Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1912-08-01
EXPLAINS HIGH
COST OF LIVING
Senator Burton, OF Ohio, Ex-
onerates Trusis---Blames
Progress and Waste
ICE AGREEMENTS REACTIONARY PLATFORM
Says Sherman Act Has Not
Eliminated Agreements in
Restraint of Trade

WASHINGTON. July 3l.-Senator
Burton, of Onio, explained to the sen
ate yesterday his opinions as to -le
9arse Of the present high cost OF nv
ng The manifest and Important
causes, he said, We're the phenomen-
al progress of recent years. the strik-
ins inequality of this progress i'll dif-
terent lines OF human endeayor and
the tendencies to eXtravangance and
waste and to diminished productive
energy by large Fart of the popula-
tion.'
Neither the Payne-Aldrich tariff
law nor any other similar meas are
was responsible for the general nigh
prices he declared for the varia-
tions in prices have been so very con-
siderable. both in the way of Increase
and decrease. as absolutely to dis
prove any inference that the change
In prices has been due to the tariff OF
1909, or to any other tariff act
He Exonerates Trusts
He eXonerated the trusts and
large combinations of capital" de-
claring that a complete monopoly in
any particular article affords a chance
to increase it's price, but that the
same result is apparent when separ-
ate producers maintain an agreement
as to prices.
"One of the serious influences tend
ing to increase prices" he asserted,
is that of price agreements OF yari-
Gus sorts. 1t was one OF the purposes
of the Sherman antitrust act to pre-
vent practices of this sort; however.
hs hat bic
practice still continues.
Another device" resorted to to
eliminate competition, he declared,
vas that Of hiding behind the patent
right.
Living Standard Raised
In regard to the progress of the
axe as Il factor III hlah prices. Sen
a,or Barton said tnat "the convent
ences and iuX@r IS ol one generation
re regarded as necess tics in the
neat. Even in huWhle ZONES q stand
afd OF living is made possible WEica
was beyond the fonlest hole enter
,ained by generations that have
scarcely passed away
Better homes, food and clothing;
the desire for a wider outlook. which
is afforded by a higher education, in
s.stenCe tor leisure and emoluments,
We're signs, he said which We're add
ing to the burdt II OF life on the cost
side, although ding it iii many other
ways He quoted figures showing a
marked increase in the consumption
of staple articles, and a greater one
in the case of luxuries.
Government Cost Grows
The rapidly growing cost of govern
ment-national state and municipal
was adding to the cost of life, he
said, the expenditure of the govern
ment having increased l22 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 a cost to the
civilized nations of two billion dol
lars year. an economic waste which
imposes an almost uncomfortable bur
den upon the worlds resources. The
expense of the naval establishment OF
the United States for the year 1890
was S22.006 .2oG; in 1910 it was $l23,
l73.7l-"
As to eXtravaGance and waste, he
declared that it was the inevitable
tendency in every progressive era.