The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1898-09-12
The Cause Of the Trouble.

i ne SuuSc CL LiAS AiSucAS'
Judge Ellyer as member OF the
special commission appointed to inVes-
tigate municipal expenditures has made
his report to the Atlanta city council,
and we refer to it here in order to call
attention to some of the statements
therein made We use the word state
ments," but, in view of the fact that
Judge Hillyer was one of the most
prominent adherents and advocates or
the gold standard to be found IN the
community. it would be better to say
that it is our purpose to call attention to
some of the admissions made in the re-
port.
Whether these admissions are accom-
panied by a change of mind with refer
ence to the closing of our mints against
silver we do not know, nor is such
knowledge necessary. The fact that
he dweIls with such singular empha-
sis on the results of the gold standard
is sufficiently important to stand by
itself
Judge TilIyer says that "the enor-
nous change in the financial policy OF
the United States is now spoken of by
many of the officials and public journals
as amounting to a revolution" and he
seems to indOrso the statement. 1t is,
indeed. most startling and far-roach-
ing revolution, and the end is not yet.
That it is not due to the tariff system
is shown by the fact that we have fire.
quently survived without any seriously
uncomfortable results, the operations
of a high tariff. AS a matter of fact,
the enormous financial revolution which
Judge Hllyer refers to has practically
eliminated the tariff. Other burdens
have become so OncrOus that the tar
if burdens are lost to view. The doub-
ling Of the value Of money has so cheap
encd labor and the goods offered IN the
wholesale market that manufacturers
find it impossible to raise prices; they
cannot even find buyers who will pay
them even a small profit on their goods
As with the manufacturers, so with the
owners Of improved real estate The val
Ne Of their property has been cut down
Onc-half, but this fact is ignored by the
tax assessors. Owing to this, they hes
itate to cut down rents-in fact cannot
DO so in Justice to themselves; yet the
rents must como down or the houses
will remain vacant. SO far as improved
real estate is concerned. the effects Of
the financial revolution may he traced
with the accuracy of a mathematical de
monstralon It's value mas beeh re
ducod because money has doubled III
value; renters cannot pay the rents de-
mauded because the earning power OF
their labor has been reduced; the earn
ing power Of their labor is reduced ho-
cause the demand for its products Is cut
off; demand has been cut off because or
the low prices Of agricultural products;
the prices or agricultural proouc'S are
low because money has doubled IN val
Ne; and money mas doubled IN value
because Of "thc vast change in the tinan-
cial policy Of the United States,' this
policy being the exclusion Of silver from
the mints
The condition or affairs which now
actually exists and which IS the basis
Of Judge HItlTer's report, has been pre-
dictcd by The Constitution for years
as the inevitable result Of the
financial revolution which the money
changers Of the world have brought
about, We do not refer to these
predictions trlumpnantIy, Dut with re-
greet. The evils mat have bctalien the