The Lambertville record., 1910-10-21
HIGH PRICES NOT
DUE TO TARIFF,
Various Causes Enter Into Rea-
sons For Increased Cost
Of Living,

study of the new tariff law, however.
shows that, instead of onerous in
creases, there have been substantial
reductions in all the necessaries-in
fact, the greatest reductions ever made
since this country adopted the plan to
protect its infant industries and work
ers from underpaid foreign competi-
ton. The salient points of the tariff
and some of the true causes for high
prices are here set forth:
A Downward Revision.
Changes in the items of the old tariff
by the new tariff: Duty decreases on
654 items, duty increases on 220 items,
unchanged 1,15O items.
Consumption value of articles on
which duties We're decreased, $4,951,-
S13,175; of luxuries on which duties
were increased, $637 1903, $40; of arti-
cles, not luxurles, on which duties
were increased, $240, ,525.
Ad valorem according to the value)
rate on dutiable imports in 1909 (old
tariff, 1915 per cent; in 1910 (of the
fiscal year 1910 all but one month and
five days come under the new tariff,
41.49 per cent; decrease, 1.66 per cent.
Among the articles of common every
day use on which the duty was re-
duced by the new tariff are the fol
lowing: Hides, ground wood pulp, cot
ton seed and croton oil, petroleum and
products thereof, placed on the free
list; fresh meat, pork and lard, 25 per
cent; bacon and ham, 20 per cent; cab
bage, 33 1-3 per cent; salt, 10 per cent;
soft coal, 33 per cent; sawed boards,
from 3711a to so per cent; dressed lum-
ber, 30 per cent; boots and shoes, 60
per cent; harness and saddles 55 per
cent; agricultural implements, 25 per
cent; window glass (common), to 20
per cent; iron ore, 60 per cent; pig
iron, 371a per cent; bar iron, 25 to SO
per cent; plate iron or steel, Is % to
40 per cent; steel rails, so per cent;
beams and girders, 20 to 40 per cent;
barbed wire, 81 per cent; tin plates, 20
per cent; boilers, % per cent; knives
and forks Commonly used), 13 to 26
per cent; sewing machines, 33 1-3 per
cent; cotton thread, 16 to 20 per cent;
nails, spikes and tacks, 20 to so per
cent; saws, 16 to 25 per cent; gloves
Commonly used), % per cent; sodas,
II to 33 per cent; gunpowder, 33 1-3 to
so per cent; manufacturers of leather.
13 to 75 per cent. Tariff unchanged
on flour, potatoes, beans, eggs, dairy
products, tobacco and manufactures
thereof, cotton goods (common), stock
ings (commom, woolens Except in un-
important details). "The Payne law
represents the greatest reduction that
has been made in the tariff at any
single time since our first revenue law
was signed by George Washington"
Mccall, Massachusetts.
Causes of High Prices.
The select committee on wages and
prices of commodities reports that the
tariff seems to have been no material
factor in causing the advance in prices
during the past decade and among
the many causes Of the advance emu
merates: Higher land values and high
er wages, increased demand for farm
products and food, shifting of popula-
ton from food producing to food con-
suming occupations and lcalities, re-
duced fertility of land, increased bank
ing facilities in agricultural localities,
which enable farmers to hold their
crops and market to the best advan
tage; reduced supply of timber, cold
storage plants, the pure food law, In
creased cost of distribution, industrial
combinations Qabor unions), organlza-
tons of producers or dealers, advertis-
ing, increased money supply, overcap-
italization, higher standard Of living.
Advance In Prices Worldwide.
For some years past one of the most
important features of the general in
dustrial development and economic sit
uation in Canada, as In several other
countries, has been an advance in
prices and the cost Of living.-From
the Labor Gazette Issued by the De-
partment of Labor Of Canada.
In the United Kingdom in 1909 the
wholesale price Of bacon was 31.5 per
cent. fresh beef according to descrip-
tom up to $50 per cent, mutton (ac-
cording to description upto 46.6 per
cent, wheat SO per cent and corn 25.3
per cent higher than here.
Two Important Features of the New
Tariff.
Maximum and Minimum Rates.-The
new tariff provides for an increase of
81 per cent ad valorem on all impor-
tations from countries which unduly
discriminate against us in their tar
+ ifs.
The Tariff Board.-It means, quoting
Colonel Roosevelt, "the Inauguration
of the policy of providing for disin
terested revision of tariff schedules
through a high class commission of ex-
perts. which will treat each schedule
purely on its own merits with view
both to protecting the consumer from
excessive prices and to securing the
American producer, and especially the
American wageworkcr, what will rep
resent the difference Of cost in pro-
duction here as compared with the
cost of production in countries where
,ohor is loss Hharallv rewarded"