The Washington herald., 1912-01-19
COMMITTEE FIGHTS
OYER WILEYREPORT
Small Items Make Up Days Report
on DOings in House-Inau-
gural Report In.

While the House engaged in desultory
debate on the District Of Columbia ap-
proprIation bill, the various committees
of that body yesterday spent busy day.
Committee hearings or meetings were in
progress in nearly a dozen different
rooms.
The Moss COMMITTEES, which investigat-
ed the wiIey-McCabe controversy in the
Department Of Agriculture. remained be-
hind locked doors for more than six
hours, announcing last night that no
agreement had been reached on its re-
port. Members declined to talk of the
spirited executive session. but 1t Is ru-
mored that the Democratic and Repub-
lican members are disagreed over the
plan to abolish the Remsen board. The
Democrats are insisting upon & vigorous
report and the minority members wish II
modified The committee will resume its
work to-day, but 1t viii be several days
before the report is made public.
John A McGregor, president OF the
Union Iron Works, of San Francisco, ap-
peared before the House Interstate and
Foreign Commerce Committee and urged
that American ships be permitted TO use
the Panama Canal without paying tolls.
Democratic members of the committee,
however, indicated by their questions
that they will not agree to free tolls for
American bottoms.
Niagara Falls Hearing.
Representatives OF several power
plants, situated at Niagara Falls. urged
the Foreign Affairs Committee to accept
the treaty with Canada, through which
these power plants will be allowed to
develop additional power
Continuing its hearings on resolutions
to investigate the shipping trust and the
harvester trust, the Rules COMMITTEES
heard three members of the House-Rep-
resentattves Lobeck, Hardy, and Hum
phrey-speak IN favor OF the investtga-
tions. Mr.. Lobeck asked a probe Of the
harvester trust in order to ascertain
what part had been played by ]. Pierpont
Morgan and George w. Perkins In the
organization. The Rules Committee will
resume hearings Monday next on the
resolution to investigate the money
trust. in conjunction with the two COM
bines above named.
The Committee on Agriculture decided
to report out the Burleson bill reducing
the internal revenue duty on oleomarEa-
rtne. The proposed reduction is asked TO
bring about cheaper butter and to COM
bat the high cost of living. Instead OF a
duty OF 10 cents and one-quarter cent, re-
spectively. on colored and uncolored ole
margarine, the committee probably will
recommend a uniform duty of cents
per pound.
VIII Go to Cuba.
Further consideration OF the army ap-
preparation bill was postponed by the
Military Affairs Committee until its mem
bers return from a trip to Key West and
Cuba While in Cuba the committee will
examine a site for a proposed military
and naval base.
Representative Harrison, OF New York.
introduced a bill providing for publicity
of securities issued by corporations en-
gagged In interstate business.
The House Judiciary Committee unani-
mously reported the Henry resolution TO
change the date OF Inauguration from
March to the last Thursday in April.
The proposed change in the Constitution,
II approved by three-fourths Of the
States. will become effective in 1917. The
Henry resolution also provides that Con-
gress shall convene after that time in
January instead of December, thus cut
ting out the short session