Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-06-24

vances have taken place in the pro-
ducts OF the soil.
The committee criticized the use OF
Forests by saying that there had been
large consumption without any par
ocular attempt TO replace the timber.
The report stated that In view Of the
fact that the increases have been 30
much greater In products coming either
directly or indirectly from the farms
than in any other line. excepting proc
ducts of the forests. the conclusion must
be reached that the most important
cause OF the present advance Is 20 be
found I'm a study Of farm conditions.
COST or FOOD
Concerning the advance in the cost Of
food. the report SAYS:
THE supply of government available
land for general farming has been MAJ
tcrally reduced and the ranges are
being rapidly cut az into homes for
settlers. The cost OF producing live
stock has materially increased with the
disappearance OF the range which ne
ccssitates producing title on domcs-
tic pasture and high priced lands"
Concerning retail prices the report
shows that in the United states ln the
spring of 1910 they were at the highest
point In many years Az compared
with the spring Of 1900, prices Tor bacon
were more than 70 Per cent higher. ham
81 per cent higher. -four about 50 per
cent higher. butter about S. rcr cent
higher, sugar about - per cent higher
and eggs 100 per cent higher.
a few articles. such ~ coffee and tea,
were about the same price as I'm 1900,
hut practically no articles ~ food were
lower than IN 1900. Furniture was
about the Same ~ In 1909. Earthen-
ware was slightly lower Shoes and
clothing were considerably higher.
Wages have not advanced as rap
idly as have prices" the report says,
and practically all labor difficulties
that have been the subject 81 modiN-
ton I'm the United states during the
last two or three years have had AZ
their basis the advanced cost of living
1t is shown, however that the adj
vance I'm wages has been more rapid
in the United states than In European
countries.
The report says:
Wages In the United states ad-
vanced In about the stme degree as did
prices. until 1907 Salaries have hcou
advanced but little during the last 10
years"
Hours Of labor in practically all wage
occupations are shown to have been
reduced. 1'hls rsauction affected the
weekly earnings of employees for the
reason that the large majority Of wage
carners are employed on the PIECE scH IL
basis or an ab hourly rate From lV0O
| to 400 fun time weekly earnings ad-
vancSd i76 per cent. There are no
figures fer years subsequent To 1907.
The taTIff is.discus9ed 4 great length
and the conclusion was reached by the
majority Of the committee that ~ had
| been mo material factor In causing the
advance in prices curing the last dec
| ade.'
! Few figures arc available to indicate
! What had been the effect Of the recent
| tariff revision.
| . Tho ma lority report sqys there are
many industrial combinations that are
| not trusts i'm the sense OF being organ
| lied TO control prices ~ restraint OF
| trade, but by manufacturing or control
ling a percentage OF the output they
| are able TO exercise some control over
| prices The committee report says
TRUST produced ARTICLES.
"'rhe price Of many OF the trust-pro-
| duced commodities have not adv Inced
as rapidly az have other commodities
| In some cases where such produced
| commodities have advanced greatly the
advance appears to be due largely 70
! other causes, such as short supply.
| IT was found that labor unions had
| not, been a serious factor IN contribu-
| ting towards advancing prices.
| Advanced cost is laid To no small
I extent to increased expense Of dis
| tributing food by wholesalers and re-
| tailers.
| The committee found from the tosti-
| mony Of the retailers that the house
| wives bought in small quantities and
| upon such orders. a practise that had
| greatly increased the expense Of doing
| business.
The report says it is clear that TIE
| consumers must pay the cost OF adVer-
| Using and the cost Of fancy packages
| tIading stamps and vouchers. emitting
| The holders to premiums; also that
increased freight rates had great deal
to do with increased prices.