The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-08-24

an increased money supply are the
three substantial causes for the ad-
vance in prices In the United States,
according to Senator Johnston of
Alabama, Clarke of Arkansas and
Smith OF South Carolina, minority
members Of the select senate commit
tee, appointed during the last session
Of congress to investigate and make
a report on wages and the prices Of
commodities.
Vigorous attack Is made, in the
minority members report. on almost
all the reasons given by the majority
in Its report, submitted some time
ago. as to the cause for the advance
in prices.
I'VE are without sufficient data"
say the minority members in their
report just completed. Ito apportion
the degree of responsibility between
these three causes. but that the two
first are the chief malefactors we
have no doubt: and they are Of our
own creation or permission"
Attack Tariff.
After attacking, one at a time. the
is principal causes contributing, ac-
cording to the majority report to the
high cost OF living. the minority men,
bers take up the tariff. declaring that
when the Payne-Aldrich bill was
framed champagne was put on the
schedules at from 64 TO 66 per cent,
whilst wearing apparel was taxed
from so TO go per cent.-drinking
champagne was to be encouraged and
wearing wooden clothes discouraged.
So with hats" they add, "those bring
Ing not over $3.50 per dozen were
taxed ~ per cent. and those valued at
more than SIS per dozen AZ per cent"
The result OF protection. they de-
clare. Is great fortunes for the few
and great suffering for the many. We
believe" they say. that the amount
of the tariff is added to the price and
taxed to the consumer; that but
for the tariff the commodities we buy
upon which that tax Is laid would be
cheaper. approximately to the extent
OF the tariffS and that when we do not
buy the imported articles the protect
ed manufacturer puts approximately
the amount of IT on the goods pro-
duced by him."
It Is Hard.
1T Is difficult to understand how
any one can favor high rates of duty
IL he does not honestly believe that
II will increase the prices to be real
lied by the manufacturers producing
the article affected. by diminishing
or destroying competition. and thus
necessarily increasing the cost to the
consumer. Then we were many times
mournfully warned that any reduction
in rates would food our country with
lower-prtced German products, and
that the smoke of American manufac-
lures would disappear from the
heavens. Now we are informed that
the tariff has not increased the cost
OF these articles entering into every
health and comfort Of every family"
Showing the effect of the traiff on
prices. they instance sugar on which
the New York consumer, they say,
pays more than the London consumer
by the difference between the sugar
tariffs In the two countries, plus II
cents per 100 pounds.
1t Is scarcely necessary" they add.
ito mention the inlquitous wooden
schedule-where the tariff rates are
so high on these necessities OF our
people as To practically preclude any
foreign competition with the Ameri-
can manufacturer. except on high
priced goods purchase, by the
wealthier consumer who can. to some
eXtont. disregard price"
Trusts and Combines.
Taking mp the subject OF trusts,
combinations and monopolies they
declare that "thcre are few trusts
that could survive revenue tariff
They flourish only under the shadow
Of high protective walls. Standing
behind those walls that shut off for
cign competition and destroying do
nestle competition by consultations
and absorptions, they are limited only
To- selling at a fraction less than the
foreign price plus the protective duty.
That they reduce cost OF production
seems certain. but il Is In rare cases
that the public or the laborcrs en-
pleyed 10y them participate I'm the en-
larsed profits. So enormous have
been their profits that we find or