The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1910-10-04
A Clear Cut Explanation Of why
Prices Have Increased.

Washington Sept 30. (SpeciaD
When the Payne-Aldrich bill was
before the Senate, blind Senate
Tom p. Gore of Oklahoma staked
his reputation that if the meas
ure was passed extreme high
briccs would follow.
| The prophecy was fulfilled.
Average prices rose more than II
Iper cent from June to December.
1909. The prices of steel trust
common stock more than doubled
in six month in 1910.
It's the histor5 of all protec
tionists countries that tariff re-
vision upward means increased
prices. 1t is not generally re
allied how rapidly the prices of
tariff protected articles rose af
ter the passage of the Dingley
law in 1897 From July 1, 1897,
to January l, 1900, the first
three years following the Ding
ley law, the cost of living advan
ced 81 per cent or at the rate of
9 per cent a year. More trusts
were formed during this than
during any other similar period in
our history.
The price Of wire nails rose
from S1.36 a keg, in August.
1898, to SO. 50, in December, 1899
100 per cent, in 10 months.
The price of barb wire rose
from S1.65 per 100 pounds, in
August, 1897, to $4.13, in Deem
Der, 1890 $50 per cent in two
years.
The price of window glass rose
from $1.75 a box in April, 1897,
to $3.50, in April, 1901 IT'S per
cent in 4 years.
The Dinglay tariff made the
trusts, and the trusts put up the
prices. But few, if any, trusts
were formed during the three
years of the comparatively low
duties OF the Wilson bill.
When the German government
introduced its tariff law Of 1902
it published an explanation which
contained the frank statement
that inland prices are raised, so
far as q consideration Of the cir
cWmstances of the last ten years
will allow us to Judge, in proper
ton to the duties.
In France, Italy, and some
ttner European countries a part
of the municipal revenue is raised
by duties on goods entering the
towns. At the gates of such
towns there is an official who
collects this tax, and it is found
that the difference in prices of
articles purchased outside of the
towns and within the towns is i'm
nearly every instance exactly the
amount of the duty. The same
happens in trade between ma
tons.
The reason the sugar trust.
the steel trust, the lumber trust
and the harvester trust are will
ing to contribute large sums to
the campaign funds Of President
Taft are republican candidates
for congress and are unwilling to
contribute to the funds of Dem
ocratic candidates, is that the Re
publican part is the party Of
excessive protection. Tariff re
vision upward means increased
prices. and the tariff trusts know
that they can collect from the
people in new profits whatever
SUMS they may invest in the
Republican campaign funds.
1t seems that the postohice de-
partment of this government isa
law unto itself. The last session
Of congress passed bills intended
to bring about the discontinue
ance of the practice of the gov
eminent furnishing printed en-
velopes and thus entering into
direct competition with all the
printers of the country The de
partment, however, ignored of
the act of congress ind is out
with new specifications for the
printed stamped envelope ccu-
tract This action is ON a par
with many other acts and poll
ciea OF the DostoHce department
euhsorvforf of tho richie off feo