The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1904-06-23
The Cost Of Living.


Secretary Shaw devoted nearly all ol
his address to discussion of the cost
of living, He prayed that the time
might come when things would be
cheap, contending that it were much
better to pay good, stiff prices for com
modities than to buy them cheaply
providing, of course, that the consurn
er was regularly and proGtably EN-
ployed. High prices, he argued, were
an unfailing index of prosperity. He
limited. also, that figures would bt
forthcoming from official sources that
would prove that wages have been ad
vanced in excess of the ratio of ad
vance in prices of living. This wage
table has not been presented yet, but
the federal figure makers have been Al
work, and are out with statistics show
ing that the average American house
holder is simply mistaken in the no
tion that his living expenses are high
er than usual.
The bureau of statistics has present
ed bulletin showing showing com
parisons between in May, 1903, anC
May, 1904, that ought to bring delight
to every man who pays grocers' bills
and every woman who makes bargain
hunting excursions to the market ThC
bureau of statistics admits that there
has been an advance in the price o.
cattle, wheat, corn, oats, coffee, butter
and sugar. and all the products O.
these commpdities that enter so large
y into the daily menu of the family ia
ble, but these advances are compen
sated by marked reductions in Other
household commodities. While WI
may grumble at the prices of sirloil
staeaks, we may find consolation il
the fact that leather has dropped t.
bargain counter prices and that mo
hair is simply drug on the market
Butter may be commanding almost
prohibitive prices and flour may max,
the family loaf luxury, but the hous
keeper should be cheered by the fac
that spelter is cheaper than it has beer
in years, and that Manila hemp ant
sisal Iope have been mark ed down un
til the consumer may practically max
his own price for them. Potatoeo ant
flour and beans may remain at the tol
notch, but what does the optimisti
housewife care so long as she can ge
zeal bargains for dainty breakfast dish
rs made of spelter, tallow, steel billet
or pig iron? 1t may require a littl
time to learn how to digest these ney
fishes, but it will not require nearl
~ much ice to to keep them fresh anC
ready for serving.
With all respect and Difference to tn
figures furnished by the burean of sta
tstcs, we submit that the housewif
is the best expert in furnishing est
mates and facts concerning the CON
parative cost of living. In more thal
ii majority of the American homes til
purchases for the table are made by th
wife, and very generally from weeE
ly or mouthly allowance granted he
for that purpose. Sue knows bette
than any expert in the government
emplope that prices of commoditiei
almost without exception, that are j
daily family use have increased in pIi
es from 10 to so per cent. within til
last two years. She knows that she
no longer able to lay aside the lit
savings from her regular allowance
and no specious figures can convinC
her that she is mistaken. Lhe hi
mentioned the fact to her HUSBAND
probably several times, and it is n
likely that any bureau figures abol
the "full dinner pail'' will be frame
and hung in the dining rooms Of wa!
workers this year, Washington Pos