The Calumet news., 1912-07-30
TRUSTS ARE NOT TO BLAME
Declares Separate Producers Can
Easily Boost Prices
PEOPLE ARE TOO ExTRAvAGANT

Washington. July Ex-senator Bur
ton of Ohio, explained 10 the Senate
at length today the reasons which, i'm
his opinion. are responsible for the
present high cost of living. The man
ifest and important causes, he said.
were the phenomenal progress of re-
cent years, the striking inequality of
this progress m different lines Of hui
man endcavJr and the tenucncies T.
extravaganza and waste and to dimin-
ished productive energy by large
part of the population.
Neither the Payne Aldrich tariff
law or any other similar measure was
responsible for the general high level
OF prices" he declared; for "the varia-
tions in prices have been so very
considerable. both in the way of in
crease and decrease. as absolutely to
oisprove any inference that the change
in prices has been due to the tariff of
| 1909, or TO any other tariff act"
Exonerates the Trusts.
He exonerated the trusts and large
combinations of capital' with re
sponsibility for high prices declaring
! that "a complete monopoly in any par
J ticuar article affords a chance to in
crease its prices but that the same re-
suit is apparent when separate pro-
! ducers maintain an agreement as 10
prices.
"One of the serious influences tend
| f.,, g.. Hf. Cd ffr5
that Of price agreements of various
sorts II was one of the purposes Of
/ the sherman antitrust act 10 pre-
vent practices of this sort; however.
there can be little doubt that in fact
this practice still continues II is al
legged that the so-called Gary dinners
just as effectively did away with COM
as the older and more illegal form OF
| agreements had done"
Another device now resorted to. to
eliminate competition" he declared
was that of hiding behind the patent
right" He referred to a recent SUI
preme court decision. under which the
user Of patented article may be
required to Jcy supplies Of a certain
make and pay the price imposed
Progress is a Factor.
In regard to the progress of the age
as a factor in high prices, Senator
Burton said that "the conveniences
and Injuries of one generation are re-
garded as necessities in the next. Even
i'm humble homes standard Of living
.ts.N. a
the fondest hope entertained by gem
erations that have scarcely passed
away" Better homes. food and cloth
ing: the desire for wider outlook.
| which is afforded by a higher educa-
tion and an insistent demand for leis-
ure and amusement; were elements.
! ne said. which We're adding to the
burden of life on the cost side, al
though aiding II in many other ways.
He quoted figures showing a marked
increase i'm the consumption of staple
articles. such as cotton, corn. sugar
and so on: and then added that ex-
penditure for luxuries showed a much
higher percentage of increase.
Armies and Nsvies Costly.
The rapidly growing cost of govern
ment-national. state and municipal
was adding TO the cost OF life. he
said: the expenditure Of the federal
government having increased 122 per
cent from 1899 70 1910.
"To these must be added" senator
Burton continued. "the oppressive
burden of military and naval arma
ments. now involving cost to the
civilized nations OF .Ooo eco yca'
an economic waste which imposes an
almost uncomfortable burden upon the
worlds resources The expense of the
naval establishment of the United
states for the year 1890 was S22 O0S e
e06 in 1910 it was sl29.17S.71L
As 70 increase in municipal taxa
tion rates. hc quoted from New Yors
city statistics. showing that the pei
capita tax rate there had increased
Il per cent from 1890 to 1910
Progress Has Been Unequal.
Speaking Of the unequal progress II
T. the different lines Of endeavor tha
supply human wants" senator Burtor
said that 80 Is evident that scienc'
. working through invention and i'm
proved methods has not accomplished
the same result in agriculture as II
, manufactures Although considerable