Show HIGH GOST OF LIVING GREAT VARIETY OF CAUSES SHOWN TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PRESENT CONDITION Senate ate Committee Appointed to Investigate investigate Investigate In In- the Cause for Advance In Prices Reports Its Findings But Decision Is Not Unanimous Washington The The majority report of at the special senate committee appointed appointed appointed ap ap- ap- ap pointed to Investigate the causes for forthe tho the increased cost of living was submitted submitted submitted sub sub- to the senate on Thursday by Senator Lodge chairman of the com corn The Republicans and Democrate Democrats Democrats Demo Demo- crate failed to agree A meeting was held prior to the presentation of the report and the minority members of the committee pro protested ested against tho the character of the findings After a a. long argument the minorI minority y was authorized to employ an expert to go over the report of the majority and prepare the minority views for submission to the senate The report made by Senator Lodge was an exhaustive one compiled from testimony given by one forty-one witnesses witnesses witnesses wit wit- nesses reports received from consuls consuls' and from foreign governments The majority of the theY committee found that of tho the many causes uses contributing contributing contributing con con- to the advance in prices the following were most marked Increased demand for farm products and food Shifting of population from food- food producing to food-consuming food occupations occupations occupations and localities lo 10 lo- lo Immigration to food consuming Reduced fertility of land resulting In lower average production or In Increased increased increased In in- creased expenditures for fertilization Increased banking t 1 1 agricultural agricultural agricultural agri agri- cultural localities fitch enabled farmers to hold their crops and market market market mar mar- ket them to the best advantage It was found that this not bet only steadied stead stead- led prices but had bad a tendency to increase increase increase in in- crease them Reduced supply and convenient transportation facilities of such commodities commodities com corn as timber Cold storage plants which result In preventing extreme fluctuations of prices of certain c commodities with the seasons but by enabling the wholesalers to buy and s sell ll at the best possible advantage tend to advance advance advance ad ad- vance prices Increased cost of ot distribution Industrial combination Organizations of producers or deal deal- ers rs Advertising Money supply I Ov Over r Higher standard of ot living The tariff is discussed at great length and the conclusion was reached by the majority of the committee committee com corn it had been no material factor factor factor fac fac- tor In causing the advance in prices during the last decade |