Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-06-24
DEMOCRATS DO NOT \
AGREE ON CAUSES FOUND
Minority Members Are Given Author
Ky tc Employ An Expert to 90
over Views Of Republicans and SUBJ
NIT rlndinss--lnereased Cost Of
Production is Among List Reported.
tBy Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, ID. c.. June 23,-Rc-
publicans and Democrats do not agree
as 20 the causes for the great increase
IN the cost of living between 1900 and
1919
The majority report of the special
senate committee. which has been In.
gestigating the question, was submit.
ed to the senate today by Senator
Lodge. chairman OF the committee.
A meeting was held prior to the
presentation of the report and the
minority members OF the COMMITTEES
protested against the character OF
the findings.
After long argument, the min
Gritty was authorized to employ an
expert TO go over the report of the
majority and prepare the minority
views for submission TO the senate
that OF the many causes contributing
20 the advance in prices. the follow
ing were most marked:
Some Causes
Increased cost of production of
farm products by reason Of higher
land values and higher wages.
Increased demand for farm pro-
ducts and food -
Shifting OF population fr0nf food
producing to food consuming occupa-
lion and localities.
immigration to food consuming
localities.
Reduced fertility of land. resulting
in lower average production or in In
f,x- f,s-f IA. t<x~.
Increased banking facilities in agri-
cultural localities. which enables farm
ers to hold their crops and market
Them to the best advantage.
II was found that this not only
steadied prices. but had tendency 80
Increase them.
Reduced supply convenient to
transportation facilities OF shipment
OF commodities as timber.
Cold Storage.
Cold storage plants. which resulted
in preventing extreme fluctuations OF
prices of certain commodities with the
seasons. but by enabling the whole
salers TO buy and sell at the best
ossibis advantage, tended TO advance
prices.
Increased cost Of distribution.
Industrial combination.
ORGANIZATIONS OF producers or OF
dealers.
Advertising.
Increased money supply.
DISQUALIFICATION
Higher standard of living.
Source o. information.
The foregoing findings were gath
cred hE u.1 RS H. -
commodities, included in the price In
dex number Of the bureau of labor.
These commodities were grouped
and the advanced noted for the DIFF
IeTe-t groups during the period OF
1900 TO 1909. inclusive.
The general wholesale price level in
th3 United States advanced during
that period 145. The groups show
advances as follows:
Farm products. 39.s: food. etc.
49,; lumber and building material.
1916; miscellaneous Commodities.
AZ; cloths and clothing. 70; fuel and
Iishting- 6.9; house furnishing goods.
S-S; metals and implements. s.s.
decline was shown fer drugs and
chemicals. amounting to 20.
~ Is shown that the greatest aa-
yances have taken place in the pro-
duets Of the soil.
concerning retail prices. the report
shoSs that in the United States in
me spring or 1919 they we're al the
highest point reached for many years.
Some Comparisons.
As compared wifh the spring or
isps- prices for bacon we're more
man 20 percent higher: him was 81
percent higher: -four was about 50
i'orcenf higher; butter about - per
ecnt bixber; sugar about ~ percent
EiEher. and eEKs loo percent hfzhcr
some lev srticics. such a. coffee and
ga. were about the sane price IS IN
I~oo, bot practically no articles Ok
food we're lower than in 1905.
Furniture was about the same Prize
a. IN 1900. Earfhcrware was slightly
ie~ =. shoes and clothing were coo.
efrrrnIf,- hf~t.--