Those annexing 300 or more acres were Altoona, Carbondale, Harrisburg, Scranton, Sharon, Steelton, Sunbury. And smaller areas were added by Allegheny, Allentown, Mt. Carmel and Wilkinsburg.

In the matter of the voting population in 1900, Pennsylvania had 51,668 negro voters, or about 20,000 more than in any of the three former free states of New York, Ohio and Illinois. Each of these had approximately 30,000 negroes of voting age. Comparitively Pennsylvania had within 9,000 as many negro voters as Maryland, and about one-fourth as many as were in Mississippi or Georgia.

PRICES AND COST OF LIVING.

No subject connected with industrial life has been the theme of greater controversy or is a more prolific source for future investigation than that of prices and the cost of living.

In the absence of a uniform system of statistics upon those subjects, various methods have been used to obtain the desired data, and there have been, of course, many consequent misleading results. Frequently local influences have modified the general line of prices and costs, preventing a proper interpretation of them, if used as presented. The need of a system which will serve for both state and nation has also become very obvious, and it is gratifying to note that such plans are now being formulated for the use of the various state bureaus, so that future statistics will be alike impressive and effective. For these reasons investigations have been deferred by this Bureau until such uniformity will be made possible of use, probably next year.

The state, however, through the medium of a special commission, made certain investigations early in 1907, to ascertain what was the true condition of affairs in the Pittsburgh districts, after numerous complaints had been made of excessive profits or extortionate prices on the commodities of life.

The history of the appointment of the Commission and its work, as gleaned from official state records, may be noted in connection with an account of Concurrent Resolution No. 10:

"In the Senate, January 21, 1907.

"Whereas, Notwithstanding a general employment of and demand for labor throughout the Commonwealth at higher wages than heretofore prevailed the price of food stuffs and the general cost of living during the past two years has increased to an alarming extent, and particularly so in our great industrial centers, and

"Whereas, The increased cost of living is proving a great burden and hardship to the average wage earner, and

"Whereas, It is urged, in certain sections at least, that this greatly increased cost of living has been brought about through unlawful combination in restraint of trade, and discrimination, and "Whereas, There is an abundance of evidence to be had with the conditions above mentioned existing, and are becoming daily still more alarming; therefore, be it

"Resolved (if the House of Representatives concur), That a committe consisting of two members of the Senate, to be appointed by the President Pro-tempore, and three members of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker, be and the same is hereby constituted and authorized to make a thorough investigation of the actual conditions of all such matters throughout the Commonwealth; to visit such sections as in their judgment is deemed wise, and report to the Legislature on or before March 15th, 1907, their findings, together with such recommendations as they deem will correct the evil complained of and alleviate the deplorable conditions. The said committee shall have power to summon and subpoena witnesses and compel by process their attendance, to give evidence, in like manner as in any court of record. The said committee shall serve without compensation, excepting, however, actual traveling expenses and expense of holding meetings, clerk and stenographic hire, and for the payment of which the sum of three thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated and directed to be paid by the said Treasurer, from time to time, upon proper voucher and certificate of said committee. "Approved-The 14th day of February, 1907.

EDWIN S. STUART."

On the 6th of March concurrent resolution No. 15 was introduced in the Senate, extending the time of report to April 10, 1907, which was approyed by the Governor, and in accordance, the report was duly made as follows:

REPORT OF THE COMMISSION TO ENQUIRE INTO THE PRICE OF FOOD STUFFS IN PENNSYLVANIA.

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:

Gentlemen: Your commission appointed under a joint resolution approved the fourteenth day of February, Anno Domini, one thousand nine hundred and seven, "A joint resolution for the creation of a commission to inquire into the price of food stuffs in Pennsylvania," respectfully submits the following as its report:

The President Pro-tempore of the Senate, in accordance with the provisions of said resolution, appointed as members of the said commission on the part of the Senate, the Honorable Charles H. Kline, of Pittsburgh, and the Honorable Edward F. James, of Hazelton, and there were appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Honorable H. I. Riley, of Allegheny; the Honorable Thomas O'Shell, of Allegheny, and the Honorable T. Z. Minehart, of Chambersburg. Soon after their appointement, the said commission held a meeting in the city of Harrisburg, and an organization effected by the election of Honorable Charles H. Kline, as President, and Chester D. Potter, of Pittsburg, as Secretary.

The first meeting of the committee for the transaction of business was held at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, subpoeaning before us such witnesses, namely: Statisticians, producers, wholesalers, jobbers, commission merchants, retailers, railroad representatives and dealers in special commodities, as we believed were informed on the subject to be investigated, and possessed of such information that would help us to ascertain the cause of the increased price of foodstuffs in Pittsburg and vicinity, and enable us, if possible, to suggest some relief that might tend to correct the practice of overcharge of the necessaries of life.

