Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-01-31
DEMOCRATS TO ENDEAvoR TO
MAKE CAPITAL OUT OF
HIGH PRICES.
REPUBLICANS PREPARE
TO FoREsTALL ATTACK
Whether or Not Congress. Will Investi-
gate Depends Somewhat on Political
Necessities of the case-varyins
Opinions Make Unity DifficuIt-other
News Of the Day.

Washington, Jan. 31.-f the demo-
Gratis can find an opening, 1t will be
their purpose to make political capital
out of the high cost of living, which, 1t
is their desire to say, is due almost en-
tirely to the tariff. The fact that there
is so much difference of opinion among
the experts regarding the cause or
causes of high prices, however, has thus
far prevented a general democratic at
tack along this line, but the attack will
be made in due season should favor
able opening present itself The repuo-
licans are aware of this desire among
the democrats and it will be their pur-
pose to forestall it, if possible, or even
to prevent it. Much of the talk in con-
gress for the next few weeks will be
better understood by the general public
if this political side of the cost-of-liv-
ing question is kept in mind
| Whether there is to be a general in
vestigation of high prices by congress
at this session will be determined chief
! ~ by the political necessities of the
case. If the republicans should come to
/ the conclusion that such an investiga-
/ ton would help them in the campaign
that is soon to begin, it will be made
without delay. But if failure to investl-
/ gate seems the better policy, that VIII
! be the program. In the meantime, much
valuable information is being secured
by the department of agriculture and
by the committee which is Investigate
ing food prices in the District OF
/ Columbia, and all of it will be at the
disposal of the country.
The president is convinced that the
Payne tariff bill plays no part in the
increased cost of living. If it can
be shown that it does, he will lend
a willing ear to arguments that GER
tain schedules should be reduced, but
his examination of the democratic
arguments and of the instances in
which increases of price can be shown
has convinced him that his political
opponents are talking nonsense. and
that this can easily be demonstrated.
Facts About Present Prices.
Inquiries already made by the de-
partment of agriculture reveal several
suggestive facts about food prices. II
fifty of the more important cities o
the United States, the average retail
these cities, the retailer has been Sc
curing a profit of more than so PEI
cent: in twelve of them, it ranged from
40 to so per cent; in the other TWEEN
ty-seven it ranged from 20 to 80 pc
cent.
These figures indicate that in SOM
sections of the country the retail profit
, are enormous, but whether the retail
ers, as class, are acting independent
, ~, whether they are operating in con
formity with an agreement anon
, themselves or with the wholesalers. ar
. matters upon which not much light ha
thus far been thrown.
1t is the opinion of Senator Bristo1
of Kansas that revolutions have bee
: started by less than the American PEG
pie ara suffering at this time in tn
mater of high prices" 1t is hi
opinion that the price of meat shout
be less today than it was quarter G
a century ago, because in the prepare
ton and sale of meats now there is n
waste. One-fourth of the carcass wer
to waste as the result of methods EN-
ployed when he was a boy, while toda
nothing is wasted, not even the bloc
Meat Prices Steadily Advance.
I And yet, Notwithstanding the man
fold economies practiced in the moder
!, packing houses, the price of meat hs
Q steadily advanced as the years hay
o gone by. The claim that this advant
r has been due to relatively diminish
ing number of cattle seems to be dii
y proved by the Investigations alreat
, made. During the decade ending wit
. 1909. beef cattle in the United Stat
l. increased from 27,994,225 to 49.399.o0
J. an increase of 10 per cent; the numb