The sun., 1910-01-29
HIGH PRICES IN THE SENATE
REPCBLICiNS Sure THE TAR
IFF DOESN'T CAUSE THEM.

Ia Fact ThAt's WHY Lodge DIdnJ Vote 10
Put Beef on the Free LIst-M would
Have Been Humbug Docs the
Tarin Raise wages: Why OF COursei
WASHINGTON. Jan. 2s.-There was an
echo OF the tariff debate OF last summer
in the Senate to-day. which was pre-
Cipitated by Senator Lodge OF Massa-
ohusetts, who made a speech on the
relation OF the tariff to the high price Of
foodstuffs. Senator Lodge spoke briefly,
taking advantage Of the opportunity to
insert in the record a great volume of
figures Bearing on the price OF fOOdstuffs
in this and foreign countries.
Senator Lodge maintained that the
tariff Is responsible for high wages. while
he produced figures to show that the
advance in the price OF food products
is universal the world over. He asserted
that the price OF fOodstuffs is not affected
by the tariff. He referred to the action
OF Congress in placing hides on the free
list. yet the price of hides has advanced
since that time.
By way OF reply Senator Bacon OF
Georgia read the vote ON a motion made
by him in the tariff debate for the further
reduction OF the duty on beef and meat
supplies. IL was a solid Republican vote
against this reduction. said Senator Bacon;
but he admitted. when the fact was called
to his attention by Senator Warren. that
Congress lowered the duty on beef one
half cent as compared with the Dingley
rates.
one half OF a cent on beef has failed TO
-.
added Senator Warren.
Probably IL that reduction had not
been made the present price OF beef would
be still higher replied Senator Bacon.
senator Bacon wanted to know what
the Republican majority placed a duty
on beef for IL il did not do so for the pur-
pose OF keeping up the price.
Il do not think the tariff affects the
price OF beef said Senator Lodge II
bslisve the packers are responsible for
present conditions as the result OF an
agreement entered into by them. Iwould
hike to see this combination reached. We
are exporters of beef, but the high prices
here result from an artificial combination.
! would be glad to vote to take the duty
| OF beef il we could thus reduce the price
set by the packers. But what's the Use
Of trying TO fool the people about this
matter?-
When asked IL he did not vote against
/
Senator Lodge said he did, because il
| was perfectly useless 10 do so. He de-
clared that he did not believe in hum
! bugging the people.
Senator Lodge wanted to know IL Sena-
toe Bacon did not vote against a reduction
OF the duty on lumber, which question
greatly amused Republican Senators
Senator Bacon admitted that he had voted
against a lower duty on lumber and that
in doing SO he stood to the principle OF a
I n l.
to that question concluded the Georgia
Il have discovered. put in Senator
Lodge. that there IL an extreme nexi-
bihty OF a revenue duty which increases
when IL reaches to home industry:
Senator Bailey declared that he COM
planned Of the low prices that previled
in the early EOS and that he did not
intend to complain OF the high prices now.
He spoke Of the fact that the manufac-
turers had for years compelled the farmers
to pay high prices for the articles they
needed in the cultivation OF their farms
and Tor the clothes they wore.
Nov. said senator Bailey. these
city folks talk OF boycotting the farmers
products. The boycott is a dangerous
thing. II the farmer should start a boy
colt in retaliation aud refuse to buy new
clothes, new shoes and new wearing
apparel this country would be confronted
with most serious situation. They can
better do without these articles than city
folks can do without food supplies
Senator Bailey recalled a prophecy
that he made in the tariff debate. He
then said Congress could not deal with
the trusts by placing raw materials on
the free list. He cited the case Of hides.
which were placed on the free list. and
showed that the price OF leather is higher
than 1t has been for years.
Senator Carter thought the way to lessen
the cost Of living was for more city people
who were struggling for a living to go to
the farms.
Senator Bacon read from table tending
to show that the peices OF food stutfs are
considerably higher in Detroit than they
are In Windsor, a Canadian city across
the river.
These figures were ridiculed by Senator
Smith OF Michigan. who, while he did not
deny that prices are higher in Detroit.
said that wages are also much higher there
than in Winsdor. Senator Smith recalled
the efforts Of Democrats to reduce the
tariff. which he said resulted in their being
swept from power. but Senator Bacon
declined TO be led away from a discussion
OF the present situation.