The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-24
Republicans and Demo-
Gratis Differ in Their
Opinions.
REPORT is FILED
BY COMMITTEE
Trusts and Cold Storage Among
Causes of Increased Expenses,
According to Fin ding S.
Work Hampered by Fail
ure to Secure Appropria-
ton Asked For.


Warrington, June 2s.-Republicans
and Democrats do not agree as to the
causes for the great increase in the
cost of living between 1900 and 1910.
The majority report of the special
Senate committee which has investt-
gated these questions was submitted
to the Senate to-day by Senator Lodge,
chairman of the committee. a meet
ing was held prior to the presentation
of the report, and the minority uem-
bers OF the committee protested
against the character of the findings.
was authorized to employ an expert
to go over the report of the majority
and prepare the minority views for
submission, to the Senate.
The report made by Senator Lodge
was an exhaustive one, compiled from
testimony given by forty-one wit
nesses, reports received from consuls
and from foreign governments. 1t
contains large number of tables Civ
ing the range of prices over the last
decade. The majority charges that
its work was restricted by reason of
the refusal of the Senate to appro-
pirate the ss5,ooo asked for BY the
committee. which would have been
used to employ agents in the field.
Some of the Many Causes.
The majority of the committee found
that of the many causes contributing
to the advance in prices the follow
Ing were most marked:
Increased cost OF production of farm
products, by reason of higher land
values and higher wa ges.
Increased demand for farm products
and food
Shifting of population from food
producing TO food-consuming occupa-
tions and localities.
immigration to food-consuming To-
cslities.
Reduced fertility of land resulting
in lower average production or in
increased expenditures for fsrtiiiza--
Increased banking facilities in ag-
ricultural localities. which enabled
farmers to hold their crops and mar
ket them to the best advantage.
1t was found that this not only
steadied prices. but had tendency
to increase them.
Reduced supply convenient TO trans
portation facilities of sucn commodi-
ties as timber.
Trusts ana Cold Storage.
Cold storage plants. which result 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
possible advantage tend to a-yance
prices
Increased cost of distribution.
Industrial combination.
Organizations of producers or Of
dealers.
Advertising.
Increased money supply
Overcapitalization
Higher standard Of living.
The foregoing findings were gath
cred by measuring the prices of 257
commodities included in the price in
dex number Of the Bureau of Labor
These commodities were grouped and
the advance noted for the different
groups during the period from 1900
to 1909. inclusive. The general whole
sale price level in the United States
advanced during that period 14.5.
Advances by Groups.
The groups show advances as fol-
lows: Farm products, $685. food, etc,
sl97; lumber and building materials.
1875: miscellaneous commodities, 14.7:
cloths and clothing. 1906 fuel and
lighting. 6.9; housefurnishing goods,
5.3smetals and implements, 36 A de-
cline was shown for drugs and chem
icals amounting to 80 per cent.
1T is shown that the greatest ad-
vances have taken place in the prod
ucts of the soil. The committee crit
icized the use of forests by saying
that there had been a large consump-
ton without any particular attempt
states that In view OF the fact that
the increases have been so much
greater in products coming either di-
rectly or indirectly from the farms
than in any other line excepting prod
ucts of the forests, the conclusion must
be reached that the most important
cause Of the present advance is to
be found in a study OF farm conditions.
X Concerning the advance in the cost OF
food. the report says:
why Reef Is Higher.
The supply Of government available
land for general farming has been ma
terially reduced. and the ranges are
being rapidly cut up into homes for
/ settlers. The cost OF producing live
stock has materially increased with
the disappearance Of the range, which
necessitates producing cattle on tame
pasture and high-priced lands
"A study of the tables concerning
Wholesale prices Of farm and food
products indicates that the advance in.
the United States in ten years had
been more rapid than in Great Britain,
Germany and many other European
countries. but that they had simply
approached more nearly the world
level of prices.
A comparison Of meat prices in the
United Kingdom and the United States
shows tab bacon In 1900 was 73.4 per
cent. higher In the United Kingdom
than in the United States, and that
In 1903 1t was Bis per cent. higher
in the United Kingdom than In the
United States. About the same ratio
Continued on. second Page.)
TO VIRGINIA nIaAcH. VIA NonFoLIS