Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-02-17
From Washington.
10 srespcrdsnce Of the Alexandria Gasstt.
EaLnnrn II

Washington, February II.
"shall I have csutu, 10 settle the
t uublesome question as to whether the
House will investigate the high prices OF
living?' This Is the question that
Speaker Cannon has been asking bis
friends today and the decision seems to
bs that the SPEAKER shall have his eau
cue. The insurgents are not q little
amused at the way Mr.. Cannon Pa. the
question tut they say that 1t illustrates
the situation in the House better than
anything else thst has been said. Toe
high price Of living proposition Ia q two :
edged sword and In handling 1t the lead.
ers of the HGuse are baviug hard work
to End any portion Of the blade that does
not cut. The resolution thtt was pre-
sented uusnimt u,ly by the co nmi TIA Oh
aays and means providing that that
commit 10 should conduit the inyes!igl
ton Is now with the committee on III 'es.
To get 1t out involves double dagger.
ANY report from the committee or
rules is subject to an amendment thai
will revise the Cannon rules, Tut
the speaker off the committee on
rules and Insert the insurgent pro.
gramme 10 lien of the preseLt system.
Secondly, the report Is subject to an
amendment that would give the Il Use
me power to elect the investigating
committee aud this might result in a
committee that Tocld have some very
harsh Thugs to say about the tariff and
trusts. In order to gat the matter be.
fore the Fl ,use, 1t is necessary to have
republican CT ucus and to get enough
insurgents into the cRutp, to Insure
victory for the programme. The indics'
ons sre to-day that this can be done
because The democrats sre unwilling to
mix up The rules 6ga! with the coat OF
living inve, CATION and some OF the
insurgents want 10 stand by the demo-
Gratis in this. The democrats, they say,
stood with them and they should net a.
tempt to force the rules iss1e II I'll the
democrats are ready. There will be az
other opportunity to take up the rules
eight, they urge. 10 this class are Me8sr'.
Hayes, of California, aud Gardner, OF
Masss chuse,tes. Tbs democratic mem-
bsrs of the House ere inclined to take.
ne view thst the rules fight can be
postponed. Both Champ CLARK aud
Oscar Underwood are on the comm ttse
on ways ard means, they say, md csu be
t u,fed t. do the right kind Of probing
o. the cost Of living. Some of tae It.
surseut, say thsl no ppoitunity to
amend the Jules shonld be allowed u 90
BY and that, if they 60 into caucus ca
this PROPOSE. Ion, they will not get an
other chance lIess II Is hedged about
IA int such "a way. Mr.. Dwight rep:
N. ", republican whip was Instructed
t ,dsy 10 c:uat noses to 6nd ont how
many republicans will come into eau.
qua. As 1t stands now, neither The organ;s
zltion ncr The insurgents know their
strength.
A surprising revelation made by
Chairman Martin A. K1app, of the
Interstate Commerce Commission, ID t'e
Senate committee on interstate committee
was Ia the statement that he TAFT inter
state commerce bill does not prevent
holding companies from controlling
competing railrosd lines. 1t vas sts!ed
plainly entush, be seid, that railroad
corporation could not COZ t'ol a competing
line LII: placed no such rsstritt.on on q
holding company. Hs made no arsu
ment 90 the matter, but said the commit
sion would simply call the attention OF
OR gross to the matter 30 that 1t might
decide whether 1t was desirable to leave
that section of the bill unchanged. Mr..
Knapp expressed commissions dissP=
2roval OF the bill by Representative
ralisfsrro, Clam. Fia.). designed to per
nit express companies to transport free
packages for he personal use of its OWE
officers or employees or those OF other
common carriers,
A reeuet th:t the attorney general OF
The United ST ,tes irst proceedings
against the American Telephone and
Telegraph Company, on the ground OF
alleged conspiracy in reEsrsiSI OF t.ade,