Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-22


has been going on In tho press
and among thinking people for soH'e
time. and recently in legislative halls.
According to statistics compiled by
Bradstreets quoted In the Literary pi-
gcst S9.12 would not buy any moro on
Dec. /, 1909, than would sS42 in July.
1896 That means that there has boon
nm average increase in the retail price
of the staple articles OF commerce of
165 pcr cent In the past IL years: that
the man who WAS making 500 per
month in 1896 and is receiving tho saine
sum now is in reality only getting
about two-fifths OF that amount or
$40, while tho man who was getting 700
then is really only receiving SEQ per
month now. In other words $50 now
only purchases $50 worth of goods at
tho prices that prevailed in 1896.
According to a recent statement OF
Clifford Pinchot. eX-chief forester. the
average American family receives IAN
income of less than $50 per month.
which as wc hare socn amounts to so
when translated into present day prices
as compared with 1896 The aVeInge
American family is figured on basis
OF flve persons. Twenty dollars per
month for five persons Is 81 for each
person; $4 per month with which to
purchase food, clothing, fuel shelter.
education, recreation, pay taxes and
the hundred and ono incidentals to
modern lifc makes the problem of high
prices one of the most serious that iS
confronting tho American nation today
One of tho most serious phases of the
problem Is that very many families !
IN r,s
ber and reccive less than the average |
income and that many Will be under |
fed, poorly clad, inSufficlently warmed |
in cold weather, leading to poor vcntil- |
ation and consequent loss OF vitality |
and deterioration In health and produc-
tive power in both school and work
shop; that many young men will shrink
from marriage because of financial con-
siderations, and the growth of vice and |
race suicide be accelerated: that young |
girls with n tastc for dress which their
parents cannot satisfy will be more
and more susceptible to the blandish-
mcnts of those who love to destroy
TYtue-all of which menace the growth
and happiness of the American nation.
II is perhaps because of this phase OF
the problem more than any other that
Congress has been asked 10 investigate
the subject and propose remedy
BUT SECONDARY CAUSES.
Before satisfactory remedy can be
proposed the cause of high prices must
be asccrtalned Various causes have
been assigned by writers In the press
among them being the tariff. the in
creased production OF gold, eXtr1va-
gance of the people, the trusts. the
of too large u percentage
OF our labor and energy away from
the production and distribution Of the
necessares of life" etc. etc All of
these doubtless contribute more or
less TO the general result of high prices
but none OF them are more than sec
ondary causes There is an underlying
cause which would still exist were these
Ill eliminated. and the grinding OF the
poor, viz. the narrowing of the mar
GIN between wages received for Labor
and the prices of the necessaries OF
life. would still continue. only perhaps
under another form. High prices are
1nIy relative Present prices are not high
% the millionaire even though he docs
oin in the hue and cry against them
because he can satisfy every normal
ieSlro and still have surplus, but |
hey are high to the man whose entire
ncome Is absorbed in the purchase OF
he absolute necessities of the body,
eaVing nothing for recreation and cul-
urc or rainy day. The underlying )
|
g also internationally figuring on seal Z
ng wages down 10 per cent or more. :
Both operations have a common origin ,
They spring from single root. And | =
[ is this elimination of the margin be- I
ween wages and prices of commodities 1
necessary to bodily maintenance which .
makes the prices seem high. I
WHAT Is THE CAUSE? I
The underlying cause of high prices /
9 the get rich quick" fever which has C
ecome epidemic IN recent years often 8
oupled with a scruplelessness as to | I
Methods employed commonly called c
dishonesty. The producer and the man C
lfacturcr raise the price OF their prod o
cts at every opportunity. and when | n
he opportunities don't come often a
nough they aim to create them arti- 4
Icially by combining together and t
competition. the wholesal- p
T and the retailer do the same. the r
andlord raises the rent, the assessor f
aises the valuation, the city. county h
nd national governments raise the tax [
evles. and so on ad inGnitum. and tho t.
onsumer ultimately pays il all less the p
dditional wage he can squeeze out
4 his unwilling employer. When the
ever patient has secured thousand
ollars he seeks five: when he gets r
I've he wants 10: when he gets 10 he d
'' 'hon itS BSso lvVs | I
he public press laud him to the II
kics as a Booster for his public
piritedness. prints half tones OF his =
business blocks whero little | =
xtra profit is squeezed out of or added =
o the price of goods. his mammoth 4,
lotels where true family life Is as :,
assinated at so much per diem, his
magnificent collins for unborn children o
allcd In common parlancc apartment L
louses," and mentions him for this, n
hat and the other public honor and a
loshfon OF trust; and with his ambi- I
lon thus fred afresh he Immediately v
ays Siege for n million-and the moro t
he fever Is fed the more 1t grows. Tho II
isease of tho patient who has acquired c