The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-01-20

0nsC 0py. Three Months in advance ........ 40
OFFICIAL COUNTY PAPER
WILL WE KNOW NOW?
On Monday of the past week,
the United States Senate passed with
ont division, the following resolution
presented by Senator Crawford Of
South Dakota:
Whereas the prices of what are
known as the n~ecessaries of life have
etead1ly advanced for a period of ten
years n universal interest is mani
Tested in the subject and divers rea-
SONS assigned as causes therefor:
Therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate, That the
department of M and labor
be directed to transmit to the Senate
rs soon as practicable any Informal
ton it may possess as to the follow
ing subjects:
First. The percentage of increase
IL In the United States of the wholesale
price of food products during the ten
vars from 1899 to 1908;
Second. The percentage of in
crease In the United States of the
Wholesale price Of cotton, wool, hides
md the manufactures thereof gener-
gs lily used by the people Of the Unit
Cd States during the same period;
Third. The percentage of In
crease in the United States of the re-
tail price Of the articles named in
paragraphs / and 2 during the same
period;
Fourth. The percentage Of in.
crease in the average annual. cost of
food In the average family Of work
dngmen employed In the principal
manufacturing and mechanical In
dustrtes Of the United States during
s the same period;
Fifth. The percentage of in
crease. Il any. in the wages paid to
the w~orkingmen in such establish
during the same period;
ss Sixth. The increase In the
ma food and Of clothing during the
same period;
Seventh. The circulation per
capita in the United States on July
ss1,sa1S96 and on July i, 1909:
sgss Eighth. The worlds production
#aOf gold 1896. and OF each year
thereafter, including the year 1907:
Ninth. The worlds coinage In
u tho year 1896 and In 1907;
as Tenth: The gold production in
IS the United States In 1896 and in
sa@ 1 Eleventh. What particular artic-
~ les OF food and Of manufactures Of
cotton, wool, iron and steel show the
l highest Increase in cost to the con-
#1lmer during the same period; and
Twelfth. What particular artic-
lies OF food and Of manufactures Of
cotton. wool, iron and steel, or other
n article Of common consumption as a
necessity, show the greatest decrease
In cost to the consumer during the
same period, II there be any such"
Is the department OF commerce
1 and labor Is able to tell why the cost
s living has been steadily advancing.
this formidable list Of questions
ought 70 elicit the Information. Not
only did the resolution receive the
support Of the Senate, but
the president himself declared him
Ill % favoring An inquiry Into the
subject. If 81 continues to cost more
md more to buy food and fuel and
elothing and pay rent, the question
nay become political. And. no doubt,
the republicans would prefer to have
the explanation made BY . republi-
san Standardization than to leave It
q the democrats to devise the theory.
We do not mean by this to impugn
Senator Crawford's sincerity or me-
cessarily. that Of any other Senator
Who favored the resolution. But we
believe nevertheless that this had its
part n creating unanimity Of senti-
msnt q Washington In favor Of the
inquiry.
Secretary Wilson Of the depart
ment OF agriculture has been taking
. great deal OF interest In this ques-
ton. He has been disposed to direct
his suspicious toward the marked diff
ference between the price received
by h esproducer Of live stock and the
price paid BY the consumer.
As evidence OF the widespread in
taerest being taken in this question
may be cited the action begun in
Kansas City against the produce ex-
y change OF that city. It. is charged
that II Is conducted as a conspiracy
70 Increase prices. that quotations
made arbitrarily and that mem
ssSSberships are not issued to those who