Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-06-24
Report on Cost
OF High Living.

Washington. June 23.-Republicans
and Democrats do not agree as to the
causes for the great increase in the
cost of living between 1900 and 1910.
The majority report of the special
committee which has Investigated
these questions was submitted to the
Senate today by Senator Lodge. chair
man of the committee. A meeting was
held prior to the presentation of the
report and the minority members Of
the committee protested against the
character of the findings After a long
argument the minority was authorized
to employ an expert to go over the re-
port of the majority and prepare the
minority views fer submission to the
Senate.
The report made by Senator Lodge
was an exhaustive one. The majority
of the committee found that wholesale
prices level in the United States in
general advanced during the period
from 1900 to 1909 inclusive. AS pei
can't The groups show advances as
follows:
Farm products 1913; food, etc. 1871; lum-
Der and building materials 1876; miscella-
neous commodities 147; clothites and
clothing 12o; fuel and lighting SO; house
furnishings goods SO; metals and imple-
ments SO. A decline was shown for drugs
and chemicals amounting to 80 per cent
The report states in view of the facts
that the increases have been so much
greater in products coming either direct
ly or indirectly from the farms than in
any other line excepting products of the
ba ho bo5
that the most important cause of the
of farm conditions.
Concerning the advance in the cost Of
food, the report says:
'"The supply of government land for
general farming has been materially re-
duced and the ranges are being rapidly
cut up into homes for settlers. The cost
of producing live stock has materially in
creased with the disappearance of the
range. which necessitates producing cat
tie on tame pasture and high priced
lands" A study of the tables concerning
wholesale prices of farm and food pro-
ducts indicates that the advance in the
United States in 10 years has been more
rapid than in Great Britain, Germany
and many other European countries, but
that they had simply approached more
nearly the world level of prices
1t is shown. however. that the advance
in wages has been more rapid in the
United States than in European coun-
tries. The report says:
wages in the United States advance
cd in about the same degree as did
prices. until 1907. Salaries have ad
vanced but very little during the last
10 years" Hours of labor in practical
ly all wages occupations are shown to
have been reduced. This reduction af-
fected the weekly earnings of employees
for tie reason that the large majority
Of "age carriers are employed on the
piece oasis. or at an hourly rate.
"The prices Of many of the trust
produced commodities have not ad
vanced as rapidly as have other com
,nodities 1t was found that labo,
unions lad net been apparently d ser
Gus factor in contributing towards ad
vancing prices. Advanced cost is laid
| IN some measure to increased expense
of distributing food by wholesalers and
retailers.
The committee found from the testi
mony of retailers that housewives
bought in small quantities and upon
! rush orders. practice that had great
ly increased the expense of doing bust
ness.
The report says it is clear that tn,
consumers must pay the cost of ad-
vertising and the cost of fancy pack
| ages. Trading stamps and vouchers
emitting the holders to premiums, arr
paid for by increased prices of foot
products 1t was shown also that in
creased freight rate had great dea
to 10 with increased prices.