The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-06-26
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS
DO NOT AGREE OVER FIND.
lNGs OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE.
REPUBLICANS ADVANCE REASONS
More Money-Bseer Demand for
Products-Higher Wages - Colo
Storage Plants Are Some Explain
ations-Higher Standard Of Living.

Washington, June Zo.-hepuDhcdns
and democrats do not agree as TO
the causes for the increase in the
cost of living between 1900 and 1910,
The majority report Of the special
senate committee which has been |
investigating these questions was !
submitted to the senate today by !
Senator Lodge, chairman OF the |
committee. A meeting was held
prior to the presentation of the re
port and the minority members OF
the committee protested against the
character of the findings.
After a long argument the minor
ity was authorized to employ an
expert to go over the report OF
the majority and prepare the minor
ity views for submission to the SEN
ate. The report made by Senator
Lodge was an exhaustive one, com
piled from testimony given by Al
witnesses, reports received from con
sus and from foreign governments
The majority of the committee
found that of the many causes con-
| tributing to the advance in prices
the following were most marked;
Increased cost of production OF
farm products by reason of higher
land values and higher wages.
Increased demand for farm prod
ucts and food.
Shifting of population from food
producing to food consuming occu-
pations and localities
immigration to food-consumng To-
calities.
Increased fertility of land result
ing in lower average production or
increased expenditures for fertiliza-
tion.
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
steaiied prices but had a tendency
to increase them.
Reduced supply convenient to
transportation facilities of such com
modities as timber.
Cold storage plants which result
in preventing extreme fluctuations
of prices of certain commodities
with the season, but by enabling the
wholesalers to buy and sell at the
best possible advantage, tend to al
vance prices.
Increased cost of distribution.
Industrial combination.
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
index number of the bureau of Ia
Dor These commodities were group
ed and advances noted for the diff
ferent groups during the period from
1900 to 1909 inclusive. The general
wholesale price levelng the United
States advanced during that period
14.5 The groups show advances
as follows
Farm products, 1916; food. etc.
1S.7; timber and building materials.
1876; miscellaneous commodities,
~; cloths and clothing, 12O; fuel
and lighting. 60; house furnishing
goods, 50: metals ami implements,
SO. \ decline was shown for drugs
and chemicals amounting to 20 per
cent.
I It was shown that the greatest
advances have taken place in the
products OF the south. The commit
tee criticized the use Of forests by
saying that there had been large
consumption without any particular
attempt to replace the timber. The
report stated that in view Of the
fact that the increases have been
SO much greater in products COM
ing either directly or indirectly from
the farms than in any other line
excepting products of the forests, the
conclusion must be reached that the
most important of the present ad-
vance IS 10 be in a study of farm
conditions.