Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-25
INQUIRY IS UNBIASED
Members of Cost of Living
Committee Resent Reports.
STATEMENT BY SIMMONS

Assurance was given in the Senate to-
day, on behalf of the majority and
minority of the committee in investigat-
ing the high price of living, that the in
vestigation is to proceed In good faith,
relieved from effort by either party to
make political capital out of it. or to give
1t a partisan tinge In any way.
Senator Simmons of North Carolina, a
democratic member of the committee.
arose in the Senate to correct what he
termed misstatements In the morning + "a
pers as to the purpose OF the minority
of the committee, as evidenced by their
course yesterday. Mr.. Simmons COM
planned that the reports were absolutely
incorrect in this reg 4rd, and attributed
to the minority an intention entirely for
eign to their purpose. He denounced in
severe terms the misstatements, and was
confirmed in his remarks by Senator
Lodge, speaking for the majority.
No Obstructive Methods.
The remarks Of Mr.. Simmons. Mr.
reports that the democratic members OF
the committee were using obstructive
methods to turn the inquiry into a par
tisan effort. and that the majority OF the
committee In executive session proposed a
course Of coercion toward the minority.
Mr.. Simmons served notice. however
that the minority would not be content to
rest the investigation upon the reports
submitted by the departments of the gov
eminent.
Il am certain said Mr.. Simmons.
that We have no intention OF giving the
inquiry a partisan color. We do not want
to fix the blame for the high cost Of living
upon the tariff, the trusts, the wholesaler.
the reailer or the middleman, except
Il believe this investigation ought to be
thorough. searching and conducted with
impartiality, no matter which political
party it hits. Nothing short of this will
satisfy the country I am sure the ma
ton will not be satisfied to rest the case
solely upon reports furnished by the de-
partments.
For Rigid Investigation.
ANY investigation which does not in
quire into the methods and devices by
which the high p.ices have been fixed
would be incomplete. The object of the
questions Of the minority yesterday
which has been misrepresented in the
morning papers, was to show that the
truth can be obtained only by the rigid
cross.examlnallon OF agents anu repre-
sentatives of the indust. les and organiza-
tons that control commodities.
Il believe that retailers, wholesalers.
the managers Of cold storage plants.
for example, should be brought before
the committee and cross questioned. !
want to refute the false impression
that the democrats will try to turn the
investigation into partisan lines"
Senator Lodge said that the state
ments from the morning papers 20
which the senator had referred were
about as complete misstatements as
could be made.
The committee has had two meet
ings," said Senator Lodge, "at which
there has been complete accord be-
tween the majority and the minority.
Facts Are Wanted.
THE purpose of the committee is to get
at the facts. no matter who they hurt or
help, and to get these facts before Con-
gress and the country as soon as possible.
We have called upon the departments to
furnish what information they may have.
SO that we can supply what is lacking.
We have asked our diplomatic agents
abroad for statistics as to prices. The
committee is now trying to frame the
lines of the inquiry, and when conducted
1t will be neither partisan nor political"
Senator Owen of Oklahoma suggested
that he would like to see the scope Of the
inquiry extended to Oil, to find out why 1t
is that barrel of oil brings only 80 cents
in Oklahoma for forty-two gallons. and
the refined product of that barrel. in the
form Of gasoline sells In Washington for
20 cents single gallon.
Senator Lodge said 1t was such facts as
these the committee sought.