Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-02-10
Seven Senators to Conduct
Investigation Of General En-
hancenlent of Values Now
Troubling American People,
WILL COVER MANY
PHASES OF PROBLEM

lpy MornlnE IournaI seeelal ..s.sa wIrel

(By Morning journal sDecial .s8ssd wlrel
Washington, Feb. g-As finally de-
termined today, ne investigation OF
the inorcase of priccs 4 food and 9TH
er necessaries of life which the senate
is about to enter upon, Will cover
broad field
The measure providing tor such in
vestigatiOn was passed today with
comparatively little discussion II au-
thori2es an Inquiry hN a special com
mittce OF seven senators into the gen
eral enhancement OF values, covering
not only food and clothing but many
other articles used in every day life.
The Investigation also will cover the
questions OF salaries earnings and the
tariff
Al the instance of senator burton.
the resolution was made to cover all
commodities while senator Warren
procured the insertion Of hides. lcath-
cr and boots and shoes. senator John
ston Obtained the insertion OF beef
sheep ana hogs and senator Bacon
the insertion OF steel. The inquiry
viii be conducted with the greatest
despatch.
senator stone addressed the senate
az length ON the subject today.
He undertook to show that the
Payne -Aldrich tarim bill is largely re-
sponsibe for the enhanced price OF
many of the necessaries Of life.
contrasting the delay on reporting
the Elkins resolution with the dispatch
IN bringing In the Lodge measure Mr.
stone declared that there had been
vast amount of monkey business Ia
connection with the consideration OF
the subject
saying he had been greatly puzzled
to know the meaning of the method OF
proceeding he declared Il had the
complexion of a purpose 70 conceal
rather than 60 discover.
M not why" he asked "dd the
republican members of the finance
committee come rushing hendlong in
to this business and exhibit an over
Whelming anxiety to take charge OF
the proposed inquiry If the re-
things done here have given
to this business the sinister aspect OF
a scheme on the part of certain SEN
ators 10 organize committee that
would start IN primarily to hold the
Payne Aldrich tariff law hlameless for
the evils the country complains Of,
then the senator from Massachusetts
and his republican associates on the
nnancc committees. have only them
selves 10 blame,
rs it the purpose Of the great sem
ltors who have thrown themselves in
TO this breach to put the proposed in
under the control of sena-
tors who were chiefly instrumental in
granting the new law ana most con-
,erned IN cxcmpting It from all re
.popsibility for the higher prices that
have followed It's enactment? \ deep
aid apprehension 20 that effect has
been expressed by many newspapers
md many people in different parts OF
he country"
He said he knew OF nothing which
stood IN such great need OF coating
)f WhitcWash as the tnriit laws. AS
'crtinE that there had been a rapid
Of prices since the pas
sage of tho law he declared that Meth
sr an increase in the demand for food
lnr an increase i'm the gold specially
'ould explain those advances IT, so
short "a time.
In ali probability Mr. Stone eontin-
ned. Mr.. Dodge would head the com
Mite of Investigation and MIR. stone
IMPRESSED apprehension that that SEN
tor would hesitate to follow out
my line of inquiry which might sub
tantiatc Secretary Wilson's contention
hat American food products are sold
hcapcr abroad than in the United
,tatcs.
Mr. stone quoted from letters and
newspapers to show general increase
10 the ncccssaries of lie since the en-
cimont of the Payne Aldrich bill.
Nmong the letters was one from st.
.ouis merchant saying that cotton
nods had increased in price from
els to 33 per cent; linens = TO 10
cr cent
Every man of common sense he said
ught TO know that the enormous
rohts 90 investors in these industries
rc the result of artificial conditions
reatrd hy law
"l don't SOC how it can be contend
q. hc continued, THAT these artificial
tuditions from which the consumers
& the country thank heaven, begin
ing to become the impatient suffer-
b.. are chiefly for the beneft of the
mericau wage earners employed in
nose Industries assert with the
rcat,st confidence thnt the tariff rates
s 20 rule. arc far in excess OF any dif-
'rcnce m the labor wage in America
nd the chief competing countries of
uropc and assert with equal conf
euce that thp chief henehciaries OF
ais system are the men who employ
MS labor as the chief sufferers are
le consumers who are the victims OF
lDlF fuRWNunilgS