The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1910-02-04
POWERFUL WAYS AND MEANS
COMMITTEE TO BE BEHIND
THE INVESTIGATION.
RESOLUTION IS GRAEN UP
Will Have Power to Sit In Any
Part Of the Country And to Sum-
mon Witnesses-Broad in Its
Scope.

of Representatives through its mos
, powerful committee-the Ways an
: Means Late today Representative
Payne, of New York, Chairman of tina
committee and majority leader in tn,
: House, introduced his resolution pro
viding for an investigation along the
broadcast lines.
Prior to introducing his measures
Mr. Payne conferred with Representa-
tive Champ Clark, the minority leader
who has been designated with him by
the committee to draft the instrument
authorizing the investigation. The
Ecommittee is to inquire into any al
legged increase in the cost of the neces.
saries of life, some of which such as
clothing, fuel, furniture, meats and
foodstuffs, are enumerated. Whole
sale and retail prices and rates of
profit are to be investigated The
question of whether the tariff is re-
sponsible for the alleged high cost of
living is covered in general provision
as to whether prices are affected,
Increased or otherwise by any laws
of the United States" The hearings
OF the committee will be open to the
public 1t may sit anywhere in the
United States and summon and swear
witnesses.
The resolution, which will be re-
ferred to the Ways and Means Com
mittee and doubtless reported back for
passage, follows:
Resolved, that the Committee on
Ways and Means is hereby empowered
and directed to make thorough and
complete investigation into the cost
OF living in the United States and any
alleged increase thereof, and the cost
Of the necessaries Of life including
clothing, fuel, furniture, meats, bread
stuffs and provisions generally, and
the cost Of production. Wholesale and
retail prices thereof and the rate Of
profit to those who sch and distribute
the same and the causes Of such In
creased cost and prices; and whether
and In what manner such cost and
prices are affected, Increased or 9TH
6rwise, by any laws Of the United |
States: and to investigate, recommend
and report such legislation as win. in |
its judgment, contribute to restore |
such prices to their normal level; that
said committee is further authorized
to investigate and report during the
same period the cost Of living and of
the riecessaries OF life as aforesaid in
foreign countries, and If such cost has
Increased, the cause thereof
Said committee and any sub-com-
mittee thereof shall have power to SIT
n Washington or elsewhere in the
United States during the sessions of
he House or otherwise; to subpoena
md examine witnesses under oath, to
employ experts and such other assis-
ants, including counsel, as 1t shall
leem necessary, and to send for rec .
'rds, papers and all other evidence
hat may be necessary to make the j.,
Investigation full and complete.
"All the costs and expenses Of such !;
Investigation, including all necessary
rinting, shall be paid from the con-
ingent fund of the House of Repre- !.
entatives. r
"The hearings of the committee +
hall be open to the public, and the a
is directed to include in
heir report the evidence taken"
A thorough and far-reaching investi-
alton Of the so-called "beef trust is
rovided for in a resolution introduced
'day by Representative Cowdry, a b
epublican member from Missouri.
he resolution is drawn in drastic b.
rms and appropriates $4,000 to be di
'ed in getting at the facts. Fines of is
1000 and Imprisonment for five years
e provided for witnesses who decline
reveal information to the commit W
e. NJ
The bill provides for "a thorough
ID complete investigation of the pres NJ
t unreasonable and unnecessary adj
nee in prices made by meat packers W
d of the reported boarding OF live ~
ock in Westerd yards, of the refus- W
: of large orders and the holding of "
pplies in freezers to create the I'M W
ession of shortage" W
The committee, which is to consist N
six Senators and six members of ~
, House, is authorized to call upon ~
Y court in the United States to en- W
ce the orders of the committee and W
npel replies to questions put to wit N
sses. The bill provides that the IS
use shall elect its six members. N
e six members from the Senate are =