The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-02-09
I ARIFF IS
THE CAUSE
So Says Senator Stone.
in His Speech on
High Prices

Washington, Feb 9.-Apropos OF the
consideration OF the composite FL
kins-Lodge- -McCumber food prices In
vcstigation reported to the senate yes
terday from the committee on finance
and contingent expenses. Senator
Stone of Missouri today addressed
the senate on the general question OF
food prices. He undertook to show
that the Payne-Aldrich tariff bill is
largely responsible for the enhanced
price OF many necessarles of life.
Contrasting tho delay on reporting
the Elkins resolution with the dis
patch in bringing In the lodge meas
ure. MI Stone declared that there had
been vast amount OF monkey bust
ness" In connection with the consider
alton OF the subject
Saying he had been greatly puzzled
TO know the meaning OF the method
of procedure. he declared it had the
complexion OF 4 purpose TO conceal
rather than discover
II not. why, he asked, did Repub-
lican members Of the finance commit
tee, come rushing headlong into this
business and exhibit an overwhelming
anxiety 10 take charge OF the propos-
ed inquiry? II the remarkable things
done hero have given to this busi-
ness the sinister aspect OF II scheme
on the part OF certain senators to or
eanize Il committee that would start
i'm primarily to hold the Payne-Aldrich
tariff law blameless for the evils tho
country complains of. then the sena-
tor from Massachusetts and his Re
publican associates on the finance
committee have only themselves to
blame.
is It the purpose OF the great sem
ators who have thrown themselves In,
10 this breach, 10 put the proposed
investigation under the control OF the
senators who were chiefly instrument
tai In framing the now law and most
concerned in exempting It from all re-
sponsibility for the higher prices that
have followed Its Enactment A deep
laid apprehension to that eiiect has
been expressed by many newspapers
and by many people In different parts
Of the country
He said he knew OF nothing which
stood in such great need of q coating
of whitewaSh as the tariff laws AS
serting that there had been a rapid
enhancement OF prices sinle the pass
age OF the law, he declared that nei-
thor an increase In the demand for
food nor an increase In the gold sup
plv could explain these advances In
SO short time.
In all probability. Mr. Stone con
tinued. Mr.. Lodge would head the
committee of investigation and Mr..
Stone expressed apprehension that the
senator wpoud hesitate TO follow out
any line OF inquiry which might sub
stantiate Secretary Wilson's conten~
tion that American food products are
sold more cheaply abroad than IN the
United States.
MIR Stone quoted from letters and
newspapers TO show a general In
crease In the necessaries of life since
the enactment OF the Payne-Aldrich
bill. Among the letters was one from
a ST Louis merchant. saying that
cotton goods had Increased In price
from IL 1-2 to 80 uer cent linens
12 to 10 per cent. and hosiery 10
per cent
Every man of common sense he
said. Ought to nnow that he cnor-
nous profit accruing TO investors In
these industries are 'he result OF ar
tificial conditions created by law.
Il don't see how 1t can DC contend
ed" he continued, that these arti-
ficial conditions from which the con.
sumers OF the country. thank Heaven.
are beginning to become the impati-
ent sufferers. are chiefly for the bene-
tit of the American wage earnefs en-
ployed In these industries. assert
with the greatest confidence that the
tariff rates. as rule. arc far In eX-
GEES OF any difference In the labor
wage In America and the chief COM
peting countries of Europe. and | as
sert with equal confidence that the
chief beneficiaries of this system are
the men who employ this labor. as the
chief sufferers are the consumers who
are the victims OF their monopolies."