The Increased Cost of Production

Many causes for the increased cost of living have been assigned. No doubt many have combined to produce the result which we are considering today. Perhaps sufficient attention has not been paid to one of these, that is, the increased cost of production. I had the good fortune once to examine Mr. Thomas A. Edison as an expert in a case relating to the ownership of his quadruplex patents. In the course of his testimony he uttered this profound truth: simplest things are always the best and the last to be found out. As I have studied the increase in the cost of living it seems to me that this statement of Mr. Edison's is most applicable. The simple explanation of the increased cost of living is that the cost of production has increased. Let me call your attention to two subjects in which this is particularly true: the increase in house rent and in the price of meat. First, in the matter of rent, let us deal especially with the rent of apartments in tenements in the cities. In 1860, a workingman could get as comfortable rooms in New York City for $8 a month as he now can for $16. The reason for this is mainly that the cost of building has greatly increased. This increase in the cost of building is due to two causes: The increased governmental requirements in reference to the character of the buildings. Take for example the tenement house act of the state of New York which became a law April 12, 1901. The second chapter of this relates to protection from fire. Every tenement house is required to have a fireproof fire escape. In the construction of five story tenement houses the first floor above the cellar must be constructed fireproof with iron or steel beams and fireproof flooring. Many other requirements provide for the safety of the occupants

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