The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-04-26
RvVEsTIGATING TEE cOSr or
LIVING.

WAsHlNGTON. April 2S-The senate
COMMITTEES appointed IN investigate the
coat % living laid out for itself q COM
prehenaivs and elaborate programme OF
operations. IL now finds itself swamped
in the magnitude % the undertaking.
After all II is quite open 90 doubt
whether there il any demand whatever
for an inquiry 40 sweeping aa that pro-
posed by tho committee. The certain
result Of such an inquiry would be the
submission many months hence % an
enormous mass 20 figures utterly mean
ingleas To most 20 ua aud useful mainly
to specialists and politicians who would
draw from them their own conclusions
TO support their own pre6onceived opin-
ions. The presentation Of thoss con-
illusions would leave the public practi-
cally whore it is and has been. in a state
80 confusion and bewilderment. under
conviction that the increase In cost Of
living IL due To the tariff or the trusts
conceivablv responsible for tho offend
ing condition.
Under the committee pla elaborate
statistics were to he prepared in prof
of much that is already kno Sn. Acres
of figures are not needed 10 'hOw that
prices are higher than they wee Ave or
ten years ago. that there has b,en price
increase abroad IA well "a in this ,ountFy
The puzzle of domestic econOI w for
the average man IL not entirely cleared
Ivy information that the wages of a
-Schlosssr- in German agricultural
implement factory are O.eS To O.TO mark
an hour or that on a hasis % 100 world
prices for vegetable food were 50 In 1893
and 10 In 1908. Comparison 81 wages
herr and abroad. % prices in the United
States and In Europe. IL interesting and
important for those who study economies
In its lakger aspects, but the average
citizen Knows nothing OF thoss larger
aspects and does not care a rap about
them. He faces the fact that he has to
ray more than he did a few years ago
fo- food and clothing. He wants TO know
who IL getting the difference betWeen
thu old price and the new and whether
those who get 10 have a proper right to
IT, Ina way his question IL simple enough
and u he IL robbsd he wants TO looats
the robber.
Much could he dons by a few plain and
practical statements regarding few spe-
cial Articles % daily use and consumption
by which general light might bs thrown
on the whole question. II -four was - or
- 81 barrel In 1910 and IL o. 50 or ~ to-
day the citizen would like On know who
gets the difference. IL a suit Of clothes
that to-day costs 90 could have been
bought in 1910 for 81 or sIS he would like
Ia know who profits by that advance. lt
would interest him greatly to know who
gets the increase that he IL paying for
meat. eggs. butter. lard, vegeta bles. coal.
cotton cloth and dozen other articles Of
common everyday purchase and use
The price history 20 all these articles for
lSoO and for 1910 IL readily to he traced.
recorded in the detail of its progress and
published with -oms intelligent and per-
hap- satisfactory explanation The De-
"a rtment of Commerce and labor has q
Torce 20 specially trained agents qualified
? ~ just such work and 10y them there could
'e given 60 the public az a minimum COS,
and direct answers IN some % the
most important elements % the question
q the cost 81 living Their findings by
authority Of the President could he given
10 the press at any time in special reports
IN special subjects az soon az the material
,ould be obtained and prepared
Meanw hile. II the senate sees NJ 10 spend
Us. On or Sas0 OOO. to consume four month";
~ four years in the collection and com
Dilation of a mountain % statistics. there
need be no Interference With the imme-
iiate preparation and publication % d.
rect answers Ia a few direct questions