The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-04-08

! Inc inquiry into the nigh COST or nFihg
that is being conducted by q select Sem
ate committee cannot be completed for at
least four months. and 1t will be neces-
sary to employ experts and statisticlans
at cost Of $4,000 to make the investi-
cations complete and up to date.
Announcement TO this effect was made
/ in the Senate yesterday by Senator
/ Lodge. chairman.
The chairman OF the committee stated
every method possible has been sought
10 get the needed information. but that
It would be necessary for the commits
sion 10 call in specialists in order TO
bring the inquiry as to wages and prices
up to the present time. He referred 10
the fact that many witnesses have been
examined by the committee, but he said
none OF them could give statistics that
are essential to a complete inquiry.
Senator Lodge submitted a plan which
he had prepared with the object of Sc
curing the information desired, with the
aid OF experts. II calls for prices for
ten years past, including the year 1910.
with respect to food products, agricul-
tural implements, clothes. grain. build
ing material, &c BY reason Of the fact
that the employment of experts to secure
this information would cost $500 Sena-
tor Lodge said the matter was one 10 be
passed upon by the Senate. He gave
notice that he would bring up on Monday
the question of authorizing this expendi-
ture.
Opposed by Democrats.
The Democratic members Of the food
probe committee let the fact be known
that they will oppose the expenditure of
such large sum for experts. Senator
Clarke. OF Arkansas said it would result
in no good to the country. He doubted
whether the Senate committee is compe- |
tent to pass upon the proposed inquiry.
In reply TO question from Senator /
Hale. Senator Lodge said the committee |
has not yet reached the point where II is !
ready to submit conclusions. He said all |
the members Of the committee are work |
ing in harmony and with a single pur- /
pose. and that is 10 md out what has |
caused the advance in prices. which he |
emphasized is worldwide and not limited !
to this country.
the increased cost OF living cropped out |
in colloquy between Senators Hale aud
Bacon. The point was made by Senator
Hale that prices have been increasing
for years, but that the situation has
only disturbed the public mind during
the past two years. lie thought the COM
mittee should. II possible. furnish the
valuable information il is collecting so
that it can be used between now and
November, while the Congressional cleo |
lions are on
Senator Bacon said this was the very
situation he hoped to prevent. THE pur-
pose of this inquiry" said the Senator
from Georgia, rs not 10 crafty idle /
curiosity ana not 70 answer inquiries of |
Congressman and politicians. but to cor
rect a great. crying evil In the nation and |
10 furnish a remedy"
Senator Hale said there could be no |
doubt OF this high purpose on the part |
OF the committee, but he expressed the |
opinion that It would be impossible 10 |
prevent both political partiss from dis /
cusslng the facts that may be developed /
prior to the elections.
At-e pui poaS VI tlls inquiry Is 10 ap- 4
ply a remedy" replied Senator Bacon, |
'and Congress should do so before It ad-
journs'
Senator Lodge said there IS TO purpose /
on the part of any member OF the COM
mittee TO inject politics in the inquiry, |
and that only facts are desired. No one /
knows what the public will say Of the /
committees conclusions which will not /
be made until they have the facts to
sustain them. observed the Massachu-
sets Senator