The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-02-03
ELKINS DEMANDS
INQUIRY IN SENATE
Would Ascertain Whether
Duties Cause High
Food Prices.
ALDRICH HASTENS
TO DEFEND TARIFF
Bailey Thinks West Virginia
May Become An
InSuTgent.

The question Of whether o not the
proposed Investigation Of the high cost
OF living under the Lodge resolution was
a tariff whitewash, came 10 a premature
head today, when Senator Elkins de-
manded a fair chance in the inquiry for
the people Of the United States
The occasion called into action the
leadership Of Senator AIdrich, which
had not been felt IN the Senate for some
Reeks- While Senator ElEus did not
Specifically charge that the tariff was
responsible for The prevailing Condi-
tons, the impression that he thought 50
was so strong that Senator AidTiCh Hur-
red TO the defense Of the tariff.
Senator EIkius declared that nearly
3 month ago he had introduced
resolution calling for sucn an inVesti-
cation as Senator Lodge now proposes
He said that, apparently, his resolu-
ton had been put 10 sleep IN the Com
CIttee on Auditing Expenses OF the
Senate, as he had been unable by
ClamOTinE on the floor or the Senate,
or by persuasion IN the committee to
get a report upon it. He said the Sen
ate could not dodge the intelligence OF
100000 people who held the suspicion
that the tariff was responsible for the
Present prices on food He declared that
ne wanted the present investigation TO
be thorough.
Could Be Made Specific
Senator AIdricb found IT necessary TO
declare that a sweeping investigation
would be made. and that II the tariff
vas responsible this would be deter
mined by the committee He said that
when the resolution was brought into
the Senate. If II was not sufficiently
specific 1t could be made so.
Senator EIkins made some humorous
remarks about the tariff being Senator
Aldrich's old child Of which ne was in
control He said ne 49, very appre-
heusive about the situation. caused bv
the high cost Of Ewing. and feared that
nothing would be done about il He
proceeded 10 refer 10 an article IN q
New York paper which suggested that
me investigate under the Lodge reso-
luton would be a traiT WhiJeWash-
Is Il tariff WEiteUashy - asked
Senator E[Ik5us- Why did thar 49,
creep into the public mind overnight
Inc country IS alarmed This is a So
rlcuS question Thirty days ago 7 in
uolLctd a resolution which was broad
and comprehensive I'd to this mo
ment, cant get any action I can't
sel lL OUT OF the pigeon hole OF the
Senator Bailey, OF Texas. observed
mat Il was not that the majority dis
trusted the senator from West Vir-
GINA
Might Join Insurgents
1T was" said Senator Bailey. "a
well defined fear that they couldn't
trust him 70 80 around the tariff. The
Senator from West Virginia has more
than once evinCed q disposition to cer
of the reservation over there [ think
he is getting tired Of being with the
anarchists, and is getting read- to Join
the insurgents
Senator EIki1s protested further
against the treatment he had received.
He aroused tia laughter Of the Senate
by his references 10 Senator AIdrich.
lie said he had been able to get no sat
lkfaCTlOn out of Senator AIdrfCh on
this matter OF Senator AIdrfch he said
He generally tells me when I ask him
about anything what Is the matter or
says You had better keep where YOU
are, II you know what's good for you %
Tho discussion was ended by Senator
GalhageTs calling for the regular order
Sena tor Elkins later relutr0duced his
original resolution, 50 changed that il
provides for seven members instead Of
nve on the committee, and that Il re-
feFTed 70 the Committee on Finance
The reflections made by Senator FL
kins on the effort to whitewash the
tariff are generally looked uuOn as
likely TO prove Of great importance be
Tore the Senate leaders proceed very. far
IN their effort 10 control the fnvesfTga-
lion into the cost Of living. IN such 2
way as TO shield the tariff from blame