The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-22
Tariff Hearings

United States.
Tariff Hearings
Closely connected with these investiga-
tions in their effect upon the fiscal sys-
tenn are the public hearings into the
tariff system now being conducted by
the ways and means committee of the
House. These hearings are moving along
in good shape and will be completed in
a few more weeks. They will have their
bearing upon the tariff legislation which
is to follow in the extra session.
An investigation of the ocean shipping
trust is being conducted by the House
committee on merchant marine. 1t Is
particularly directed at an alleged agree
ment or pool that makes competition in
the South American trade almost impos-
sible, according to the testimony ad-
duced.
OF strictly political importance is the
wide-reaching investigation into cam
paign funds by a select committee of the
Senate under the chairmanship of Moses
w. Clapp of Minnesota. 1t has jurisdic-
ton over all correspondence between Of
fiejals of the standard Oil company, and
federal officials and congressman. This
inquiry is intended to bring out means
of limiting campaign contributions and
more closely supervising the expendi-
lures of campaign funds.
Investigation by the interstate COM
merce commission into causes of railroad
wrecks, with a view of safeguarding the
travelling public.
Investigation by the new federal chill
dren's bureau into ipfant mortality.
Inquiry by the rules committee of the
House of Representatives to determine
whether there shall be a congressional
In estigation of conditions in canning
factories
Forthcoming investigation by the re-
Gently created national Industrial COM
mission into all phases of the industrial
situation, including the amelioration of
conditions among working people.
investigations of the white slave traffic
by special corps of agents of the De-
partment of Justice. A side issue of this
activity is the effort to obtain through
private subscriptions a large fund to be
used in the establishment of homes
wherein white slave victims can be main
tanned until reformed
Investigations by the new federal bu-
reau of mines into the mining industry.
According to the last annual report of its
director "the two phases of the industry
of greatest national concern are safety
and iency-safeguarding the lives of
our miners and assuring the most eff
cent and least wasteful development and
use of our mineral resources"
Investigation by the Department of
| Agriculture 10 prevent poAutioh VI Wy sSeOi
beds by sewage from large cities. To
this pollution is attributed sporadic cpl
denies.
The Bureau OF Labor's widespread in
vestigation of the cost of living.
Field Investigations by the public health
service into typhoid fever, pellagra, spot
ted fever, trachoma, jnfantie paralysis,
oerebro-spinal meningitis, cholera and
numerous other diseases.
Various and sundry inquiries to bring
al out better conditions among the In
dians.
An airing of the affairs and government
of the District of Columbia, and a probe
into local insurance conditions.
All these and others are under way.
There are many more contemplated. Soon
the judiciary committee will take up the
trust question, beginning with, in all
pre- obaility, the beef trust, with view
OF initiating supporting legislation to the
sherman antitrust law for the better and
more thorough regulation of trusts.
And still we are not happy.