The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1902-09-18
Cost of Living.

NUSt VI Living
Chairman Griggs, of the democratic
congressional committee, has prepared
table of statistics to show that the in
creased cost of living has prevented
the workingmen of this country from
sharing in the prosperity now said to
prevail. That it does prevail no one
accustomed to study the conditions Of
the times will deny, but it is equally
true that the workman is not getting
his share, for the reason that his wages
have not been increased proportionate-
ly with the rise in the prices of the me-
cessities of life. 1t is this condition of
affairs that will make the republican
cry of "full dinner pail" use less dur
ing the coming campaign. Mr.. Griggs
says in his statement
The man with q fixed income from
wages or salary has been having his
income chopped ever since 1897 by the
increase in prices. Every man knows
whether his income has been increased
during the past three or four years. If
it has not been increased from 10 to 100
per cent, then he is losing money COM
pared to his condition in 1897 and 1893
and that of 1909.
Take, for instance, the thirty-second
annual report of the Massachusetts Bu-
reau of Statistics of Labor. That is
document compiled by good republi-
cans. 1t shows the purchase power of
dollar for the years 1897 and 1902 on
number of articles Of daily necessity in
the domestic economy of the average
mans home. In 1902 dollar will buy
less than in 1897 of the following arti-
cles by the following percentages:
Common soap, 194 per cent less
Starch, 10b per cent less.
Roasting beef, 163 per cent less
Soup beef, 173 per cent less.
Rump steak beef, per cent less.
Corn beef, per cent less.
Forequarter veal, 23b per cent less.
Hindquarter veal, II per cent less.
Veal outlets, 114 per cent less.
Forequarter mutton, 39b per cent less.
Leg mutton, 27a per cent less.
Fresh pork, 2S4 per cent less.
Sailed pork, 254 per cent less.
Hams, per cent less.
Shoulders, II per cent less.
Sausages, 13l per cent less.
Lard, 4Ot per cent less.
Butter, 2Ot per cent less.
Cheese, 124 per cent less.
Milk III per cent cess.
Potatoes, 12A per cent less.
Coal, 10 per cent less.
Brown sheeting, Bot per cent less.
BIeached sheeting, 393 per cent less.
Ticking, 189 per cent less.
House rent, 40 per cent less.
This report also contains table of
the earnings of the head of family
and their relation to the family expen-
ditures. 1t comprehends the earnings
and expenditures of 152 heads of fami-
lies. In twenty-one instances the earn
ings of the head exceeded the amount
expended. In four fifths of the entire
number the earnings of the head were
insufficient to meet the family expen
ditures.
= Prosperity means nothing to the av
erage man under these circumstances
Ii his wages or salary have a smaller
purchasing power now than they hat
during the "hard times" how can ht
be expected to see any difference be
tween that period and this. 1t is true
= credit is good and there is more none!
n in the country now than there was dur
ing the days of panic and hard times
but the workingman gets little direc
benefit out of the situation. A littl
more reckless speculation and feN
more unlimited draughts upon credi
and confidence on the part of the capi
talists and there will be q return to tn
days of scarce money and evil days
The best relief for the workingman wi
be found in the destruction of th
trusts and the lowering of the tariff O
necessary articles. In that way tn
cost Of living will be reduced and h
= will feel the blessings Of true pros
perity. Nashville News.