The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-04-08
ONE RESULT OF INQUIRY.


ONE RESULT OF INQUIRY.
The Senate committee investigating
, the high cost of living has arrived at
the conclusion that limit should be
put on the time perishable articles of
food are allowed to remain in cold
storage. Senator Lodge, chairman Of
the committee, has introduced a bill to
meet the recommendations of his col
leagues. 1t is not claimed that cold
storage is alone responsible for the pre-
vailing high cost of food, the members
of the committee being of the opinion
that this limit of time VIII tend to an
equalization of prices and in some
cases to a reduction" The committee
was not charged with making an in
auiry into the effect of cold storage
upon the public health. The idea is
advanced. however. that a limit placed
upon the time which food products,
particularly meats, are allowed to re-
main in storage, would materially
check many physical troubles.
The bill introduced as the result OF
the deliberations of the committee is
an important step in the right diree-
ton. The evidence taken by the grand
juries in New Jersey and Ohio, result
ing in indictments in the former state
against the big packers. confirms the
testimony taken by the senators who
bave been conducting the investigation
at washington, so the general public
will consider that part of the question
as settled.
The inquiry, however. has not pro-
crossed far enough for the reaching OF
intelligent conclusions in all Its
branches. An enormous amount OF
work remains TO be done. Chairman
Lodge estimating that four months
would be consumed in gathering the
desired data, at a cost of $4,000 1t
will be time and money well spent. so
many Wild assertions have been made
concerning the cost of living that IL is
highly desirable the frozen facts snail
be placed before the consumers to the
end that che who runs may read"
1t is proposed, for instance, to obtain
statements from forty buyers in select
ed localities covering the prices paid
to the producer on the first day OF each
of the first six months of each year
from 1900 to 1910, inclusive, for all
grains, livestock and other farm prod
ucts. Wholesale and retail prices are
to be obtained in extenso, and an IN
vestigation will be made OF wages
salaries and hours of labor. both the
union and non-union scales to be taken
into consideration. 1t is also suggested
that the prevailing wages of farm Ia
borers from 1900 to 1910 be ascertained.
of course. there is no likelihood of
| fun report during the present session
of Congress. Senator Hale expressed the
hone that the committee would be able
m furnish valuable material for use
during the campaign, observing that II
would be impossible TO prevent its use
/ in any event. The political aspect OF
/ the case was not considered when the
committee was appointed, but If any
light can be shed upon the much-dis-
cussed question of high prices, the peo-
ple. one and all, are entitled to 1t at the
earliest possible moment, whether Con-
| gress is in session or not, or whether
it will have any influence upon the
voters on election day.
/ So far the work of the committee has
been well and thoroughly done. That
the same care will be used in gathering
material in the future that has been
exercised in the past, there is no doubt.
Let us have ali the facts concerning
high prices in order that the mouths OF
those who talk only for political effect
may be effectually stopped.