The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-07-31
SENATOR BURTON TALKS on
HIGH COST OF
LIVING
Covering Up Behind Patents One Of
\ Reasons For Cost Of
Living Now.


Living Now.
WASHINGTON. ID. C.. July so
enator Burton. OF Ohio. explained 70
the Senate at length to-day the rea.
sons which. in his opinion. are re-.
sponsible for the present high cost OF
living. The manifest and important
oauses. he said. were "the phenomc.
nal progress OF recent years. tho
striking inequality OF this progress in
different lines OF human eudeavor. and
the tendencies 10 extravaganza and
waste aud to diminished productive
energy by a large part OF the popula.
ton.
Tariff Not to Blame.
Neither the PayneAldrich tariff
law or any other similar measure was
responsible for the general high Level
OF prices" he declared; for the vari
ations in prices have been SO very
considerable. both in the way of In.
crease and decrease. as absolutely dis
prove any inference that the change
In prices has been due 70 the tariff
OF 1909. or TO any other tariff act"
He exonerated the trusts and large
combinations OF capital" with respon
sibility for high prices. declaring that
a complete monopoly in any particu
lar article affords a chance TO increase
its price. but that the same result IS
apparent when separate producers
maintain an agreement as to prices.
Price Agreements.
One OF the serious influences tend
ing to increase prices" he asserted
sis that OF price agreements OF vari
Gus sorts. It was one of the purposes
OF the Sherman antitrust act to pre-
vent practices OF this sort: however
there can be little doubt that in faci
this practice still continues. 1t is
alleged hat the so-called Gary din
ners Just as effectively did away with
competition and established uniform
prices as the older and more illega.
form Of agreements had done"
High Cos OF Living.
Another device now resorted to e
eliminate competition he said. was
that OF hiding behind the patent
right" He referred 10 a recent Su
preme court decision. under which the
user Of a patented article may be
required TO buy supplies OF a certain
make and pay the price imposed"
In regard 10 the progress of the
age as a factor in high prices. Sen
ator Burton said that the conven
fences and luXuries OF one generation
are regarded as necessities in the
text Even in humble homes q
standard of living Is made possibl,
which was beyond the fondest hope
entertained by generations that have
scarcely passed away" Better homes
food and clothing: the desire for q
wider outlook. which is afforded b,
a higher education. and an insis
tent demand fer leisure and amuse
ment; were elements. he said. which
WEIR adding to the burden of life OF
the cost side. although aiding il il
many other ways. He quoted figure.
showing a marked increase in tn,
consumption Of staple articles. sucl
as cotton. corn. sugar and so on: ant
then added that expenditures for lux
uries shove a much higher percent
age OF increase.
The rapidly growing cost OF gov
gernment,-national, state and mu.
nicipal,-was adding TO the cost o
life. he said; the expenditure OF ths
federal government having increased
lz2 per cent from 1890 10 1910.
TO these must be added" Senator
DNAte 'pAhAhFAr me oppressive
burden OF military and naval arma
ments. now involving q cost 10 the
civilized nations OF S2.00O.OOO.OOO q
year, a economic waste which ina
poses an almost uncomfortable burder
upon he worlds The cx
pense OF the naval establishment o
the United States for the year 1896
was ,$22.006,2O6. in 1910 il wa.
Si23,173.717."
As 10 the increase I'm municipa
taxation rates. he quoted from New
r City statistics. showing that u,
per capita tax ra~ there had Inn
creased Il per cent from 1890 4,
1910.
Speaking OF the unequal progress
IN the different lines Of endcavor
that supply human wants senate.
Burton said hat "it a. evident tina.
science working through Invention
and improved methods has not ac
complished the same result in arrl
culture az In manufacture. ALTHOUGH
considerable progress has been mad,
IN me transportation % agriculture
products 70 the market and ln pre-
serving them for usse. these pertain
70 transportation and 20 tho middle
man rather than the original pro
Queer improvements in Agriculture
implements have been very consider
able, but have wrought M revolution
such a. has been manifested in man,