The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-08-16
Minority Report of Congression-
al Investigating Committee
Plainly WOrded Document.
TARIFF, TRUSTS, COMBINES
AND M0N0P0LEES BLAMED
Payne-AIdrich Bill and the
Meat Trust in Particular
Scored.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 15.-The tariffs,
trusts combines. monopolieS, and an IN
creased money supply, are the substantial
causes Cor the advance in prices In the
United states, according 10 Senators
Johnson Of Alabama, Clarke of Arkansas
and Smith OF South Carolina. minority
members of the select senate committee
appointed during the last session OF con-
sress 10 investigate and make report
on wages and the prices OF commodities.
The report was made public today.
Vigorous attack is made in the minor
ity report on almost all the reasons given
by the majority in It's report submitted
some time ago to the causes for the
advance In prices.
Some Pointed Argument.
After attacking one at time the fif-
teen principal causes which. according to
the majority report contribute to the
high cost of living. the. minority report
the Payne-Aldrch bin was framed
champagne was put on the schedule at
from 81 TO &c per cent. while wearing
apparel was taxed from so to 92 per cent
drinking champagne WAS to be encour-
aged. and wearing woolen clothes dis
couraged."
ing not over $3.50 per dozen were taxed
II per cent, and those valued at more
than SIS per dozen. "a per cent
:. The result ol protection they declare; clare;
suffering for the many"
Showing the effect OF the tariff on
the New York consumer. they say. pays
more than the London consumer, by the
difference between the sugar tariffs in
the Two countries. plus II cents per
hundred pounds.
Cutting Of Competition.
:Tt IA.
TO mention the iniquitous wooden sched-
ule-wherc the tariff rates are so high on
these necessities OF our people as. prac-
tically to preclude any foreign cdtSpeti-
tion with the American manufacturer.
except ON high priced goods purchased by
the wealthier consumer who can, TO some
extent, disregard prices
Taking up the questions of trusts.
combinations and monopoles. they de-
clare that there are few trusts that
flourish only under the shadow of high
protective walls
'The methods OF the meat trust
adapted to taking from the consumer
and the producer the larger amount that
the tarlH VIII bear Their destruction
of local competition cannot be improved
upon"
AS TO what they call a sample of the
working OF our combines" they say that
while everywhere else in the world the
price OF harvesting machinery has been
appreciably reduced, since 1900 in the
creased. The increase started nearly
econtemporaneously with the Dingley tar
Contrasts in Wages.
AS 70 wages. they say that the fear
removed and the fall OF prices would
not be clear gain to the consumer, Is not
warranted by the experience of Great
Srltain, Great Britain is q free trade
nation. and 1t is the most prosperous ma
ton In the world except our own. Shoals
Of emisrants, and tariff ridden nations
OF France; Germany. Italy and Russia
20 TO England for the work But Eng
ny,hmen do not emierate TO those coun-
trieS because the standard of living Is
lower The general testimony Is that
the rate Of wages for all mechanical
trades IS substantially higher in Great
prices OF necessities are lower leaving
INC Englishman a wider margin to live
1T is about sixty years since Great
Britain adopted free trade. and during
that time. according 10 a table published
IN WhitaEeEs almanac, wages have in
cent II is; therefore. well seen that the
abolition of the tariff In England did not
bring down the rate Of wages. Neither
would il III this country. II we remove
the obstruction. allowing prices to sink
to their natural level. the question OF
wages may be trusted 10 take care of it
self"
Replying to the majoritys statement
in its report that an Increased demand
for farm products" is a cause OF adj
Vaucing prices the minority cites the
wheat crop having Increased from
less than seven bushels per capita in
1900 10 more than eight In l909 corn
from twenty-seven 20 thirty bushels per
capita. and potatoes from almost three
70 more than four bushels. NotwIth-
Standing the Increase In the price OF
farm products the farmer they say.
has received small net return on his
labor and investment by reason OF the
increased cost OF articles necessary for
him 70 purchase TO carry on his busi-
ness"