The sun., 1910-02-06
NO WHITEVASH THE TARIFF
IN0UIRY INTO COST OF LIVING
MUST BE THOROUGH.

President Thinks II would ne Bad Politics
Tor the Republicans to Dodge the
Issue, Even n the Tariff should ne
to Blame-Pians for the Inquiry.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 5.--Any investiga-
tion which is made by a Congress COM
mittee into the high cost OF living will
have to be a real thorough probe into
conditions a. they actually are, whether
the Payne-Aldrich tariff law is white
washed or not, according to members
of Congress who have talked reoently
with President Taft. The President, II
was said to-day, does not take kindly
to intirnations which have come from
Congressman. particularly those who
represent the land beyond the Missis-
sippi. that an Investigation into the cost
OF living as now contemplated whatever
else it might bring forth would not show
that the tariff as passed by a Republican
Congress and signed by Mr. Taft was
in any way responsible.
The President, it was made known
to-day. has talked with influential mem
bers Of both houses. and while he has not
attributed to Congress any purpose to
whitewash the tariff he has shown that he
is emphatic in his desire that the probe
into the cost OF living be systematic and
thorough. whether the tariff. the producer.
the retailer or some one else eventually
be found responsible for a condition that
appears to have aroused the whole
country.
The President. according to Congress-
men who enjoy his confidence. believes
that an inquiry. no matter how conducted.
which did not include the tariff and which
was not painstaking to the highest degree
would be worse than useless, and he
realizes. it was said to-day. that such an
Investigation would work great injury
to the Republican party and its chances
for victory at the coming State and Con-
gress elections.
In other words the President believes.
1t was asserted, that Investigation into
the cost OF living must be conducted on
broad lines. no matter what or who In hit
by it, and il the tariff which he has indorsed
so often is found to blame well and good;
and IL not, still better.
One development to-day was a well
authenticated report that the Senate
Committee to Audit and Control the Con-
tingenc Expenses will bring out on Mon
day one Of the pending resolutions direct
ing an inquiry into the cost OF living and
its relation to wages and economical
best information the resolution introduced
by Senator Lodge Of Massachusetts,
which was reported by the Finance Com
mittce, will be adhered TO closely In the
report OF Monday. although it was con-
ceded that il may be modified somewhat:
The resolution. 1t was predicted, will
be acted on almost immediately after
it Ia reported owing TO the general inter-
est in the subject, and Senators Lodge,
Elkins and McCumber. who have all
taken part in the steps preliminary TO
an Investigation. will in all probability
be members OF the probing COMMITTEES.
Under the Senate resolution, it was
said, the Senate members OF the invesu-
rating COMMITTEES will be named by Vice.
President Sherman. II this is the case
the fear OF many legislators that the
obviated.
The resolution OF Senator Lodge pro-
viSaes for q COMMITTEES Of five members
OF the Senate TO investigate the cost Of
living. Senator Elkins has introduced
two resolutions which do not differ materf-
ally-one calls for q committee OF I'VE
members and the other for a committee
Of seven. While opinion to-day was
that the Lodge resolution would be re-
ported or followed closely, It is possible
of course that one OF the Ellins measures
will be selected by the Finance Com
mittse, TO which all were referred.
Western Congressman have had the
idea that an inquiry would be conducted
through the Finance Committee OF the
Senate and the Committee on Ways and
Means of the House. IL was through
these two committees that the Payne
Aldrich tariff law was indorsed before it
saw light in the House and Senate and
much Of the talk about a swhitewash'
Of that measure has resulted from this
fa<N