Evening times-Republican., 1914-02-20
CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION
OF PRICE FIXING By BOARDS
UNDER WAY.
THREE CITIES ALLEGED
TO DICTATE QUOTATIONS
Boards Of Trade Of Chicago. Minns-
apolis and Duluth Charged With Be-
ing Combination in Restraint Of
Trade-Prosress Made on Anti
Trust Bills.

Washington, Feb. 20.-Congressional
investigation of Representative Mana
hans charge that the Chicago and Du-
luth boards OF trade and the Mime
apolis chamber of commerce compose
a combination in restraint of trade
which fixes the price of wheat for the
farmer and the price of flour for the
consumer, was before the house rules
committee today for the first step of
public hearing
Before the committee may report
rule for the investigation-which is the
first requirement-oppone and pro-
ponents of the inquiry will have op-
portunity to be heard. The time and
place will be named later.
Progress on Anti Trust Bills.
Work Of framing the antitrust bills
went forward on the house side OF the
capitol today. A Subcommittee OF the
committee on trusts, comprising Rep
resentatives Clayton, Carlin and Floyd
was arranged to put the finishing
touches on the bill proposing to pro-
hibit holding companies from owning
competing concerns.
Chairman Covington. of the house
interstate commerce sub committee on
the interstate trade commission bill.
was prepared today to so ahead with
the executive conferences to bring the
measure within the light of hearings
and within the limitations of President
Wilson's suggestions to avoid any pro-
visions that might impair the effici-
ency Of the Sherman law.
The indications today were that tho
bills relating to holding companies,
trade relations. interlocking director
ates and defining trade restraints would
be presented finally to the house as
single consolidated plan u strengthen
the anti- trust law, d.
.Arb;t-ation Irsat;ss up. h
Extension OF general arbitration
treaties with eight foreign nations. still
was before the senate today. Discus
sion centered on an amendment by
Senator Chamberlain to exempt from
arbitration the paramount issues in
volved in foreign relations Of the gov
eminent at this time.
Discussion applied directly with the
the treaty with Spain. which expired
last year. that having been selected by
the foreign relations committee as the
first in the series to he taken up for
ratification.
Other treaties pending are with
Great Britain, Japan. Italy, Norway
Sweden. Portugal and Switzerland The
Chamberlain amendm ent would exempt
from arbitration all questions of imml-
grafton and admission of aliens into
public schools of the states; the Mon
roe doctrine and all that 1t might i'm
ply in relation with the other Ameri-
can nations, and the provisions Of the
Panama canal act eXempting American
coastwise shipping from tolls.
Chamberlain Amendment Defeated.
BY vote of 40 to 13 the senate IN
executive session today rejected the
Chamberlain amendment to the Spanish
arbitration treaty to exempt from ar
bitration questions relating to Panama
canal tolls, immigrations, admission OF
children to state schools and all ques-
tions involving the Monroe doctrine.
On one objection the final vote on
ratification of the Spanish treaty went
over until tomorrow. Senator Shiveley
changed the plan Of the committee,
then called up the British treaty and
offered a resolution for its ratification.
Extended debate followed.