Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1910-02-07
Protecting TRUSTS
SENATOR ELKINS SAYS ALDRICH
IS SHIELDING TRUSTS.
Says Father of Tariff Law Is TrvinQ
to Protect the Trusts in Congress-
tOnal Inquiry. Says Lodge ReSO.
tuition Is an Attempt to Dodge the
Tariff.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.-Senator
Stephen b. Elkins of West Virginia
tonight made bitter complaint in the
senate concerning the treatment he
received in connection with his re-
solution providing for an investiga-
tion into the high cost of food.
He charged Senator Aldrich with
a desire to shield the tariff law and
the trusts in the inquiry, and he
intimated that hereafter he might
be an ''insurgent" if his wishes did
not receive more respectful cons:d-
alton.
The discussion was precipitated
by Senator Stone, who soon after
the reporting of the Lodge reso!u-
tiOn to investigate the cost of living
in mock sOlemnity raised the ques-
tlOn whether the committee on con-
tingent expenses had yet reported the
Elkins resolution, which had been
introduced early last month. Re-
spending, Mr.. Keane said that prob
ably the measure would be amended
and reported soon.
Taking the floor, Mr.. Elkins COM
planned that the finance committee
had reported the Lodge resolution
after days consideration, whereas
his own measure had been held up
by the contingent committee for a
month. Mr.. Elkins contended that
many important features of his meas
ure had been omitted from the Lodge
| resolution, and asserted that the lat
ter had been SO framed as to avoid
any inquiry into the effect of the
| tariff on food prices
Alleges Tariff Dodging
why do you want to dodge the
tariff" he asked, and added, II am
tariff man myself, and l am not
afraid to face the question in con-
nectiOn with this Investigations
! He then referred to the partici-
patton of Chairman Aldrich, of the
finance committee, in the prepara-
tion Of the tariff bill, and said Mr..
Aldrich was quick to act in any
thing affecting Ibis child"
When Mr.. Lodge read his reso1u-
tion, as amended by the finance COM
mittee, to show that it proposes to
include the effect of the tariff in it's
inquiry. the West Virginian was still
unsatisfied and declared the measure
as reported, "a mere method of side
tracking the question:" while Ills own
measure had been 50 manipulated as
to cause it to ''sleep the sleep of
death.
At this juncture Mr.. Bailey sug-
gested to Mr.. Elkins that if he desir-
ed to get action by the finance COM
mittee he should get on that commit
tee.
Sarcastic About Committee
suppose so, responded Mr.. Ell
films. Il never have gotten anything
out of that committee except in the
consideration of the tariff, when l
got few droppings by begging for
them and by voting for everything
else that they suggested
When Mr.. Bailey further suggest
ed that, to become effective, Mr.. Ell
kins should become an 'insurgent"
the West Virginian jokingly respond
ed that he might do so.
Il could not do it while the tariff
bill was pending, but now l have
more water to swim in-more sea
ROOM"
Mr.. Aldrich replied that the Lodge
resolution was much broaded than
Mr. Elkins had represented.
Let us see If it is," responded
Mr. Elkins. "Where is there any,
thing in it about trusts and monop-
olies? Are they to be Investigated
as to their effect on food prices?
Let's see who is nursing them"
Mr. Aldrich replied that he had
no desire to dodge a full inquiry or
to protect any interests.
Reintroducing his resolution with
a request that it be referred to the
finance committee, Mr.. Elkins said:
80 far, l have kept in the pro-
cession and stayed on the reserva-
tion. But don't have to stay there
always; tariff laws do not live for
ever"