Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-06-16

tariff bill went into effect.
The Republican organs, including the
Fourteenth street journal, have been
making great fuss about the number
of unemployed and the reductions in
wages in the past two or three years,
al of which they ascribe either to fear
of Democratic tariff legislation or to
the baneful effects of the tariff bill
adopted by the Democratic Congress.
But they are discreetly silent concern
ing the great decrease in the cost OF liy-
ing, under the Wilson tariff bill. Re-
publican editorial writers ignore the
facts OF large immigration from Eu-
rope, and the perfection of labor saw
ing machinery, due to American in
ventive genius, both tending to create
a surplus of labor; when they search
for the causes of labor's idleness, and
the slight reductions which have been
made in wages. That the Wilson tar
if bill had nothing to do with these
conditions, is a fact which is capable
of easy proof; but granting that the
bold assertions of Republican organs
are true, the purchasing power OF
money has shown an increase more
than proportionate to the decrease in
wages.
Taking into consideration all the ar
ticles which enter into the cost Of living
of person in ordinary circumstances
in life, dollar is worth so per cent.
more to-day than in 1890 or 1891.
These years are selected for comparison
because they are referred to by Repub-
lican papers as the period when the
prosperity Of the nation was at its
height. A Register reporter yesterday
made a tour of the business district,
for the purpose of gathering facts
bearing on the matter under discus
sion. and interviewed a score or more
Of the representative business men in
the different lines. The facts which
are presented below were not secured
from Democratic merchants exclusive
ly.
A large proportion of wage owners do
not own the homes in which they live.
Rent is therefore big item OF expense.
Several real estate dealers were seen,
and all stated that rents are lower than
five or six years ago. The estimates
of the decrease varied from 10 to 30 per
cent. Property. however, has not de-
creased in value.
The grocer gets, perhaps, the largest
share of the earnings of the working
man. The reporter went over the
books of large wholesale house, with
one of the members of the firm, and
was permitted to make comparisons
with wholesale prices now. and the
same month in 1891. The decrease in
prices has been remarkable. Some
commodities, lard for instance, are
cheaper than ever before in the history
of the trade. In June, 1891, spring
wheat -four was quoted at S6.25 per
barrel: the present price is 81. The re-
duction in winter wheat -four averages
S1.75 cents a barrel. Coffee is about
six cents pound cheaper, and there
has been an average reduction Of eight
cents a pound in teas. Canned corn
sold in June, 1891, for dollar dozen;
the present wholesale price is 80 cents
a dozen for the same grade. In other
canned goods there has been pro-
portionate reduction, averaging from
35 to 60 per cent. The price of soaps
has been cut off about one-fourth.
Pickles were quoted in 81 at $3.50 a
barrel: to-day they sell for $3.50 a bar
rel. Soup beans were $3.50 per bushel
in 81, 81 to-day; corn meal was So
cents then, now 40 cents. Starch is l Il
cents per pound cheaper. Raisins have
dropped from TX to 31a cents per
pound. These articles are all staples
and were selected at random, and not
because they show the greatest reduc-
ton. All groceries have dropped in
proportion.
After the grocer comes the butcher.
Meats are all down, both fresh and
smoked. They have never been lower.
The average reduction in smoked meats
is about two cents per pound.
The prices Of country produce vary
on account of natural conditions, but
dealers report that everything is low.
Potatoes are as low as they have been
for more than a decade.
Shoes are lower, and the purchaser
secures a better quality of leather and
workmanship for the same price. A
dealer makes rough estimate that
boots and shoes are 25 per cent. creaper
to-day than in 1S90-91.
Furniture is cheaper. It Is now pos
sible to buy bed room set for SIG, and
very serviceab'e furniture for but little
more. These prices have only been
made recently. There has also been a
big cut in the prices of carpets, of all
grades.
Clothing for men, women and chill
dren has also taken a decided drop.
Dealers in ready made clothing say
that there has been a reduction which
is at least one-fourth of the 1S90-91
price. There has been corresponding
reduction in haberdashery In dry
goods there has been very pronounced
decrease. Every lady in the land has
realized this in dong her shopping.
Said a member of one c. the largest
firms in the city: "Our volume of trade
must show a decided increase in order
TO make the profits from the business
that we made a few years ago. With
out looking over our books. l can say
without any hesitation that domestic
goods have deprecated in value about
I % per cent. since 1S90-91, and imported
goods have dropped from 40 to so per
cent. since the Wilson bill went into
effect. The prices Of small notions
have not shown such a reduction, but
this is largely because novelties con-
troll the trade in this line. Buttons.
however, are much cheaper"
IN hot nd
caps, queensware, etc, tell the same
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