The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1909-05-08
THE PEOPLE
TO PAY MORE

washington, May S.-M the cost OF
living increased 47.4 per cent during
the 10 years of the Dingley tariff be-
tween 1896 and 1907, how much more
will it cost the average family to live
under the tariff bill now before Con-
gress?
This is a problem in tariff arithme-
tic for the public to think over while
Congress is preparing to pass the
Payne bin with a few minor changes.
The Payne bill, after revision by
the Senate Finance committee, is ad
mittedly an advance in rates over the
, Dingley or present tariff law. Just
how much of an advance, not even the
Republicans know for certainty.
The increase over present rates is es-
timated all the way from 1.44 to 80
per cent. The exact increase cannot
be known until the last administrative
feature of the bill has been incorporat
ed, which will probably he in the few
minutes just preceding the passage of
the meaeure
To understand what the real mean
ing of an increase of tariff rates over
the Dingley law is to the consumer
the record of the effect of the Dingley
tariff is interesting.
Dunn'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 pre-
ceding 1907. What could be bought
for s72.45 in July, 1897, cost $1O6.79
in June 1906. The rise was steady and
gradual.
While wages during the same period
increased nominally 18 per cent, the
cost of living increased 29.4 per cent
in advance of wages.
The Statistical Abstract of the Unit
ed States shows the effect of the Ding
ley law on various commodities In
reading each of the following compar-
isons it should. ibe borne in mind the
present tariff bill materially increases
the Dingley tariff:
Breadstuffs costing s1O.5O in 1896
cost $1S.16 in 1907.
Meats costing $7.05 in 1896 cost
1854 in 1907.
Dairy and garden costing $7.S7 in
1896 cost s14.46 in 1907.
Other food costing $3.50 in 1896,
cost 1892 in 1907.
Clothing costing 1880 in 1896. cost
$20.10 in 1907.
Metals costing s13.23 in 1895 cost
$17.52 in 1907.
Miscellaneous items costing 1882
in 1896, cost 1924 in 1907.
The increase of the cost of wearing
appShIGl anu IOOuSUuIIS lie
ley tariff was gradual and steady,
said Hon. James NJ. Graham of Illinois
in master tariff speech in the
House. Figures speak eloquently of
the absolutely scientific manner in
which the working mans wages are
reduced in fact, although the unions
have been able to obtain a slight no
minal increase. They give the laborer
Is cents with one hand and take AZ
cents from him with the other.
The condition of labor at the end of
ten years operation of the Dingley
tariff was shown at meeting of the
prominent labor men of the country
at the office of former Secretary OF
Comm cree and Labor Oscar s. Straus
on February 10 1909.
Samuel Gompers, on behalf OF the
American Federation of Labor, report
ed that he had sent out circular let
ters to the executive officers of the in
ternational trade unions in December,
1908, and from the replies gathered
the following information:
Blacksmiths, 80 per cent unemploy-
ed, those employed averaging about
four days a week; carpenters, 40 per
cent unemployed; cigar makers, 10
per cent unemployed; commercial te-
legraphers 30 per cent unemployed;
freight haulers, 80 per cent unemploy-
ed: hod carriers 80 per cent unemploy
ed: butcher workmen, 40 per cent un-
employed, tobacco workers, working
on two-thir1s time; iron moulders, ~
per cent unemployed.
ciIESslNC CONTEST