Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-20
Big PROBLEM FOR CONGRESS
Increased Cost of Living to be
Considered Soon.
Republicans and Democrats Are AIike
Convinced That Prompt Action ON
the SubIcct Must he Taken
Campaign Material

assembling OF Congress that one Of the
greatest problems which must be dealt
with at this session, not even excepting
President THft's legislation program, is
the increased cost Of living, says the
Boston Journals Washington CORES
pendent. Republicans and democrats
alike are convinced OF the necessity of
dealing with the problem at tho earliest
possible moment. A score Of resolutions
have already been prepared and more
than that number of speeches Will be
made on the subject in the near future
II Is expected Congress Will pass re-
solution of some sort within n few days.
Prompt action will be taken for two
reasons. one IS that the republicans
fear that the democrats will make poll
teal capital out of existing conditions
and hold the tariff responsible. Several
prominent members Of the minority are
preparing to do this very thing. While
II Is acknowledged that an investigation
which would disclose the real source of
tho trouble is a tremendous undertaking
tho republican members OF the House
are particularly anxious to get 1t started
Immediately and have n report at the
earliest possible moment. While they
are unwilling 20 admit that the tariff
/
creased cost of living they wish to be
fortified with all available data.
MATERIAL FOR CAMPAIGN.
Tho congressional elections will be
held this fail ana the republican CON
gressional campaign committee desires
to he IN II position TO refute any claim
made by the democrats. For this reason
| n of ha do IN Ia ~
ves,igaticns completed in time to have
tho conclusions of the government ex-
per,s presented to the public before cleo
ton day.
! 1t Is not improbable that there will
be an investigation independent OF that
which will be conducted by Secretary
| Wilson. Senator Crawford OF South Do-
| kota has been In conference with OH
! cia,s of the department Of commerce
| and labor, and he has been assured that
| that department, II authorized to do SC
by Congress, ia In Il position to conduct
| an Investigation which would throw
| much valuable light on existing condi-
| tions and the causes therefor. AS re-
| suit of that conference Mr.. crawford in
| troduced resolution In the Senate re-
Gently authorizing Secretary Nagcl 70
| investigate the problem. The resolution
| requires the secretary to report to Con
gress at The earliest possible day on the
following subjects:
INCREASE. IN PRICES.
The percentage OF increase in the Unit
| ed States IN the wholesale price OF food
| products during the last ten years: the
percentage Of increase in tho United
States in the wholesale prices Of cotton
wool. flax. hides and manufactures
thereof, including clothing: the percent
age of increase IN the United States IN
tho retail prices Of the above articles
, the percentage Of increase III the aver
age annual cost OF food in the average
worsins mans family; the percenta &c
OF increase in wages. the average In
crease in the worlds prices OF vege-
table foods, animal foods and clothing
the circulation per capita In tho Unitec
States from July !, lS@ TO July /, 1899
and the worlds production OF gold from
1895 To- 1901.
senator Crawford is confident that his
resolution Is drawn IN such manner
that it win bring out clearly whether
tho tariff il responsible for the hisf
prices He inclines to the opinion. how
ever that our immense circulation ant
the heavy production OF gold has low
cred the purchasing value of II dollar.
CORNERGNG OF MARKETS.
Representative Moore OF Pennsylvania
who las been investigating the hiei
prices. Will introduce a resolution in
few days siving the secretary OF ayr,
culture jurisdiction over cold storag'
houses. Mr Moore Is confident that q
least portion Of the increased price
Is due to the practise Of putting fooC
stuffs into storage, instead Of keepini
them in the market, The practise, h
says. results in Cornering the severa
markets. His resolution also will pro
vide that 1t shall be unlawful to keei
any article of food In cold storage 70
a longer period than six months an
that the secretary % agriculture shall
be authorized TO condemn and destro!
all food found in cold storage beyon'
the time limit fixed in the bill.
The poor man Is not the only on
, who is feeling the effects OF the increas
cd prices in the necessities of life. I
was learned recently that as a result o.
the high prices Of food the war depart
ment will he compelled to ask Congress
for deficiency appropriation Of 81 oO.oO
to be used in feeding the army. The pre-