The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1910-07-01
HIGH COST OF LIVING
Senate Committee Makes Report
on Subject.

ACR00AV00S 0o0 ASStoCSk0OS Wv aOV
agree as to the causes for the
increase 10 the cost of living
between 1900 and 1910, says Wash
ington dispatch.
The majority report OF the special
senate committee which has been in
vestigating these questions was sub
mltted to the senate June % by
Senator Lodge, chairman OF the COM
mittee. A meeting was held prior to
the presentation Of the report and
the minority members OF the COM
mittee protested against the charac-
ter OF the findings.
After long argument tie minority
was authorized to employ an expert
and to 20 over the report of the ma
)ority and prepare the minority views
for SUBMISSION to the senate. The
report made by Senator Lodge was an
exhaustive one, compiled from, testi
mony given by Al witnesses. reports
received from consuls and from for.
eign governments.
The majority OF the committee
found that OF the many causes con-
tributing to the advance in prices.
the following were the most marked:
Increased demand for farm products
and food; shifting Of population from
food producing to. food consuming
occupations and localities; immigra-
tion to food consuming localities;
reduced fertility of land, resulting 10
lower average production or Increased
expenditures for fertilization; increas-
ing banking facilities IN agricultural
localities, which enabled farmers to
hold their crops and market them to
the best advantage. 1t was found
this not ouly steadied prices but had
a tendency to increase them; reduced
supply owing to transportation facili-
ties OF such commodities as timber;
cold storage plants which result In
preventing extreme fluctuations Of
) prices Of certain commodities with
the seasons, but enabling the whole
salers to buy and sell at the bes'
. possible advantage, tend to advance
prices; increased cost Of distribution
industrial combinations; organization
: of producers OF dealers; advertising
= money supply; over.capitalization
higher standard Of living.
The foregoing findings were gath
-.,ered by measuring the prices of 25
|e commodities, included IN the pric
d index number OF the bureau OF labor
n The commodities were grouped an
u the advances noted for the differeu
!. groups during the period from 100
to 1909, inclusive. The gener'
n wholesale price level IN the Unite
Il States advanced during that perlo
14.5 per cent.
% Concerning retail prices the repo
shows that 10 the United States
ir the spring OF 1910 they were at Il
: highest point in many years.
= compared with the spring Of 1870
Y. prices for bacon were more than
n per cent higher; ham, 33 per ce'
&C higher; -four, about SO per ce
higher; butter about As per ce
higher; sugar about IL per cent hig
eo er, and eggs 100 per cent higher.
nut "Wages have not advanced SO "a
.ra idly as have prices," the report sa
land practically all labor difficult
.se that have been the subject of med
ny tion 10 the United States during
nv last two or three years hive had
their base the advanced cost OF
Ing"
Hours Of laDor IN practically
to wage occupations are shown to h
~ been reduced. This reduction atft
ed the weekly earnings Of emplu
- for the reason that the large majol
the Of wage earners are employed on
ext piece basis or an hourly rate. Fl
1900 to 1907 full time weekly ca rni
advanced II 6 per cent. There
al no figures for years subsequent
. on 1907.
I'M 1t was found that labor unions
not been a serious factor 10 cont
utlng towards advancing prices.
So