The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-24
HAS THE FIGURES.
CONTINUED from Page one.)

(SOuLluuSQ 1IOul rage OAc.J
ter part of last year." he said. ut i:
not surprising that careful men moved
cautiously in business matters pending
the necessary readjustments from the
new tariff, or that they should have
hesitated until the final form of the
currency bill was known. 1t is not
strange either that men should want
to know the attitude Of the govern
ment toward legitimate business.
No Ground for Worry.
But there is no ground here now
for worry. The surplus of freight cars
has. ceased to grow. 1t commenced
about the middle of January to de-
cline and has decreased by about five
thousand cars. 1t would be easy to
add from numerous sources to these
favorable statements. / have found in
the last fortnight the reports Of i'm
proving business so many and SO gen.
eral that it has been impossible for me
to consider them all.
The tendency is clearly and openly
in the direction of a reduction in the
cost Of food and clothing through the
removal of the tariff tax. 1t may be
costly processes of distribution lay a
tremendous tax upon our consumers.
and that in MY judgment the single and
little discussed factor of carriage alcne
lays a heavier burden upon our people
than the total amount paid for railway
freights.
The new tariff has not thus far re-
suited in any material increase of i'm
portations of manufactured articles To
compete with the products of our own
factories. but rather its important ef-
feet has been to add to our food sup
lily.
Prices and Work.
1T remains to discuss briefly two
other elements of the existing situation,
the prices of commodities and the nat
ter OF unemployment. During the win
ter months thousands of laborers arS
thrown out Of work for climatic reasons
IL: ELL our northern states and it is
normal that they should concentrate
as tor years past they have done, in our
large cities and Industrial centers.
Statements have been made and denied
TO the effect that there were more un-
employed in New York this year than
usual. This may be true without mean-
ing that there is any abnormal excess
Of unemployed in the whole country
New York city is known to be in the
act OF spending several hundred mil
lions upon subway construction.
Furthermore it is well known that
New York provides literally for the
unemployed through it's vast private
and public charities. and this is an at
tractive factor to some out of work.
All these factors would naturally draw
the unemployed to that city in num-
bcrs even in excess of possible employ
rrent. The fact that they have so gath
cred there or in other cities in large
numbers this year may or may not
have direct bearing upon the prosperity
Of industry. A large part of the un-
employed are probably not those who
work in factories but rather those who
follow the kinds Of labor which the in
clernency of the season forbids contin-
uiug and which are always suspended
Mt this time Of the year.
The reUpening OF idle mills through
out the central west has improved con-
ditions. 1t il certainly true that many
OF those whe were out OF work when
the year opened are now busy again,
and the tendency IL to employ more.
With the opening Of the spring many
avenues to work that the season aow
closes will reopen. Thus. the normal
passage CT time acts to solve the prob
lem
Tariff and Food Prices.
"Now it Is the fact that in recent
years the tariff tax has 80 operated
on food as to make 1t visibly more
costly. There was q time recently
when potatoes were imported when our
supply was scant. and when the tariff