The Holly chieftain., 1910-04-22
INVESTIGATION is BEING MANiP.
UlATED FOR EFFECT
POLITICS.
REPORT TO BE HELD OVER
Friends of True Conservation Believe
Roosevelt Will Defend His Poll.
cies-oroanixation Shaken
by Action Of Indiana Re.
publican Convention.

Washington.-While publicly dis
claiming any intention OF injecting
politics into the investigation as to
the high cost of living. Senator
Lodge. chairman of that committee.
brought in report which makes 1t
evident that the whole investigation
Is now being manipulated for its po-
litical effect and that it is the inten-
ton OF the committee to drag 1t out
SO that there may be no conclusions
from the committee before the public
during the congressional campaigns
The committee now claims that it
cannot obtain the information re-
CURED under the resolution empower
ing 1t to do SO except at a cost of
$l25,O0O. and it evidently does not re-
gard the expenditure OF that amount
OF money to be wise. DIR. Neill, the
commissioner of labor. prepared a
scheme of investigation which he
submitted to the committee. The
committee. in its report, said that it
nad reduced the amount of informa-
ton which it thought necessary, but
that 1t would cost $4,000 and four
months of work to bring together the
abrldgment which it deems neces-
sary in order to cover the subject.
Durlng the course of the discussion
IN the senate inquiry was made by
senator Bacon as to whether the COM
mlttee would get the information that
would lead to the enactment of meas
ures to correct the evils which gave
inf ~f
mittee Senator Lodge replied that the
committee had recommended legisla-
ton.
Plan Is Now for Delay.
1t had, on the subject of cold
storage. and 1t Is evidently the inten-
tion to put all other matters in cold
storage until after the congressional
campaigns. Senator Clark, discuss
ing the work of the committee, said:
My experience on the committee sat
lsfles me that tribunal constituted
as that one Is, is not proper one TO
determine the causes, If there are i'm
proper causes, that have produced the
large increase in the prices of food
stuffs"
Strong pressure has been brought
to bear from the congressional COM
mittee on the high cost of living. Such
report would throw the door wide
open to thorough discussion of the
tariff and would be seized upon as an
opportunity for speechmaking which
the Cannon-Aldrich machine does not
desire shall be opened. 1t is therefore
the plan TO prolong the investigation
beyond the close of the session of
congress and thus preclude any report
from the committee until congress re.
cOnvenes
Conservation Forces Pleased.
Interest is keen as to the result of
the interview between former Presi-
dent Roosevelt and Clifford Pinchot.
1t is not expected that any off,
cial statement will be made in regard
to what transpires between these two.
However. some advices have been re-
ceived which indicate that former
President Roosevelt is to throw him
self into the fight for conservation
Immediately upon his return. Let
ters received here from men who
have talked with the former pres
ident since he came from Africa show
that he is against Ballinger and Bal
ltngerism and that he recognizes that
the present secretary of the interior
is pursuing policy which means the
reversal Of that which was inaugu-
rated while he was president.
Nothing in any of these letters can
a NhnNkn1
from Mr.. Roosevelt, and in fact the
statement is made that the former
president was careful to avoid saying
anything that appeared to commit him
to any particular course upon his re-
turn. No one has authority to quote
him upon public questions. and even
his conservation friends who know
what he has advocated are not permit.
ted to make any statement as to what
he shall do, 1t is apparent, however,
to the real friends of conservation
that Mr.. Roosevelt will resent the
pelsistent attacks of Mr.. Ballinser
and his friends upon the whole Roose-
velt plan Of conservation.
Peculiar Roosevelt Policy.
The establishment Of the conserya.
ton policy was the greatest specific
achievement of the former presidents
administration. 1t was the concrete
thing in which he was successful. His
railroad legislation was inadequate.
Mr.. Roosevelt himself admitted that
he was not master Of the subject,