prices and wages in the United State,
the committee, through the agents of the DE.
partment of Labor, undertook 70 collect similar
statistics for retail prices and wages in Great
Britain covering the same period.
The report of the committee now submitted
relates exclusively to the first part OF the in
vestigation.
The second part Of their work. in the prose
cution of which a large amount of data Ia,
sale prices and wages during the years from ls4(
to 1891. inclusive. The committee regret thai
they are unable to complete their report upor
this portion Of the investigation in time 70,
presentation to the Senate at this session o,
Congress.
REDUCTION OF THE PRICE OF LIVING.
In the investigation as to the cost Of living
the result shows that the cost Of living Of
family in ordinary circumstances was forty-foul
one-hundredths of I per cent less at the end Of
the period included in the investigation (Sep
TENDER 1, 1891 than il was in the beginning.
The retail prices of ais articles at thret
representative points-Fau River, Mass.
Chicago and Dubuque. Iowa-show q furthe,
decline in the cost Of living in May, 1892. a,
compared with September, 1891, Of 81 pei
cent, ands as compared with June. July and
August. 1889, of 3.l per cent; that wholesal,
prices declined at substantially the same rate
that the average prices Of all agriculture
products, except faxseed, when given theil
proper relative importance, were 1857 PEI
cent higher in September. 1891. than at th.
initial period; that the cost Of living increased
in Great Britain in the time named 1.9 pei
cent; that it would appear that wages in tn,
United States averaged II per cent greater thar
in Great Britain.