The pioneer express., 1912-01-26

master General Hitchcock had been
closeted with President Taft for more
than an hour an authoritative state.
that there had been no friction be.
tween the president and the postmas.
ter general over the latter's proposed
recommendation that the government
acquire and operate all telegraph lines
as an adjunct Of the postal system.
Mr.. Hitchcock had been summoned
to the White House shortly before
noon and there had been reports that
the president was annoyed over the
publication of the matter at this time.
It developed, however, that Mr.. Hitch.
cock had called the matter to the pres:
tdent's attention a year ago, but to
make more complete investigation
delay had been decided upon. Mr.:
Hitchcock had intended to bring the
matter up again in recent cabinet ses1
sions. but press of other business had
prevented.
Washington, D. Cat secret
session of the rules committee of the
house, Attorney General Wickersham
and Secretary Nagle talked of the
Harvester trust and the shipping trust
for the investigation of which resolu-
tions are now before the committee.
The two cabinet officers favored an
inquiry into the shipping combine, but
it is understood the attorney general
suggested the committee delay the
harvester trust investigation as the
department Of justice is preparing to
dissolve the trust unless 1t reorgan-
izes.
The rules committee will resume
hearings on the Lindbergh resolution
to- investigate the money trust.
Tie Democrats of the way and
means committee met to- perfect the
final draft schedule. 1t will propose
reductions of from 80 to so Per cent
in the present rates of steel and will
admit iron ore free; barbed wire and
hoop iron probably will be admitted
free also.
Speaker Champ, Clark, candidate for
the Democratic presidential nomina-
tion and Henry Watterson of Louis
here. Whether they discussed presi-
Dental prospects neither would say
Representative Carey of Wisconsin
tRepublican) introduced bill provid-
ing for government ownership Of tefer
graph lines, project recently urged
by Postmaster General Hitchcock. It
was referred to- the postoffice commit,
Tho Mi k~n~
graph systems under the supervision
of the postoffice department in charge
of a commissioner of telegraphs to be
appointed in the same manner as as-
sistant postmasters, general
The bill would provide that the In
terstate commerce commission ap-
| praise at their market value, all the
telegraph properties engaged in inter-
state commerce; the attorney general
then to begin condemnation proceed.
ings against the companies
The measure would stipulate that
wages should not be increased more
than Is per cent over those paid the
var preceding government acquisition
and would bar any immediate decrease
Of telegraph tolls
u. g.. Second tn Naval Strength.
The naval year hook issued under
the auspices Of the senate committee
on foreign relations gave the United
States second place among the naval
powers, this government having 81
batt1eshfps, one more than Germany
In armoured cruisers, Germany has
IA and the United States IL. The
combined tonnage Of battleships and
cruisers shows United States has 7a7,
i 63S tons and Germany 1924.
!, Object to Stephenson Report.
i, Cerrs-n members of the senate, com
| mittee on privileges and elections arr
not yet satisfied with the findings q
& the subcommittee which investigated
\ and exonerated Senator Stephenson O
J Wisconsin on the charges growing
, out Of his election and it is fntimatet
that a minority report may be file,