Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-15
PROBE LIVING COST
Senate Committee Has Adopt
ed an Ambitious Program.
INQUIRY HAS WIDE RANGE.
May Cover Everything From Fle-
plants to. Sausage.
MANY REMEDIES PROPOSED
Flood of Letters Reaching Commit
tee From All Parts of Country.
Many Bills Pending.


When Congress next winter takes up
the question as to how far it is to go in
the regulation of those corporations that
have large say in fixing the price of
the beef and the butter You and your
neighbor put upon the dining table, it
will find itself confronted with almost as
many suggestions for solution as there
are thinking persons in these United
States.
Shall a commission be established to
fix the price Of butter and eggs and NUT
ton each morning. "Shall a commission
be given authority to Investigate prices
with view and with authority for fix
ing maximum price to be charged by
the butcher and the baker?' Shall COM
petition, to be insured by slightly
strengthened Sherman antitrust law. be
relied upon to keep prices and wages at
the proper levels?" These are some of
the big, basic questions that have been
raised by members of Congress and by
inquiries that have been made of men,
often asked of Notwithstanding recent
Years.
Clapp Seeks an Answer.
Senator Clapp. insurgent militant of
Minnesota and foe of corporations That
are spelled with a big c. as chairman
of the Senate committee on interstate
commerce. has undertaken the task OF
finding satisfactory answer to the Ques
tions No small job, he admits. but big
men, the biggest in the land. are to be
sought to advise as to the solution.
Nation wide and deep rooted is the in
terest that is being shown in the inquiry.
As soon as the Senate, by formal vote,
adopted the suggestion of Senator Clapp
hot b. it,
commerce probe for the solution of the
present industrial problem of this coun-
try inquiries began to be made of the
committee as TO the extent of the
investigation and the scope of the
expected results. At first each mail
brought a few inquiries. but now they
are reaching the committee by the doz-
ems From Texas and California and
from Maine and Florida the queries are
pouring in Veteran employees at the
Capitol say no such interest has been
displayed in a congressional investigation
in years and years, and then some.
The scope of the inquiry can best be in
Dictated by a presentation of the resou-
tion adopted by the Senate 1t says that
the committee on interstate commerce Is
hereby authorized and directed. by SUBJ
committee or otherwise, TO inquire into
and report to the Senate at the earliest
date practicable what changes are neces-
sary Sor desirable in the laws of the
United States relating to the creation and
control of corporations engaged in in
terstate CONNER e, and what changes are
necessary or desirable in the laws of the
United States relating to persons or firms
engaged in interstate commerce, and for
this purpose they are authorized to sit
during the sessions or reeesses of Con-
gress. at such times and places as they
may deem necessary or practicable; to
send for persons and papers, to admin
lister oaths, to summon and compel the
attendance of witnesses, to conduct hear
lngs and have reports of same printed
Tor use and to employ such clerks, Ste
nographers and other assistants as shall
be necessary, and any expenses in con-
nection with such inquiry shall be paid
out OF the contingent fund of the Sem
ate"