The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1912-03-01
CONGRESS IS BUSY
HOUSE OF REPREsENTATIvE
VOTES TO PROBE THE
MONEY COMBINE.
WAS NEARLY UNANIMOUS
To Investigate Proposed Panama Ca
nal ToiIs-BiIl introduced by SEN
ator Poindexter to Abolish
Commerce Court

Washington, ID. Can investiga-
ton to determine whether there is q
''money trust" in the United States
operating through or in connection
with the national banks, was ordered
by the house by vote of 210 to s.
While Republican regulars and in
! surgents protested that the inquiry as
proposed was sham" and de
lusion," the Democratic forces united
in support of a compromise money
trust" resolution, and succeeded In Sc
curing all but eight Republican votes
in its support.
Usage Of Panama to stifie Rates.
In an effort to preserve and pro-
mote the interests Of the government
by the protection and development of
full, fair, open and profitable use Of
the Panama canal by the ships of CON-
merce and war Of all people and all
nations the house interstate and for
eign commerce committee embarked
on q general investigation of charges
of ship trusts. subsidies and other ru.
mors OF improperly in the usage Of
the canal after II Is opened.
| The resolution was introduced by
the chairman Of the committee. Repre-
sentative Adamson, of Georgia. II re-
cited the need of a thorough inquiry
into the charges that the canal will
be used by trans-continental railroads
| to stife competition In freight rates.
| IL empowers the committee to call
the aid OF the government executive
departments to summon witnesses and
put them under oath and to get papers
and other information throwing light
! on the matter. The result Of the in
vestigation will be in recommends
lions for laws appropriate torhe needs
disclosed by the inquiry.
Would Abolish Trade Court.
! Senator Poindexter of Washington.
opened his campaign for the abolition
! OF the commerce court by advocating
before the senate interstate COM
merce committee his bill to end the
courts existence. Senator Townsend
asked questions designed to show that
only those who opposed the creation
of the court were disappointed with IL.
Senator Clarke of Arkansas, declared
! IL the court did not change its atti.
tude he would favor limiting its pow
ers or abolishing it although he had
voted to create it,
Washington, ID. c. - The scandal
involving Major Beecher b. Ray OF
the army pay corps, is engaging the
attention Of army men and politicians
because of the evidence already
brought out, and more to follow, in
dicating that through the use of this
army officer in several campaigns the
army has been invaded by politics
This has nothing to do with the per
sonal scandal involving the name OF
Major Ray.
The investigation into the Ray case
has proceeded far enough for 1t to be
come apparent what the committee
hopes to show. Representative Helm
OF Kentucky, the committee chairman
and his Democratic colleagues say
that Major Ray was used in the 1901
campaign by Theodore Roosevelt, and
in the 1908 campaign by William ii
Taft, that he was detached from his
army duties. although his pay and ex
pense allowances were permitted Il
continue and assigned to Chicago
headquarters of the Republican cam
paign COMMITTEES: that while thus as
signed he did political work keepin:
the labor vote in line for the Re
publican ticket and paying particular
attention to the order OF railwa!
trainmen of which he formerly was
-. member.
More than this, the committee Dem
ocrats claim that. as a result of thes,
political services, first for Roosevelt
and then for Taft. Major Ray Wa
shown unexampled favoritism. having
been assigned to Is separate and dis
, tinct stations I'm Is years, althoug
the average tour of duty Of pay
master at any one station is betwee
three and four years. and that, a
though guilty on three separate OF
casions of financial Irregularities an
once involved in a scandal relatin
to a woman, each time, against tn
recommendation Of his superior o
ficer In the army, he was saved froI
. punishment by President Taft.
; These papers, or a limited porto
: of them, as II afterwards turned on
; were forwarded to the committe,
which, when congress convened, in
mediately began a personal invest
cation of the case. Since then n
less than three additional bundles {
papers. of vastly greater interest an
importance than those sent to col
I gress by the war department Las
summer. have come to light.
One bundle, sent to the Helm con