The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-08-17
.PLUhDER|NG THE PEOPLE
BY Tariff, Monopoly and Trusts-Mi-
nOrity Rep~rt Of senate Comnlttee
On Cause Of High Prices

Washington, D. c., August 1.-THE
tariff trusts, combines and monopolies
and an increased money supply, are
the three substantial causes for the
advance In prices in the United States,
according to Senators Johnston of
Alabama. Clark Of Arkansas and Smith
Of South Carolina, minority members
Of the select Senate committee, ap-
pointed during the last session of
Congress to investigate and make a re-
port on wages and the prices Of COM
nOdities
Vigorous attack is made in the MI
nority members report on almost all
the reasons given by the majority n
it's report, submitted some time ago,
as to the cause for the advance in
prices
1--WE are without sufficient data" say
the minority members in their report
just completed, ito apportion the de-
gree Of responsibility between these
three causes, but that the two first
are the chief malefactors we have no
doubt; and they are of our own crea-
tion or PERMISSION"
After attacking, one at time, the
fifteen principal causes contributing,
according to the majority report, to
the high cost of living, the minority
take up the tariff, declaring that when
the Payne-Aldrich bill was framed
champagne was put on the schedules
at from 81 to 66 per cent, whilst wear
ing apparel was taxed from 80 to 80
per cent.-drinking champagne was to
be encouraged and wearing woolen
clothes discouraged. So with hats
they add, "those bringing not over
$3.50 per dozen were taxed n per cent.
and those valued at more than SIS per
dozen Al per cent"
The result of protection, they de-
clare. is i'great fortunes for the few
and great suffering for the many"
Taking up the subject of the trusts,
combinations, and mOnopolies, they de-
clare that "there are few trusts that
could survive a revenue tariff. They
flourish only under the shadow Of high
protective walls. Standing behind those
walls that shut OFF foreign competition
and destroying domestic competition
by consultations and absorptions, they
are limited only to selling at a fraction
less than the foreign price plus the
protective duty. That they reduce cost
Of production seems certain, but it is
in rare cases that the public or the
AoDoI GLE C"pAOJCu ny lhCh pal ItIClPotc
iii the enlarged profit. So enormous
| have been their profits that we find or
ganizations springing UP all over the
country like the Elgin Board of Trade
the wholesale grocers, lumber dealers
associations that have contributed
largely to the advance in prices and
the frauds perpetrated by manufac-
turers of certain goods, reducing the
weight of contents of packages from
20 to SO per cent. and maintaining the
same price.
"The methods Of the meat trust
/ they declare, "seem to be admirably
adapted to taking from the consumer
and the producer the largest amount
that the tariff will bear. Their de.
struction of local competitors canno,
be improved upon"
| AS to wages, they say that 1.-The feal
that wages would fall If the tariff
were removed, and the fall in price:
would not be a clear gain to the con
Isumer is not warranted by the expe
Irience Of Great Britain. Great Britain
lis free-trade nation, and 1T is thu
E,ost prosperous nation in the worlt
Iexcept our own. Ship loads Of immi
lgrants from the tariff-ridden nations
lof France. Germany, Italy and Russi:
go to England to work But English
men do not migrate to those cOuntrie
because the standard of living is low
Ter. The general testimony is that tn
Irate of wages for all mechanical trade
lis substantially higher in Great Brit
lain than in those protectionist coun
tries, while the prices of necessitie
lare lower. leaving the Englishman
iwider margin to live upon.
Replying to the majority's state
ment. in It's report, that an increase
idemand for farm products is a caus
Of advancing prices, the minority cite
the wheat crop as having increase
from less than seven bushels per capt.
in 1900, to more than eight in 1908
lcorn from twenty-seven to thirty bush
els per capita, and potatoes from al
most three to more than four bushel.
Notwithstanding the increase in tn
price of farm products. the farmel
they say. has realized a small ne
lreturn on his labor and investment b
treason Of the increased cost of the ar