The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-24

thirty-three commodities in the metal
and implement group.
The report says.
In view Of Tie fact that increases
have been so much greater in, products
coming either directly or indirectly from
the farm. than In ans other line, except
ing products of the forest the conclusion
must be reached that the most important
cause of the present advance Is TO be
found IN the study Of farm conditions.
The testimony OF practically all wit
nesses who have been familiar with farm
conditions Is 20 the effect that the costs
OF production of farm products has risen
very rapidly during the past ten years,
wages of farm hands have increased on
an average of about so per cent, and the
original investment necessary to secure
land has practically doubled In that
period
The richness OF the virgin soil is dis
appearing, and In many localities the
crop average can be maintained only by
the use of expensive fertilizers. by rota-
ton OF crops. or by allowing the ground
to lie fallow. The supply OF available
government lands for general farming
has been materially reduced, and the
ranges are being rapidly cut up into
livestock has materially increased with
the disappearance of the range.
Witnesses agree that farming opera
lions were conducted at loss, or at best
at only very slight margin Of profit for
several years, and that only during the
past two or three years have farmers
been able to secure a fair return on
their labor and investment.
Comparisons Are Drawn.
Senator Lodge and his colleagues re-
port that while prices of farm and food
products of domestic production have ad-
vanced since 1900 In a much greater pro-
portion in the United States than they
have in the United Kingdom, they have
| simply been approaching more nearly the
world level OF prices.
It Is pointed out that prices in 1900 were
all on a much higher level in the United
Kingdom than in the United States. and
for this reason prices in the United
states have made q greater per cent OF
advance in the intervening years.
| The committee holds that the course OF
/ prices in the United States and in for.
eign countries is in the nature OF a world
leveling of prices.
The retail prices in the United States
since 1900 show a greater advance thar
wholesale for such articles as butter
sugar. eggs. and some kinds Of meat The
retail prices for bacon have been In
! creased more than 20 per cent since 1900
for lard. 10 per cent, and for conmeaI
( Sc per cent
In regard to the tariff. the report says
THE tariff seems to have been no
material factor in causing the advance
/ In prices during the past decade. The
great advances have been made in COM
modities upon which the tariff has little
or no effect. and the absolute removal
OF the tariff on many Of these commodi-
ties could not have afforded relief at the
present time. for the reason that prices
OF these commodities. with a few excep-
| lions. were as high or higher in other
countries than in the United States"
| The committee holds that labor unions
! have not been responsible for the In
| creased cost Of manufactured articles
/ The committee found that the Industrial
/ combinations and organizations Of re.
tailers and wholesalers had led to abuses