The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-05-04
Bay State Commission Makes
Its Report
TARIFF, TRUSTS, UNIONS
Are Not to Be Held Responsible-Gold
Supply and Extravagance, Both
Public and Private, Are
Blamed.

EcQnQMtN8i rs what the special state
commission Oh tie cost 81 living calls the
report Of rs eight weeks investigation
Of the increased cost Of living, with spo.
eial reference TO the effect Of the tariff
submitted "a the legislature yesterday
The commission finds that the primary
cause Of the worldwide advance since
1897 has been the increase in the gold
supply
Conmibutory causes have been the
enormous waste Of income in the United
States, through uneeonomic expenditure
for war and national armament and
through multiple forms 81 extravaganza,
both public and private, and OF wastaget
both individuah aud social Also the al
vance OF prices has been further pro-
NOTED by completely of causes opefat.
ing on the side of supply 70 reduce the
yolume and increase the expenses 81 pro
duction, and on the side Of demand TO
extend and diversity the consumption 81
commodities
One Of the most interesting conclusions
is That the tariff. trusts and trade unions
cannot be regarded az direct Or active
causes Of the recent advance sf prices.
Ihis conclusion Is reached By All five
members Of the commission which IS
composed Of an insurgent" stand
patter a Democrat, a labor leader and
an ardent advocate Of Canadian reeiprot.
ity.
The commission suggests the efeation
Of a commission ~ commerce and a
commission Of market improvements, The
transformation of the cattle bureau into
bueau Of animal industry; extension
q the state free employment offices ta
distribute immigrants' that packages
containing food products shall state the
amount Of the several contents 10 weight
unitsi better inspection Of cold storage
plants, and the extension oi the trolley
freight system
Although agreeing that the tariff Is not
contributorv factor, the commission 4
% the opinion that when the tariff Is
further revised. the expedienoy Of REL
moving the duties on food products
should be carefully considered.
IN regard to trusts, the commission
also feels the while they cannot be held
responsible for the present conditions
constant wRiaBee with reference to the
acts 81 combinations, along with the
necessities Of life. II incumbent.
As t. tie labor uuiens the facts that
less than TO per cent ~ the workers of
I che country are organized that those
employed Id the production Of eonanndi.
tics that have risen n prices are hardly
organized a 81. and that wages have
risen e less degree and at 4 slower pace
lprore, according to The commission. that
the general increase cannot BE attributed
70 such influence.
I The commission made s very careful
I0ampafison 81 the relative prices for food
and clothing between Detroit and Wind
or, BOSTON and Montreal and Bangor
and st. John with the result that CON
paratively little difference WAS found
when quality ard variety were consid
erred and II was The unanimous eanclu-
non 81 the committee that the extension
Of Canadian reciprocity ID the matter Of
manufactures Is, Ten The present, out Of
the question
III this Canadian investigation, the
commits ION sent two Of its members and
1 two experts on provisions and groceries
In provisions. The Windsor total was
found 70 Be ls lower than Detroit. whi.
it groceries the Windsor total was 7.3
4 per NEtkts AihArF4 ttt NlfAt httt li4RFteaHtin+
the Boston total was 10 per cent higher
Ethan Montreal but groceries were 4 per
cent. higher III Montreal The Bangor
total ID meats was 10 per cent higher
than S.. John, and s per cent. lower IN
/ groceries.
4 Prices Of eggs butter vegetables fish
and bread varied but little, but white
the advantage II prices was slightly in
favor Of Canada the United States had
the better quality
lt was admitted that wooden goods are
cheaper IN Canada, but, while the fabric
4 better, The Workmanship Is not 50
good
A final word Oh he tariff Is that Il
should be taken completely out Of poll
tics and put on business basis, as IN
Germany.
0nig an abstract Of the report was
issued Yesterday bit later Il Is expected
that the legislature viii order the publ.
cation Of Massachusetts on Economics
Tin full.