Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1904-06-30
WRIGHT WRONG AGAIN
Makes Some More Ridiculous
Fig ares on Prices.

Fig ares on Prices.
COST OF LIVING HAS ADVANCED.
Necessaries Go Up Despite His Jug
Cling Observation-Disclosures and Soda
Balanced Against Pork and Beans.
Other Absurdities.
Carroll D. Wright commissioner of
labor, is still doing his best to keep
wages up and the cost of living down.
Much depends upon him this year. If
wages and the prices Of farm products
can he we'll sustained, while trust
prices and the cost of living cam be
kept within reasonable limits, the pres
ent administration may he continued in
power. The farmers and wage earners,
who have the votes, must somehow be
made to feel as contented and satisfied
as possible. Wright's statistics are
very soothing and will allay any orli-
u0Ey ulSSOuLC1lI.
An examination Of his latest pre-
scription of statistics, the March (19O4)
bulletin Of the bureau of labor OH
wholesale prices, shows him to he as
clear juggler of figures as ever, but
that he is unable to contend success
fully against overwhelming Odds
His report shows that average whole
sale prices for the year 1903 were q
per cent higher than for the year 1897.
This is an admission that prices have
gone up q per cent since the trust era
began In 1897 with the passage of the
Dingley bill. AS prices for 1897 were
ut their lowest about July /, just be-
fore the passage Of the Dingley bill,
and as they are now higher than at any
time in 1903, we may safely conclude
even from Wright's figures that the
cost Of living is now 30 or IS per cent
above what it was on July /, 1897. AS
matter Of fact Dun's tables. which
are scientifically constructed. show
that the cost Of living was on March /.
1904, 43&per cent higher than on July 1,
1897.
But it is with this last report as a
work of art, as the handiwork of one
| Of the worlds greatest craftsmen. that
we are most concerned. In the first
place, this and his report Of last No
vember on the cost of living are re-
markable for what they do not con-
tain.
The prime and avowed object Of
these tables Of prices is to show the
comparative cost Of living at different
times. In order to reach a safe and
scientific conclusion not only must all
Of the important items of expenditure
be considered, but they must be given
q weight in accordance with their i'm
portance. Mr.. Wright disregards both
these conditions. He not only omits
several of the most important items of
expenditure. but in making his tables
Of averages he puts in nutmegs and
pepper as of equal Importance with
fresh beef and eggs.
Mr.. Wright's averages are made up
from 2GO quotations. Each has the
same weight or Importance as has ev-
cry other single quotation-that is, he
has taken the average of 26O items.
OF the 2GO items quoted seventy-six,
or nearly one-third, are for clothes and
clothing, although Colonel Wright told
us in his November Q9O3) report that
clothing formed only 14.O4 per cent of
the cost Of living, while only fifty-four,
or about one-fifth Of all, were for food.
which, he tells us, form 1854 per cent
of the cost of living of the average
family.
Mr., Wright desires to please the
farmers by showing good high aver
age for farm products and the wage
earners by keeping the cost of living as
low as possible. He therefore puts
raw cotton, which shows an increase
in price Of AL per cent, in with farm
products and secured fleece wool,
which shows an increase Of only 81
per cent, in with the cloths and cloth
ing group,
AS showing Mr.. Wright's genius for
figures and for keeping down the cost
Of living. we note that nutmegs and
bicarbonate Of soda, which show a de
cline Of nearly 40 per cent for 1903
are balanced against pork and beans,
which show an increase Of about 10
per cent in 1908. If properly wright.
ed" it is not likely that the average
for nutmegs and soda would pull down
the average Of pork and beans per
cent. AS Mr.. Wright has "wrighted''
them the average is pulled down
about 40 per cent. The price of
matches, which declined Is per cent
affects Mr.. Wright's averages as much
a. does the price Of coke, which rose
Il per cent. The price Of wood screws
which declined q per cent, affects his
averages as much as does the price OF
steel billets, which increased 80 pei
cent, or Of corn, which increased q
per cent. OF course IL wood screws
are quoted once steel billets should be
quoted 100 or 200 times and corn about
1000 times in order to give them prop
e. weight in making an average.
OF such stun are Colonel Wright'e
statistics made. On such figures does
| B,fo roo,,<o<ion most IYio 1x,o 90 c%o$ic.