The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-05-02
COST Of LIVING
HAS INCREASED
FORTY SEVEN PER CENT MORE
THAN TWELVE YEARS AGO
THE pINGLEY TARIFF BILL.

II the cost OF living increased 47.4
per cent during the ten years of the
Dingley tariff between 1896 and 1897,
how much more Will it cost the aver
age family to live under the tariff
bill now before congress?
This is a problem in tariff arithme-
tic for the public to think over while
congress is preparing to pass the
Payne bill with a few minor changes.
The Payne bill, after revision by
the senate finance committee, is ad-
mitted an advance in rates over the
Dingley or present tariff law. Just
how much of an advance, not even
the Republicans know for a certainty
The increase over present rates is es-
timated all the way from LA to 80
per cent. The exact increase cannot
be known until the last administra-
tive feature of the bill has been incoT-
pOrated, which viii probably be in
the few minutes just preceding the
passage of the measure.
To understand what the real mean
ing of an increase of tariff rates
over the Dingley law is TO the con-
sumner, the record of the effect of the
Dingley tariff is interesting.
Dun's commercial agency has for
years kept careful track of prices of
the commodities which are of general
daily consumption. The cost of liv
ing increased 47.4 per cent during the
ten years of the Dingley tariff preced-
ing 1907. What could be bought for
S7245 in July, 1897, cost $106.79 in
June, 1906. The rise was steady and
gradual.
While wages during the same pc
Rod increased nominally Is per cent,
i
cent in advance of wages.
What Records Show.
The statistical abstract of the
United States shows the effect of the
DingIey law on various commodities.
In reading each of the following COM
PARSONS it should be borne in mind
the present tariff bill materially in
creases the Dingley tariff.
Breadstuffs costing $1,000 in 1896
cost S1S.16 in 1907
Meats costing sos in 1896 cost
1854 in 1907.
Dairy and garden products costing
s7.S7 in 1896 cost $14.46 in 1907.
Other food costing 1888 in 1896
cost 1882 in 1907.
Clothing costing $3.50 in 1896 cost
Metals costing 1928 in 1896 cost
| S17.52 in 1907.
Miscellaneous items costing S13.52
| in 1896 cost S19-24 in 1907.
The Give and Take Scheme.
| "The increase of the cost of wear
! ing apparel and fOodstuffs under the
| DingIey tariff was gradual and
| steady said Hon James NJ. Graham
! in the house. Figures speak elo-
quently of the absolutely scientific
manner in which the workingman's
r.
| the unions have been able to obtain a
slight nominal increase They give
| the laborer eighteen cents with one
hand and take foTty-seven cents from
/ him with the other"
| The condition of labor at the end
| OF ten years operation of the Dingley
/ tariff was shown at a meeting of the
/ prominent labor men of the country
| at the office of former Secretary of
! Commerce and Labor Oscar S, Straus
| on February 10, 1902
/ Samuel GompeTs, on behaH of the
I American Federation of Labor, re-
ported that he had sent out circular
letters to the executive officers of the
international trade unions in Deem
Der, 1908. and from the replies gath
\ cred the following information:
H Blacksmiths, 80 per cent unem-
pIoyed, those employed averaging
Il about four days a week; carpenters,
4 40 per cent unemployed; cigarmak-
Il ers, 10 per cent unemployed; COM
mercial telegraphers, 80 per cent IN
/ employed; freight handlers, 80 per
/ cent unemployed; bod carriers and
building IabOrers, so per cent unem-
Il DIoyed; butcher wOrkmen, 40 per cent
| unemployed; tobacco workers, work
Il ing on two-thirds time; iron mould
Il ers, 20 per cent unemployed.
II Mr.. GOmperS: I am sure it is not
an exaggeration to say that there are
now in our country, and have been
/ with very little variation since Oc-
| tober, 1907, nearly 100000 wage
/ earners unemployed
| Secretary StraUs: do you mean
| that before that period those 1000, 900
wage-eaTnerS were employed?"