Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1913-07-03
Special Corr espondence.


kilograms which they have been re-
ceiving from their constituents in all
parts of the country, making inquiry
as to the reason the democratic party
has not yet reduced the cost of living,
in accordance with its platform and
campaign promises, have aroused
President Wilson and the democratic
leaders to explanations and more
promises.
Some of the letters which are reach
ing the leaders frankly state that in
stead of reducing the cost of living,
which is as high if not higher than
ever, the party seems to be determined
to take employment away from the
working people by removing the tariff
protection that kept wages in this
country higher than in Europe.
The fact is being held up to the
democratic party in congress, that 1T
came into power on promise to re-
duce prices, and that now the tariff bill
is now being burdened with non-essen-
tials over which time is being wasted
in wrangling, while products in which
the masses are interested are being
neglected.
Majority Leader Underwood, whose
name the new bill bears, when asked
to answer the query of the critics as to
what progress has been made.by con-
gress towards lowering the cost of
living, and when these reductions would
be made said:
''To poidt out in detail the reductions
in the tariff bill, which passed the
ing, would take many hours. But
will say that we have either placed
every foodstuff on the free list or
halved the present tariff upon it. Meat
and bread are placed on the free list.
These are commodities in which the
masses are certainly interested.
''The tariff on sugar has been re-
twenty-five per cent, and If the bill is
passed in the form in which it went to
the senate will be entirely eliminated
within three years. This present re-
duction. think, will probably lower
the price to the consumer one-half cent
per pound.
''As to when these reductions will be-
come effective no one can say. The
bill must first pass the senate, and l do
not think that there is any doubt but
that it will. 1t will then go to the
president for his signature and imme-
diately be law.
mo one can say, however, what ben
efts will result to the general public
from these reductions. The tariffs will
be lowered on all articles, but the
middlemen must be considered before
one can say what saving the consumer
will enjoy. There is no doubt thai
many products will be materially lower
ed in price, but the lowering of the
tariff may not in some instances effect
any change in the prices made to con
sumers.
Speaker Clark replying to the same
query propounded to Mr.. Underwood
remarked:
1.-The entire tariff bill that passed tn,
house would have to be analysed tt
answer the questions. That measure
as it went to the senate effects re
duction in practically everything uset
by the consumer. Whether the senat
will improve upon it, or even pass il
yet remains to be seen.
GAS to the length of time that vii
elapse before the benefits of the reduc
tions will be enjoyed, one cannot max
answer until it is determined how lor,
it Will take the senate to pass the bi
and then one must pause still furthe
to find out how long it will take tn
measure after it Is made law to be
come operative"
Representative John J. Fitzgerald
of New York, who is generally cor
sidered to be we'll qualified to discus
the tariff. and what the democrat
policy with regard to legislation on tn
particular subject will result in, whe
approached, replied:
81 do not care to make any stat
ment on the subject or enter into an
discussion of it.