Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1910-04-22
COST Of LIVING
PROBE A FARCE
INVESTIGATION is BEING MANiP-
ULATED FOR EFFECT ON
POLITICS.
REPORT TO BE HELD OVER
Friends of True Conservation Believe
Roosevelt viii Defend His Poll.
cies-Organization Shaken
by Action of Indiana Re-
publican Convention.

WaShIngtOn.-Wh1l publicly dlS-
claiming any intention of injecting
politics into the investigation as to
the high cost of living, Senator
Lodge, chairman of that committee,
brought in report which makes it
evident that the whole investigation
is now being manipulated for its po-
litical effect and that it is the inten-
ton of the committee to drag it out
SO that there may be no conclusions
from the committee before the public
during the congressional campaigns.
The committee now claims that it
cannot obtain the information re-
qulred under the resolution empower
ing it to do so except at cost OF
$l25,000. and it evidently does not re-
gard the expenditure of that amount
of money to be wise. DR.. Neill, the
commissioner of labor, prepared a
scheme of investigation which he
submitted to the committee. The
committee, in it's report, said that it
had reduced the amount of informa-
ton which it thought necessary, but
that it would cost $4,000 and four
months of work to bring together the
abridgment which it deems neces-
sary in order to cover the subject.
During the course of the discussion
IN the senate inqui.y was made by
Senator Bacon as to whether the COM
mittee would get the information that
would lead to the enactment of meas
ures to correct the evils which gave
rise to the appointment of the COM
mittee. Senator Lodge replied that the
committee had recommended legisla-
ton.
Plan Is Now for Delay.
1t had, on tie subject of cold
storage, and it is evidently the inten-
ton to put all other matters in cold
storage until after the congressional
campaigns. Senator Clark, discuss
ing the work of the committee, said:
My experience on the committee sat
isles me that tribunal, constituted
as that one is, is not proper one 10
determine the causes, if there are i'm
proper causes, that have produced the
large increase in the prices of food
stuffs."
Strong pressure has been brought
to bear from the congressional COM
mittee on the high cost of living. Such
a report would throw the door wide
open to a thorough discussion of the
tariff and would be seized upon as an
opportunity for speechmaking which
the Cannon-Aldrich machine does not
desire shall be opened. 1t is therefore
the plan TO prolOng the investigation
beyond the close of the session of
congress and thus preclude any report
from the committee until congress re-
cOnVeneS.
Conservation Forces Pleased.
Interest is keen as to the result of
the interview between former Presi-
dent Roosevelt and Clifford Pinchot.
1t is not expected that any Off
cial statement will be made in regard
to what transpires between these two.
However, some advices have been re-
ceiyed which indicate that former
President Roosevelt is to throw him.
self into the fight for conservation
Immediately upon his return. Let
ters received here from men who
have talked with the former pres
ident since he came from Africa show
that he is against Ballinger and Bal
lingerism and that he recognizes that
the present secretary Of the interior
is pursuing a policy which means the
reversal of that which was inaugu-
rated while he was president.
Nothing In any of these letters can
he checked up as a direct statement
from Mr.. Roosevelt, and in fact the
statement is made that the former
president was careful to avoid saying
ANYTHING that appeared to commit him
to any particular course upon his re.
turn. No one has authority to quote
him upon public questions, and even
his conservation friends who know
what he has advocated are not permit
ted to make any statement as to what
he shall do. 1t is apparent, however
To the real friends of conservation
that Mr.. Roosevelt will resent the
ne1siStent attacks of Mr. BallingeI
and his friends upon the whole Roose
Welt plan of conservation. 1t is fell
that the actions of Mr.. Ballinger anC
his friends will force the former pres
ident to defend himself. ~~
Peculiar Roosevelt Policy.
The establishment of the conserva
lion policy was the greatest specific
achievement of the former president:
administration. 1t was the concrete
thing i'll which he was successful. Hi:
railroad legislation was inadequate
Mr. Roosevelt himself admitted tina
he was not master of the subject
that he did not have the time to make
that detailed study of it which ht
fe1t should be made and that he hat
IN rely to q large extent upon thu
Judgment Of other men. But the con
seryation policy he grasped fully.
was the simple proposition that thu
,ublic domain should be reserved TO
the benefit of the whole people, ant
that special interests should be shu
on, of opportunity to grab it ant
hold It at the expense of the people
He arrayed himself against all tn