The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1910-04-01
COSTOF LIVING
IS INCREASED
Thirty Principal Reasons Given
for Present High Prices
TARIFF IS INCIDENTAL
Authority Thinks This Gigantic Robber
Only One of Minor Causes Other
Reason Not Advanced by Public

Thrty-two reasons why prices are
high, embracing all that are most COM
monty cited, are here given as condens-
ed from a recent careful compilation
in the San Francisco Chronicles:
1.-The enormously increase output Of
gold.
2-The increase of the circulating
medium, coin, paper money, etc, to near
the saturation point.
3-The extention of the credit system
which had called into existence immense
quantities of abstract wealth." re-
turns upon which must be paid out Of
actual or real wealth.
4-The growth of extrayagant habits
which has caused demand to out strip
production.
5 The tipping habit, which in the
United States owing to its lack of
systemization, has become an extra
tax on those who distribute gratuities.
In Europe tips are part of the wages
of those on whom they are conferred,
but in this country they are supplement
to wages.
6-Great prosperity, as exhibited by
creased about SO per cent during the
last fourteen years. The possession of
wealth makes buyers eager and their
competition makes prices mount
THE Importation of costly Injuries.
S-The waste produced by drink hab-
it, which is charged with burdening the
community with the maintenance of its
victims and greatly enlarging the Grim
inal class thus increasing the burdens
of a taxpayer.
9-The destruction of paper money by
fire or otherwise. This causes an APP
parent gain to the Government, but is
really an added, though disguised tax,
and operates like all taxes to increase
prices.
10 sdirected expenditures for
education. 1t is claimed that much
money expended for education is vast
ed because the recipients fail to make
use of it and that taxes to support
school system play their part in raising
prices.
ll-Res friction of the conservation
policy, enhancing the value of the tim
Der, coal, iron, and other minerals in
private ownership.
12-The maintenance of great armies
and navies which drive men from pro-
auctions and make heavy taxation
necessary for their subsisten and to
procure instruments of destruction for
their use.
l3-The tariff, which is charged with
increasing the price of articles import
ed and that of similar articles produced
at home.
14-EnOrmous increase of the number
of public servants. The army of civil
services employees is constantly extend
ing, involves increased taxation and
helps to increase the healthy demand
for products.
15-The enormous increase of NUM-
cipal expenditure, for aesthetic objects.
decomposition of service by the
middleman, who in his efforts to in.
crease attractiveness of goods has in
creased the cost of what he sells.
17-IndOlence of house keepers, who
demand that the storekeeperS shall per-
form servic IS which increases the cost
of his business.
l8--Enormous increase of rental val.
ues due to the effort of middlemen to
secure the best locations In the cities.
The consumer pays heavy tribute to
the land owner, through the stOrekeep.
err, in higher prices.
19-Mutiplication of mddlemen.
There were l ,543, 400 persons and cor
poratons in business in the United
States at the end of 1909. an increase of
55 1851, of 81 per cent in single year.
This is the greatest increase since 1881.
20-The laws regulating sale of food
products, such as oleOmargarine and
cottonseed oil, which prevent them from
becoming competitors of articles that
have already established themselves.
The price of the recognized article is
increased by, creating prejudice against
the innovation.
21-Lavish expenditure for buildings
in Which business Is conducted. The
sums expended for handsome structures
and for decorations of stores contribute
to the increase of prices. A depart
ment store with fixtures costing quar-
ter of a million dollars. obtains return
on its investment by charging higher
prices. Magnificent railroad stations
are made good by increased freight rate.
% The operation of trusts which ex-
ercise control over production and price.
% Tscit combination of middIemen
to sell staple articles at fixed price.
"a Failures in business due to credit
system. The annual losses from that
cause amount to many millions. The
failure of the unfortunate to meet their
obligations coInpels the distribution Of
the loss among those who do pay.
25-Seling futures on exchanges.
Continued on page q