The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-03-18

those Of twenty years before. Since
lS9O these expenditures have grown
by $lS0,OO0,000 each nine wears, on
the average, or S20000,000 a wear, I'm.
III now they are l21.d per cent more
han they were eighteen years AGO
Expressed in terms of per capita out
90, these charges, which are only part
of the cost of maintaining the federal
| government, rose from S475 in 1890
TO $6.39 in 1000 and to $7.56 in 1908.
"It is always asserted, when tbe
truth is told and demand for econ
omy is made, that the development of
the country and It's increase of wealth
have been so great rs both TO require
and Justify enlarged OUTLAY. The
apology is neither relevant nor true
1t is not necessary that expense in
crease in the same ratio AS growth.
But the growth Of expenditure has so
far outrun the growth of the country
that the actual figures are almost in.
credible.
"The phenomenal increase of pub.
| lie expenditure has already produced Il
! plentiful crop of public ills. 1t is one
of the causes of the increase In prices
now disturbing the people This in
crease follows in a suggestive way the
IMITATION OF national and local budgets.
The average cost of the supplies that
must be bought for practically every
household has increased about 90 per
cent between 1895 and 1900
High Cost of Living.
During the past year there has been
n marked lifting OF the. price level. Food
stuffs cost from 10 10 40 per cent more
than ten wears ago
Something OF this is due TO enormous
| pI ln.
the United States I'm 1896 was s2l IL and
in 1909. it was S33.0i Although popula-
ton had grown by many millions in these
thirteen years. the amount of money OF
each individual had increased by s13 60
or more than GO per cent The Increase in
the total gold production of the world.
which rose from SllS.SiS. 600 In 1890. To
over Sl2I,000. 600 in 1905. has been made
the basis for one form and another OF
credit edit issues tagGregatinS a vast sum.
The tariff Is another contributing
cause. II is true that It can furnish but
a partial explanation For 10 only a lim-
tied extent can the rise in food prices
can he affected or be traced TO the tar
iff,
Combination which are actually in
restraint Of trade, which have mouopo-
lized their field and are either controlled
by common secret management or a
secret agreement TO maintain cXorDitant
charSes arc partly responsible.
"Still more OF The rise OF prices is due
| TO the decline OF agricultural products
as compared with the increase Of popu-
lation. Decrease In the number of cattle
and swine Is also given as a reason.
when due allowance has been made
Tor the effect OF these forces that make
for dearcr living, there stIil remains
large unexplained balance said Mr., Hill.
This must be credited to the lavish eX-
pcndlture which has now grown 20 be
national trait
Waste. idleness and rising wages. all
inter-rclatcd 10 one another now as cause
and now as effect. are. icNt to an over
issue OF rrcdccmable paper. the three
most powerful forces in the world TO raise
prices,
Wage Problem Serious.
Perhaps the greatest factor OF ALL IN
the price problerl is the wage rates.
Everybody knows that labor cost is the
principal item in all forms of industry
The wage rate has been rising steadily
in this country, To resist IT is difficult
and may be dangerous.
1.-THE effect OF national waste OF capital
is felt Immediately i'm the added weight
of taxation. The taxes collected annually
from the railroads OF the country have In
creased by $40 1000 600 and by more than
500 per mile OF track between 1900 and
1908.
"rhe modern theory that YOU can safe
ly tax the wealthy Is Just as obnoxious
as the medieval theory that YOU can safe
" opprcss or XIII the poor, Il IS obnoxious
not because wealth deserves special con-
sideration. but becanse capital is the
handspring OF all industry and material
'"rhe saving feature OF our situation is
that il is not complex: and that the RENE
dy is not obscure. The ideal Of intelli-
| gent economy must be restored. Let the
rule be that every dollar unprohtaby
Spent marks a crime against postciity
| just as much as does the dissipation OF
| ma atcrial resources. Expenditure must
| be cut down all along the line.
"Credit everywhere should be conserved
! by a sharp scrutiny OF new bond issues.
! The nation should reserve them for the
! crisis Of war. No state need ever borrow
again il ii is wisely and honestly gov
! cTncd.
stop grating. tine offspring OF public
| extravaganza and the parent OF civic de-
! cay. Individual and public economy: q
! lust distinction between a high standard
! Of comfort OH one side and vulgar osten-
/ tatiun or criminal waste on the other: a
! check on income wasting, debt creation
! and credit n1ation-theSe are the essen
| tails OF the new and better conservation.
! The reform Is so great. so indispensable BILE,
| so linked To our moral as well our ma
! tcrial progress that il would seem To ap-
| peal 10 the heart and mind Of every
| American and win his enthusiastic dero-
| ton until its battle shall have been won.
| Patriotism and sclf-intGrcst strike hands
| mere Tor the protection OF our home ana
| haupincsS from those most dangerous OF
all enemies, the ioes within our own bor-
| dcrs'