Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-02-12
SENATOR ELKINS
WINS HIS POINT
The High Cost Of Living Bill TO
Bear His Name.
BIG THING FOR THE SENATOR

Resolution Reported to the Senate
Embodies Features Contained In
the Various Propositions Submitted
An Effort to Be Made to Get the
Information at the Present Session.
Washington, Feb 9.--Harmonizing
the several resolutions introduced In
the Senate directing an investigation
into the cost of living the republican
leaders in conference perfected res
olRtion on that subject which was
later presented to the Senate by Mr..
McCumber, of North Dakota. 1t was
referred to the. Committee on Con-
tingent Expenses, which will consid-
er the question of cost of conducting
such an inquiry.
The resolution bears the name of
Senator Elkins as author and embod-
ies the principal features If the Nc
Cumber resolution as well as some
of those contained in the one intro
duced by Mr.. Lodge.
select committee of seven senators
and it Is planned to assemble all of
the information possible bearing upon
the increased cost of articles of food
since 1900 and report, if possible, at
the present session of Congress.
The conference was held in the
rooms of the Senate Finance Commit
tee, and was attended by all of the
republican members of that commit
tee, as well as a number of other re-
publican leaders, including Senators
Crane, Elkins and Kean. 1t was agreed
that the select committee to be APP
pointed shall avail itself OF the oppor-
tunity to get all of the data possible
from the executive department so that
there shall be no delay in it's consid-
Grafton.
In making the investigation 1t is
provided that special attention shall
be given to the following subjects:
Wages, salaries and earnings and
whether the increase in them has kept
pace with the increase in the cost of
living
Increased price of such articles as
meat, grain, provisions, cotton, wool,
clothing, rents, lumber, coal, iron, oil,
brick and cement.
Price to the producer, the whole
saler or jobber, the retailer and the
consumer at which articles included
in the investigation were distributed
and sold in the year 1900, and the
price for their disposition and sale at
the present time.
The cost of production of the
articles mentioned and the cost of
their distribution and sale when in
the hands OF the wholesaler or job
Der and the retailer, between the
same periods.
Whether such articles have been in
creased in price by reason of the in
creased production of gold through
out the world and the expansion Of
the currency in the United States or
by tariff or other legislation Of Con-
gress, or by any monopoly. combina-
ton or conspiracy to control, regulate
or restrain interstate or foreign COM
MERGE in the supply, distribution or
sale of such articles.
The prices of food products on the
farm In various parts of the United
States.
Wholesale prices OF such food prod
ucts at the whole ale trade centers of
the United States.
Retail prices of such food products
in the larger cities OF the United
States and also a comparative state
ment showing the cost of production
on the farm.
The committee is ordered to report
to the senate suggestions of recon-
mendations as to the remedy to be APP
piled to reduce the cost Of living. and
accompany it's report with drafts OF
bills for legislation as well, in the
opinion of the committee. correct and
remove the causes which have en-
HANGED the prices of necessaries of
life.
An hour after Mr. McCumber had
presented the resolution from the
Finance Committee and it had been
referred to the Committee on Con-
tingent Expenses, Mr.. Kean, chairman
of the latter committee, reported the
measure back with a recommends
ton that it be adopted.
Mr.. Stone made objection to pres
ent consideration of the resolution
and it went over until today