The sun., 1910-02-18
TO PROBE THE COST OF LYING
SENATOR LODGE NAMED as
HEAD OF COMMITTEE.

senator ElhinS Expressed HIS Displeasure
and Refused 60 Accept Place on the
COlnmittoo--Thlnks the Investigation
Now VIII DisappOint the Country.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 17.--Senator Lodge
OF Massachusetts, will head the Senate
committee that will investigate the in
crease in the prices of commodities.
Vice-President Sherman announced the
committee OF seven to-day, the member
ship OF which m addition to Mr.. Lodge is
as follows: Gallinger Smoot, MoCumber
and Crawford. Republicans, and Clark
and Simmons. Democrats.
AS TO the appointment Of this COM
mittee the Vice. President said in an au-
thorised interview:
After then resolution was adopted,
which OF course was Senator Elkinss
resolution. the Senator came to me and
asked that / should not appoint him as
chairman OF the committee. OF course the
custom is under ordinary circumstances
that the introduoer Of a resolution pro-
vioing for n committee be made It's chair
man.
After the Senator expressed himself
as unwilling to assume the chairmanship
OF the committee because his other sena-
toriai duties would net permit him to do
Justice to this oommittee's work and 10
them i asked him II he would not serve
merely as a member OF the committee,
and even this he felt that he could not do
and at the same time properly perform
his other pressing Senatorial duties, and
90 l reluctantly eliminated his name from
consideration"
Senator Elkins frankly expressed his
displeasure with the turn the proposed
had taken. He said that
Senator Aldrich had explained to him
that there was no plan to sidetraok Mr..
Elkins by denying him the chairmanship.
and that Vice-Presidcnt Sherman had de-
clared up to the last minute that Senator
Elkins would be appointed if he insisted. |
But Senator Lodge. he explained. desired |
the place.
Some OF the Senate leaders fhouRht |
it would help Lodge in his race for re-
election 70 the Senate said Mr. EIkins; |
besides. the matter was detained 90 lonx |
that IL made it impossible for me to serve
as chairman. Probably it was a plan 70 |
me. but they say not At any
rate declined to act as a member of the /
nst AIl - mas now gone nv |
when could give the necessary time to |
the matter. / am too much occupied
with the interstate commerce bill. A II
month ago, when introduced my resolu- Il
don. could have served as chairman"
Senator Elkins privately expressed the L
opinion that the proposed Investigation Il
would be a disappointment to the country. III
i fear the country win regard it as a
whitew ash of the tariff law" said he. II
You know Lodge 10 open 20 suspicion III
" the friend Of the cotton and woolIen N
mill men in New England"
Senator Elkins had decided 10 make a
statement on the floor OF the Senate. II
When he heard that his name was 70 ap-
,ear In the list as a member, but not As
he told Senator Aldrich that
le would rise In the Senate decline the
,lace and state his reasons, but his bristles
lad been given a few gentle strokes the
mooth way by Vice-PTesidsnt Sherman
md Senator Aldrich and he agreed mot
o explain in open Senate. Vice-Presi-
lent Sherman agreed to issue the state |
nent he later gave out. That did nos en-
4 the newspaper men and talk ed at length
( his treatment.
sherman and Aldrioh said to me.
Steve. we will appoint you chairman
you VIII accept but you see they 4
idnt, said Mr.. Elkins with a smile. | L
Bunaloed.' Isn't that what the bows 1
all III" inquired the Senator from West
irginia with q quizzical smile. aBalt
AXE II mild a. possible, boys; I don't ! Il
ant to appear sore.