We find, from the evidence adduced before us, the following facts: First. That the price of food-stuffs in Pittsburg and vicinity is somewhat higher than in other cities within this Commonwealth, and in cities within a radius of four hundred or five hundred miles from Pittsburg, and, while the situation has been somewhat exaggerated, it nevertheless exists and should be corrected.

Second. Only a small percentage of all the food-stuffs consumed in Pittsburg and vicinity is raised near by, thus depriving the city and its people of a full market. About ninety-five per centum of

the produce must be shipped into the city of commission merchants, jobbers, wholesalers and retailers, thus depriving the consumer of the privilege of buying direct from the producer.

Third. We find that the commission merchants and wholesalers do not acquaint the producers of food-stuffs in the large producing districts from which supplies to the Pittsburg market should come with the prevailing market quotations in order that the producer may be kept in close touch with the Pittsburg market so that he may know the advantages to be derived from shipping his products to that market, in the absence of which, the commission thinks, permits the commission merchants and wholesalers to regulate the supply of this market, which necessarily maintains the high prices.

Fourth. We also find that the price of butter, cheese and milk to a great extent is regulated by the Elgin Board of Trade, which meets weekly at Elgin, Illinois. This action is highly detrimental to the interests of the State, for we firmly believe that the prices should be regulated by the supply and demand of the local markets of the State. In reference to milk, we further find, that the receivers do not acquaint the producers of this commodity with the price that they will receive for their milk until after a period of thirty or forty-five days from the time of shipment, which enables the receiver to arbitrarily fix the price of the milk so shipped and consumed and has a tendency to cause the shipment of their products to other markets.

Fifth. We find a practice permitted by some of the railroads by which they encourage the wholesalers and commission merchants to use their cars as a storage place, from which goods are vended to the retailer, and, in some instances, delivered to the consumer. In our opinion, this is a great inconvenience and retards the prompt receipt and quick delivery of goods consigned, not only to the wholesalers, but also to the retailer and consumer, causing great loss in the handling of green and perishable goods. This practice, while a source of much revenue to the railroads on account of demurrage and storage, is not practiced elsewhere, and should be, discontinued.

Sixth. We find that the practice of giving premiums and trading stamps by many of the merchants throughout the State is found by the commission to have an effect upon prices, in that while they apparently reduce, they in reality enhance prices, because additional cost must be added to pay for such premium or trading stamps.

Seventh. We also find the use of short measure and weights is indulged in by a large number of unscrupulous vendors of edibles, which gives rise to much complaint in apparent overcharge.

Eighth.-Competition is keen, and many merchants seek and exact exhorbitant profits, and, while there has been repeated efforts on the

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part of some of the citizens to correct this abuse and secure co-operation of the different merchants for the public good, yet this independence and greed for profit prevails in all pursuits, and little encouragement has been given to those who have tried to bring about relief along this line.

From the facts above set forth and the evidence gathered from all lines of trade, people, consumers and those who have made careful investigation, as well as from those who have filed statistics, all of which was sought by your committee and offered without and apparent hesitation, we are of the opinion that if pending legislation is enacted into laws it will greatly relieve the present situation.

The committee makes the following recommendations:

First.--That trolley companies have the right to carry freight, which will enlarge the competion along this line, encourage the production of a larger food supply to home markets, bring the producer into closer touch with the consumer, and thus elimate the middleman's profits, which, in many instances, we find are very exorbitant.

Second. A railroad commission, when clothed with full power to act, may be able to recommend and enforce such measures as will tend to lessen the price of food-stuffs by reason of the charges now made for demurrage and storage, and also to relieve the situation from much loss sustained on account of perishable goods, all of which the consumer is now called upon to pay.

Third. The passage of a law prohibiting the use of premiums and trading stamps, indulged in to such a large extent throughout the State, will reduce the price of the necessaries to the consumer.

Fourth. We further recommend that municipalities repeal, enact and enforce, by ordinance such rules and regulations as will encourage the producer to come into closer contact with the con

sumer.

Fifth. We further recommend the passage of a law to regulate weights and measures, through which much relief will be brought to the consumer.

Sixth. We further recommend the passage of a law permitting persons dealing in food-stuffs to garnish wagons and salary for the payment of bills incurred by the purchase of food-stuffs.

Seventh. We further recommend that the Department of Agriculture prepare complete statistics of the State relative to the cost of production of various food-stuffs, in the different parts of the Commonwealth.

We desire to state that the Commonwealth has found in its investigation, that the field is so large that adequate time was not given for a complete and thorough investigation into this matter,