Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1910-08-24
AL WASHINGTON c,
RESPoApENcE.
SPECIAL
BY Clyde H. Tayenner.

ny SlyuS II. 1dfeuueT.
The American people will recall |
that Senator Henry Cabot Lodges
price-.nvestigating committee found
that no part of the So percent in
crease in the cost of living in this
in the last 10 years was due
to the tariff. Political economists all
over the land were sorely puzzled at
the report.
The phenomena can now be explain
ed. The report of the minority of
the committee Just being published,
shows that the Republicans made no,
serious attempt to ascertain wheth-
er the tariff was responsible or not.
Listen to this extract from the mi
nority report:
'In examining witnesses we scarce
ly touched upon the territory of the
highly protected commodities"
Lodge, who helped frame the
Payne-Aldrich bill and takes the po-
sition that the consumer is a myth,
saw to it that the Investigations We're
confined almost exclusively to food
stuffs and cotton, and to the produc-
ton, distribution and cost to the con-
sumer of wheat, corn, beef, mutton
and hog products, of which commod-
tiles the, United States produces n
large Fer cent. >: the worlds rproduc-
ton, and which VIC export. in enor-
nous quantities. AS to these articles
it may be supposed that, when freed
from the influences of trusts and mo-
nopolies. the tar.ft should not cut a
large figure except that it increases
the cost Of their production.
Do you see the point, Mr.. Consum'
err? Ledge had been assigned by
Senator Aldrich to make report. oh
viously for campaign purposes, which
would absolve the tariff from al
blame in connection with the awful
increase in the cost of living under
our system of high protection. Lodge
evidently concluded the safest way tt
accomplish this end would be to avoi,
asking any questions of witnesses
concerning advances in the prices o
highly protected articles, such as tn
products of the sugar trust, the stee
trust, the harvester trust, all o
which contribute heavily to the Re
publican campaign fund.
The Lodge report gave fifteel
reasons for increased prices, an
found that the tariff was mo mater
Hal factor This report is being us
ed by the men who voted for tn
Payne-Aldrich bill in the hope it vii
enable them to remain in public life.
Tariff Increases Prices.
: Senators Johnston Of Alabama
Clarke of Arkansas. and Smith c
South Carolina, the minority men
; bers of the Lodge committee, fin
the three substantial causes for II
creased prices are:
Il !. Tariff.
IL 2. Trusts, combines and monop
llies.
8. Increased money supply.
Owing to the tactics of the Repul
i licans in avoiding highly protected a
: ticles, the minority members foun
themselves without sufficient da'
, to apportion the degree of rsespons
E bility between these three causes, b.
!. that the two first are the chief NAL
factors we have no doubt; and tht
!. are OF our own creation or PERM
sion"
Eve believe" the report read
that the amount of the tariff
added to the price and taxed to Il
consumer; that but for the tart
e the commodities we buy would
/ cheaper, approximately to the exte
= of the tariff"
What's This!
The Payne-Aldrich law is not NJ
It bringing in sufficient revenue
/ run the government, reports fri
= the Republican press bureau to t
e contrary Notwithstanding. The tai
o law, the corporation tax, internal r,
J enue receipts, and all other sourc
:, u Of revenue. combined. failed by
: O14,S42.S7 Of producing sufficient flu
vi to run the government during t
n first Is days of August.