Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-07-30
sENAroR DURToN, OF OHIO, Ex.
PLA,No REAsoNs FOR PRES
ENr LIVING COST.
TRUSTS NOT MORE TO BLAME
THAN PRICE AGREEMENTS
Manufacturers Hide Behind Patent
Riahts Iaws-luxuriss Become Nee.
sssitiss and human Progress Fails to
Keep Up With Demands Of the
Timss-Produesrs Growing Loss.

Washington. July 30.-Senator Bur-
ton. Of Ohio. explained to the senate at
length today the reasons which. in his
opinion. are responsible for the present
high cost Of living. The manifest and
important causes, he said. were 1.-The
phenomenal progress Of recent years.
the striking Inequality of this progress
In different lines Of human endeavor
and the tendencies to extravagance and
waste and to diminished productive
energy by large part Of the popula-
tion.
Tariff 10 Not Rssponsible.
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 30 very con-
siderable. both in the way Of increase
and decrease, az absolutely to disprove
any inference that the change in
prices has been due to the tariff Of
1909, or to any other tariff act"
Trusts Are Exonsratsd.
He exonerated the trusts and large
combinations OF capital" with RESPONSE
bility for high prices. declaring that a
complete monopoly in any particular
article affords chance to increase its
price but that the same result Is ap-
parent when separate producers main
tain an agreement as to prices.
"Onc Of the serious influences tend
Ing TO increase prices" he asserted. "is
that Of price agreements Of various
sorts. II was one Of the purposes Of
the Sherman antitrust act to prevent
practices Of this sort: however. there
can be little doubt that In fact this
practice still continues. It 10 alleged
that the so-called Gary dinners Just az
effectively did away with competition
and established uniform prices % the
older and more illegal form Of aSree-
n,ents had dome"
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
quired to buy supplies Of q certain
make and pay the price imposed"
Luxuriss eeeems Necessity.
In regard to the progress Of the age
as a factor in high prices. Senator
Burton said that "the conveniences
and luxuries of one generation are re-
garded as necessities In the next. Even
in humble homes a standard Of living
is made possible which was beyond the
fondest hope entertained by genera
tions that have scarcely passed away"
Better homes. food and clothing: the
desire for a wider outlook. which is
afforded by a higher education: and an
insistent demand for leisure and
amusement, were elements, he said,
which were adding to the burden Of
life on the cost side, altho aiding 1t in
many other ways. He quoted figures
showing a marked increase in the con-
sumption Of staple articles. such as
cotton, corn. sugar and so on: and then
added that expenditure for luxuries
showed q much higher percentage of
increase.
Government Costs More.
The rapidly growing cost Of govern
ment-national, state and municipal
was adding to the cost of life. he said !:
the expenditures Of the federal govern
ment having increased 122 per cent
from 1890 to 1910.
ITO these must be added" Senator
Burton continued, "the oppressive bur-
den OF military and naval armaments,
now involving cost to the civilized
nations of $4,000. 900, 900 year an eco
nomic waste which imposes an almost
uncomfortable burden upon the worldis
resources. The expense of the naval
establishment Of the United States for
the year 1890 was $22. .006. .2oe; in 1910 1t
was $123,17s,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.
Unequal Progress.
Speaking Of the unequal progress In
the different lines Of endeavor that
supply human wants." Senator Burton
said that ''it IL evident that science
working thru invention and improved
methods has not accomplished the
same result in agriculture as in manu-
features. Altho considerable progress
has been made in the transportation Of
agricultural products to the market and
in preserving them for use. these per-
tain to transportation and to the mid
dleman rather than to the original pro-
ducer. improvements in agricultural
imrlements have been very consider
able. but have wrought no revolution
such as has been manifest in many
processes OF manufacture In add
tion he called attention to the Grow
Ing scarcity Of new lands suitable for
profitable cultivation" In connection
with the farm. he spoke Of the move
ment Of population citvward from the
country AZ q distinctive feature Of
modern life.
The diminishing supply Of lumber IN
the face of unusual demand. he scon-
tinued. has caused . rapid and contin-
ucus increase in the price OF products
OF the forest. ~ = 81 s.
A. to extravagance and waste. he
declared that II was the inevitable tent
dency In every progressive era.