, 1907-09-12
. THE RISE OF PRICES.

Word m from Salt Lake City.
that the long suffering public has at
last rebelled at paying the extortion-
ate prices of living, that are nov de-
manded and which at this time are
steadily increasing. Attorney General
Breeder has asked that a grand jury
be e~mpaneled, to investigate a social.
cd food trust, hat is alleged to exist
in Salt Lake, charging that unlawful
combination is in existence for the
purpose of making and maintaining
extortionate prices. Not Salt Lake
City alone, but from all parts of this
western country, the same complaint is
being made daily. that the price of liv,
ing has increased enormously in the
last few years, the estimates running
from 80 to so per cent increase. To
day, We venture to say, without fear
of contradiction, that the cost of living
which comprises what are called the
necessities of life, is higher in the
United States, than in any other coun
try on the face of the globe, and for
which there a be no adequate rea.
son given. Let us look at some of the
prices. Butter for instance, a few
years ago, at this season, 20 cents per
pound; last winter So cents and 40
cents per pound. and now in the begin,
ming OF the fall, 80 cents. At the same
ratio, what will be the price In De
cember? Potatoes, &c per pound in
the middle of September; four advanc.
ing steadily on any or all preteXts, is
another, and other necessities in pro
portion. Is 1t any wonder that every
paper you pick up is filled with ac-
counts of fresh strikes. Should this
increase fall upon EVERYBODY alike,
that Is with the same results, the mat,
ter could be easily adjusted. But 1t
does nnf thn yNnn, N arl ,hz 49,
ing man are The ones upon whom the
burden falls and falls SO heavily, that
any increased wages he may receive
Is swallowed up. In other words, the
producer, under u administration, is
So safeguarded, that he is at the zenith
oil power, while the consumer is SLOWLY
being forced deeper into the mire un.
ger the prices charged by the pro,
queer. TWO cents a mile rides or coal
lands and timber lands conserved by a
paternai government does not appeal
very highly to the general working
man."
The foregoing is from the columns
of the kemmerer Camera and is doubt
less intended for a criticism of the ad.
ministration because of the rise in
prices. THE producer, under our ad,
ministration is so safeguarded that he
is at the zenith of his power, while the
is slowly being forced deep.
er into the mire under the prices being
charged by the producer That sounds
very well, but how is the producer of
butter, for instance, protected by this
grinding government, unless the tax
upon the family cows hide works a
rise in the price of butter? And how
does the tariff affect the price of DO.
tatoes at Kemmerer?
In the course Of trade and business
we are all to some degree both pro-
ducers and consumers and all share
to some extent in the high prices now
prevailing. To be sure, there are iso,
lated cases where merchants are able
to combine and raise prices to an I'm.
just degree nj there are doubtless i'll
stances where the tariff works a hard
ship upon a few, but in the aggregate,
there is no question but that high
prices and high wages work to the
best interests of all. They mean
strong supply and demand and the
general employment of all the people.