The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1910-10-25
HIGH PRICES NOT
DUE TO TARIFF.
Various Causes Enter Into Rea-
sons For Increased Cost
Of Living.

II WAS SO easy TO put the increased
cost of living upon the tariff that no
sooner had it been selected as 1.-THE
goat by the Democrats than some
really sensible people, too indolent to
investigate for themselves, accepted
the howl of the free traders. A little
study Of the new tariff law, however,
shows that, instead Of onerous in
creases, there have been substantial
reductions in all the necessaries--in
fact, the greatest reductions ever made
since this country adopted the plan to
protect its infant industries and work
ers from underpaid foreign competi-
ton. The salient points of the tariff
and some of the true causes for high
prices are here set forth:
A Downward Revision.
Changes in the items Of the old tariff
by the new tariff: Duty decreases on
654 items, duty increases on 220 items,
unchanged 1,15O items.
Consumption value Of articles on
which duties were decreased, $4,951,-
S13, 175; Of luxuries oil which duties
were increased. $685., 5O3,549; of arti-
cles. not luxuries, on which duties
were increased, $240,S52, 525.
AID valorem according to the value)
rate on dutiable imports in 1909 (old
tariff, 4315 per cent; in 1910 (of the
fiscal year 1910 all but one month and
five days come under the new tariff,
4149 per cent; decrease, 1.66 per cent.
Among the articles of common every
day use on which the duty was re-
duced by the new tariff are the fol-
lowing: Hides, ground wood pulp, cot
ton seed and croton oil petroleum and
products thereof, placed on the free
list; fresh meat, pork and lard, % per
cent bacon and ham, 20 per cent; cab
bage. 33 1-3 per cent; salt, 10 per cent;
soft coal 33 per cents sawed boards,
from 3T1a to 80 per cept3 dressed lum-
Der, 30 per cent; BOOTS and shoes, go
per cent; harness and saddles. 55 per
cent; agricultural implements, % per
cent; window glass common, 4 to 20
per cent, iron ore, co per cent; pig
iron. 371a per cent bar iron. % to 80
per cent; plate iron or Steel 16 2-3 to
40 per cent; steel rails. so per cent;
beams and Orders. 20, to 40 per cent;
barbed wire, 81 per cent; tin plates, 20
per cent; boilers, % per cent; knives
and forks commonly used, IS to 20
per cent; sewing machines. SO 1-3 per
cent; cotton thread, 16 to 20 per cent;
nails, spikes and tacks, 20 to so per
cent; saws. 16 to % per cent; gloves
commonly used. 20 per cent; sodas,
II to 80 per cent; gunpowder, 33 1-3 to
80 per cent; manufacturers OF leather,
10 to rs per cent. Tariff unchanged
on -four, potatoes, beans. eggs, dairy
products tobacco and manufactures
thereof, cotton goods (common), stock
ings common. wooens except in un-
important details. sThe Payne law
represents the greatest reduction that
has been made in the tariff at any
single time since our first revenue law
was signed by George Washington.
Mccall, Massachusetts.
Causes Of High Prices.
The select committee on wages and
prices of commodities reports that the
tariff seems to have been no material
factor in causing the advance in prices
during the past decade and among
the many causes of the advance emu
merates Higher land values and high
er wages. Increased demand for farm
products and food. shifting of popula-
| ton from food producing to food con-
Stunning occupations and lcalities, re-
lduced fertility Of land. Increased bank
ling facilities in agricultural localities.
which enable farmers to hold their
crops and market to the best advan-
ltage: reduced supply Of timber, cold
storage plants, the pure food law, in
lcreased cost Of distribution, industrial
combinations Qabor unionsl. organiza-
tons Of producers or dealers, advertis-
ling. Increased money supply, overcap-
lItaIization. higher standard Of living.
Advance In Prices Worldwids.
For some years past one Of the most
Important features Of the general in
dustrial development and economic sit
uation in Canada, as in several other
countries, has been an advance in
lprices and the cost Of living From
1.-THE Labor Gazette Issued BY the De-
lpartment Of Labor of Canada.
| In the United Kingdom In 1908 the
Wholesale price Of bacon was q : s,er