Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-08-01

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of prices he declared; for, "the va
riations in prices have been SO very
considerable, both in the way of in
crease and decrease, as absolutely to
disprove any inference that the
tariff of 1909, or to any other tariff
act"
Trusts Not to Blame.
He exonerated the trusts and large
combinations of capital with respon-
sibility for high prices, declaring that
a complete monopoly in any particular
article affords chance to increase it's
price but that the same result is APP
parent when separate producers main
tain an agreement as to prices.
Zone of the serious influences tend
ing to increase prices" he asserted,
sis that of price agreements of va
rious sorts. It was one of the pur-
poses of the Sherman antitrust act to
prevent practices of this sort; how
ever, there can be little doubt that in
fact this practice still continues 1t is
alleged that the so-called Gary dinners
just as effectively did away with COM
petition and established uniform
prices 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 recent SUI
preme court decision, under which the
"user of a patented article may be re-
quired to buy supplies of a certain
make and pay the price imposed"
Scale Of Living Higher.
In regard to the progress of the age
as factor in high prices, Senator
Burton said that "the conveniences
and Injuries of one generation are re-
garded as necessities In the next.
Even in humble homes standard Of
living is made possible which was be-.
yond the fondest hope entertained by
generations that have scarcely passed
away" Better homes, food and cloth
ing; the desire for wider outlook,
which is afforded by a higher educa.
ton; and an insistent demand for leis-
ure and amusement; were elements,
he said, which were adding to the
burden of life on the cost side, al.
though aiding it in many other ways.
He quoted figures showing marked
increase in the consumption Of staple
articles, such as cotton, corn, sugar
and 80 on; and then added that ex.
penditures for luxuries showed a much
higher percentage of increase.
Cost Of Government Factor.
The rapidly growing cost of gov.
ernm ent national, state and munich
pal,-was adding to the cost of life,
he said; the expenditure of the fed.
eral government having increased 122
per cent from 1890 to 1910.
ITO these must be added" Senator
Burton continued. "the oppressive
burden Of military and naval arma.
ments, now involving cost to the
civilized nations Of $2,000,0OO, 900 a
year, an economic waste which i'm.
poses an almost uncomfortable burden
upon the worlds resources. The ex.
pense Of the naval establishments Of
the United States for the year 1890
was $22006,206; in 1910 1t was
$123, 173,717."
AS to increase in municipal taxation
rates, he quoted from New York city
statistics, showing that the per capita
tax rate there had increased II per
cent from 1890 to 1910.
Farm Science Backward.
Speaking of the unequal progress
in the different lines of endeavor that
supply human wants." Senator Bur.
ton said that 1T is evident that
science working through invention
and improved methods has not accom-.
plished the same result in agriculture
as In manufactures. Although con.
siderable progress has been made in
the transportation of agricultural pro.
ducts to the market and In preserving
them for use, these pertain to trans
portation and to the mfddleman rath.
er than to the original producer. I'm.
provements in agricultural inaple.
nents have been very considerable,
but have wrought no revolution such
as has been manifest in many pro.
cesses of manufacture. In addition he
called attention TO the growing scar
city Of new lands suitable for profita.
BILE cultivation" In connection with
the form. lie spoke Of the movement
of population cityward from the coun
try as distinctive feature of modern
life.
The diminishing supply Of lumber in
the face Of unusual demand. he contin,
ued has caused a rapid and contin.
uOuS increase III Tie price Oh products
of the forest to extravaganza and
waste, he declared that it was the in.
evitable tendency in every progressive
era.
No Drinking Cups at Fair.
Des Moines, July 30.-There will be
no public drinking cups at the state
fair this year, according to members
of the state fair board. The board has
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