The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-02-06
Commerce and Labor Depart
ment May Make an Inquiry.
CHAIRMAN BURTON TO RETIas
VIII Not Head Rivers and Harhors
Committee In Next consress-vos,
on Senator smoot to BE Taken Feb.
20-Prssident,s Railroad Plans.
b. cIiARLEs w. ARTHuR.

uce resuiteu III lne ulhSOlutlOn OIL tle
combine OF paper makers which had e =
isted Heretofore. but not all the ex
pected benefits have accrued, aud no.
desire to go further In the matter ! j,
being manifested. The initiative his
been taken by Representative join
Sharp Williams. leader of the minority
in the house. who Inns offered u rysolu-
ton directing the department OF con-
merce and labor to commence an In.
quiry. Mr. Williams desires to know
how far any agreement that may ex-
list between paper manufacturers on.
crates to fix prices on print paper and
other products, why 1t Is possible for
a combine to be formed and how much
such a combine. II 1t exists, costs the
publishers Of the country and the peo.
pie generally. So high Is the cost OF
paper that some enterprising newspa-
per proprietors have established their
own mills, in which they manufacture
the supply needed by them much more
economically than they could, secure
It through the regular trade channels.
Burton to Retire.
After being at the head of the rivers
and harbors committee for twelve
years, In the course Of which he
has passed seven appropriation bills
through the house without amendment.
Representative Theodore z. Burton or
Ohio has decided to retire from the
craftsmanship and will not accept 1t
when the Sixtieth congress begins.
Mr.. Burton Is one of the ablest men III
either house, and his conduct OF the
committee which provides for water
ways Improvements has been along
lines which have earned general ad-
mfrntion and approval for him, al
though every time bill Is passed Ter.
islators and private citizens interested
in projects for which no appropriations
are made attack him vigorously for
what they term his discrimination.
When Mr.. Burton became chairman
of the committee the rivers and har-
bors bill was admitted to contain more
''pork"-that Is, appropriations for I'M
worthy projects. made solely for the
purpose OF bolstcring up the political
fortunes of influential members-than
any other similar measure. Mr.. Bur-
ton has changed all this. He Is fully
Informed abont every river or harbor
improvement project in the country.
and he will not permit his bill to ap-
propriate money for any which he
does not believe is meritorlous
smoot Opposed Delay.
Senator Smoot OF Utah caused his
colleagues 10 sit up and take notice
when he pleaded with them not to
put any obstacle in the way of an ear
ly vote on the resolution which recon-
mends that he Is not entitled to the
seat he now occupies. There was
disposition in some quarters to post
pone indefinitely any action on the res
olution, which has already dragged
along nearly four years, but Mr..
Shoots plea was successful, and an
agreement was reached to vote ON his
case Feb. 20 Mr.. Smoot has made
many friends since he came to the SEN
ate. He has never believed in or prac.
that his connection with the Mormon
church and the participation OF that
organization in politics are such as to
render him an unfit person to be a
member OF the upper house of con-
gresss Mr.. Shoots colleague, Mr..
Sutherland. gentle. recently made a
long speech in defense OF the Mormon
senator. Mr.. Dubois OF Idaho has
been Mr.. Smoot's principal opponent
Presidents Railroad Plans.
Recent sensational publications to
the effect that the president would
send special message to congress on
the matter Of overcapitalization Of
railroads, with view to bringing
about the making OF transportation
rates on the basis Of the real value Of
railroad property less the water" In
the stock, were not founded on fact.
The president has been giving close
attention to the matter Of railroad
rates and the operation OF the new
rate law. and he has conferred with
the interstate commerce commission
on the subject OF oyercapitalization, as
well as on various other phases of the
problem. He probably will make some
strong recommendations on the sub
ject In his next annual message. He
realizes the utter impossibility OF get
ting anything ike important legislation
through congress at this session.
A Joke on Hobson.
Richmond Pearson Hobson. hero OF
the Merrimac and congressman elect
from Alabama. figured in a little Incl
dent today which is causing his friends
to poke fun at him. He went to the
capitol and. desiring to see one Of the
Alabama representatives, sent in his
card. Delegate Bird MCGUIRE Of Okla
homa came up Just then and aske1
Hobson why he did not go In.
''why-er.- said the ex-naval on
Ger, Il did not know that would be
allowed to 90 In"
Mr.. Mcclure explained that repre-