Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1910-02-25

Gt1dt wv al t11C ClOoC VI VIZ A->-~S y
vote will be had and it is said that
the bill will be passed.
Another important bill under consld-
Grafton relates to a federal license for
automobiles. 1t was stated by repres-
entatives of the American Automoolie
Association, now in session in Wash
ington, that there are at the present
time 450, 200 of these vehicles in Wash
ington, that there are orders booked
with the various manufacturing and
sales companies for 100000 more. This
means that there will be 700, 1000 motor
vehicles travelling throughout the
country and across states lines before
the end of the year. The different
states have different laws and regula-
tons with reference to automobiles and
the users of the machines who wish to
20 from one end of the country to the
other find it quite embarrassing to get
new license at every crossing of state
lines, to say nothing of knowing or re-
membering the diverse laws and regu-
lations of the different states with re-
ference to speed and other road condi-
tions and restrictions. A license from
the general government with registra-
ton at the Agricultural Department,
or the Department of Commerce and
Labor in Washington, will make it
necessary to have only one placard
number on the card, and as it will be
seen, IS license fee for every car will
raise considerable sum; So, 100000 can
be devoted to building good roads.
The committee to investigate the in
creased cost of living has at last been
appointed in the Senate by the Vice
President Of the United States. Sena-
tor Lodge, of Massachusetts, is chair
man. Senators Gallinger, Simmons,
Crawford, Smoot and McCumber are
members of the committee. 1t will be
remembered that there was dispute
week or two ago between Senator Elk
ms, of West Virginia, and Lodge, of
Massachusetts, with reference to lead
efship in this investigation. Remem-
bering this, Vice-President Sherman
announced that in accordance with Gus
tom, he had offered the craftsmanship
to Senator Elkins, the author of the
resolution under which the inquiry is
to be conducted, but that Senator Elk
ms, having charge of the Interstate
Commerce bill, would be unable to
serve as chairman of this committee
It had been expected that open hear
ings would be held by the committee,
but Chairman Lodge, it is understood,
does not favor this plan and is of opin-
ion that better work can be done by
calling in experts from the executive
who are supposed to have
special knowledge of the many subjects
to be probed. Senator Lodge has
promised that the investigation will be
thorough and cover fully the wide scope
provided for in the resolution. He said
also that if the tariffs responsible for
the increased cost of the necessaries of
life, the committee whould bring out
all the facts. Those who pay the mar
ket bills doubtless want to know the
facts, but would have more faith IN the
investigation if Senator Cummins, of
Iowa, or LaFollete and other insurgent
Senators had been appointed on the
committee. The names on the COM
mittee as appointed does not inspire
fullest confidence that the question of
high prices will be probed to the bot
tom.