The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1910-02-18
INVESTIGATE
HIGH PRICES.
Ways and Means Committee
to Insert Probe.
PAYNE and CLARK IN CHARGE

Secretary Wilson and District of CO.
Iumbia Already Conducting Inquiries
Did Cunningham Claimants Defeat
arfieId?-lnsureents and Regulars
Line Up to Support the President.
Washington, Feb. 5.-The storm cen
ter of the fight on high prices is here
Not only did the Anti Food Trust
league, which has headquarters in
this city, start in motion the meat
boycott, but at least three separate
Investigations into the subject are ac.
tually under way here or are definitely
projected. One of these is the inquiry
by Secretary of Agriculture Wilson,
another by the house committee on the
District of Columbia, and the third is
the probe provided for by the house
Wilson has gone far enough with his
investigation to come to one or two
definite conclusions. One of these is
that the farmer is not much benefited
by high prices since he receives but
little more than he did ten years ago.
The secretary of agriculture therefore
concludes that trusts and combina-
tons are largely responsible for high
prices. The District inquiry has not
reached the point of announcing re-
suits, but testimony introduced before
it indicates that combinations of To-
cal dealers, known as little trusts"
may have something to do with the
matter. As for the investigation by
the ways and means committee, Chair
man Payne and Minority Leader
Champ Clark have been appointed a
to devise plans for the
hearings. Payne has introduced a res
olution in the house to empower the
ways and means committee to make
the inquiry. A number of other reso-
lutions on the subject have been in
troduced in both the house and SEN
ate.
Who Hit Garfield?
The sensational testimony of L. r.
CLAWS to the effect that it was the
Alaska coal land claimants who kept
former Secretary of the Interior Car
field out of the Taft cabinet is still
the talk Of Washington. Claws asser-
ton was that Il Mr.. Mckenzie, a well
known lobbyist, stated such to be the
TACT to himself and another man and
hat both had made afIidavits at the
.ime The inference is that Garfield
opposed the Cunninghams, Guggen-
helms and other coal land claimants,
md they in turn defeated him for re-
all of which recalls to
mind a rumor of some months ago to
he effect that eX-President Roosevelt
requested the retention of Garfield,
md President Taft's refusal occasion
ID a GOODNESS between the two. True,
his is nothing more than a rumOr
Ind there is no way of discovering its
ruth or falsity One thing is certain
hat in his last talk to the tennis cabi-
let Mr.. Roosevelt paid a warm tribute
o Jimmy Garfield. Another thing is
equally sure that Mr.. Garfield is now |
lere and is working with the National |
association, of which |
clifford Pinchot was recently made |
he head and which organization is
harged with being the citadel of the |
back from Elba" crowd.
Some Taft Policies Assured.
AS the session progresses the indi-
ations accumulate that the president |
5 to have his way. Following the as
urances of the Ohio delegation that
hey would stand by the Taft policies
anne the Republican representatives
rom New York state with the same
ledge. The insurgents, not to be
utdone. sent a special committee to
be president promising that they
would help pass through the postal
avings bank bill. the conservation
measures. the anti-injunction bill and
be railroad legislation advocated in
be presidential messages. Mr.. Taft
himself as pleased. He even
ave out statement to this effect, but
7hether to shame the regulars into
is support or to cinch the insurgents
7as not stated. Perhaps by making
be thing public he hoped to achieve
9th objects. The only conspicuous
missions I'm the insurgent pledges con-
ern the federal incorporation bill and
he ship subsidy. On neither Of these
id they commit themselves. This
,ould make it seem rather doubtful
Or both measures. as the Democrats
re unanimously against the ship sub
idy and large sections of both regu-
IRIS and Democrats oppose federal in
orporatiOn.
"Dollar Diplomacy"
The diplomacy OF the present secre-
Try Of state has not escaped criticism.
he three conspicuous acts up to this
me have been the firing Of Crane. the
.icaragua affair and the Manchurian
ote. In the Nicaragua matter the
MY objection was as TO the form and
me Of the communication given out
nd as to the possible alienation Of the
attn American republics. As to the
rane and Manchurian episodes, the
.rictures have been more severe.
hey are I'm effect that J. Pierpont
Iorgan has been behind these diplo-
latic moves I'm the far east and that
lis government has been placed in
10 attitude practically OF asking Chi