Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-02-12
TARIFF CAUSE
OF HIGH PRICES
Senator Stone Fakes hspubl.-
cans Over the Goals.
SCENTS PLOT TO HIDE FACTS
Says There Was Too Much Monkey
Business" In Proposed investigation
and Secs Attempt to WhItewssh the
Tariff Law

Business" In Proposed investigation
and Secs Attempt to WhItewssh the
Tariff Law
Washington, Feb. lO.-The high cost
OF liying ell be Investigated by a com
mittee oil seven senator's The Eikins
resolution was ado pied by an over
whelming vote.
Senator Hepburn. OF Idaho. offered
al amendment to the resolution pro
viding that the investigation should
be conducted by the department of
commerce and labor instead of by SEN
atnrs Mr.. Hepburn himself was the
only one to cast a vote for the propo-
sition.
Senator Lodge. Of Massachusetts,.
will be chairman of the investigating
committee. senator Smoot. of Utah;
Senator Mccumber of North Dakota,
end Senator Crawford. OF South Da-
hota. will be members.
Whether Senator Elkins will be a
member Il not settled. He desires to
serve upon the committee but has
been somewhat recalcltrant recently
and may be forgotten. Two Demo
cratic senator's will serve upon the
committee. which will have seven
members.
The Republican leaders OF the sen
ate came in for raking over the
Goals from Senator Stone. of Missouri.
who declared there had been vast
amount OF monkey business" in con
nection with the proposed inyestiga-
ton Of the high cost OF living.
He commented on the fact that the
resolution introduced more than a
month ago by Senator Elkins. provid-
Ing for an investigation. had been held
M. while that introduced by Mr..
Lodge. introduced only last week. had
been reported almost Immediately
Stone Greatly Puzzled.
Saving he had been greatly puzzled
to know the meaning Of the method OF
proceeding. he declared that II had the
complexion Of purpose to conceal
rather than to discover" II not, why,
he asked. did the Republican mem
bers of the finance committee come
rushing headlong into this business
and exhibit an over.weening anxiety
10 take charge OF the proposed in
quiry?
III the remarkable things done
here" he continued. have given to
this business the sinister aspect OF a
scheme on the part of certain senators
10 organize committe that would
start In primarily 20 hold the Payne.
Aldrich tariff law blameless for the
evils the country complains OF. then
the senator from Massachusetts and
his Republican associates on the
finance committee have only them
selves 10 blame"
Mr.. Stone said he knew OF nothing
which stood in such great need of n
coating of whltewash' as the tariff
law Asserting that there had been a
rapid enhancement Of prices since the
passage Of the tariff law. he declared
that neither an increase in the demand
for food nor m increase In the gold
supply could explain these advances
In so short time.
ator Lodge would hesitate to follow
ont any line OF inquiry which might
substantlate Secretary Wilson's con-
tention that American food products
are sold more cheapiy abroad than in
the United States.
Mr.. Stone quoted from letters and
newspapers TO show a general increase
IN the necessaTies Of life since the en-
sctment OF the Payne.Aldrlch bill.
Among the letters was one from q St
Louis merchant. saying that cotton
goods had increased In price from i2i.
to 80 per cent. linens 7is 20 10 per
cent and on hosiery 10 per cent.
Every man OF common sense ought
&c know" he said. that the enormous
profits nccruing 10 investors in these
industries are the result OF artificial
conditions created by law"
II do not see how II can be con.
tended" he continued. 'that these
artificial conditions from. which the
consumers OF the country are. thank
heaven, beginning to become the i'm.
patient sufferers. are chiefly for the
benefit or American wage earners EN-
ployed In those industries.
81 asert with the greatest confidence
that the tarii rates as rule are far
IN excess OF any difference In the labor
wage In America and the chief COM
peting countries OF Europe: and as
sort with equal confidence that the
chief benenciarles Of this system are
the men who employ this labor. and
the chief sufferers are the consumers
who are the victims OF their monopo-
lies.
81 will not contend that the tarlff In
the sole cause and excuse for exorbi-
tant prices. but DO insist that n prac
ticaily prohibitive tariff. such MS we
have. Is NJ least one OF the chief
causes that make exorbitant prices for
human necessities possibility. II may
he that trusts and combinations put
M the prices; | think they do. Bat AT
the same time. believe the old con