Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1914-09-22
Washington Letter.
From Geo. ". Summers. ]


ate committee to which it had been re
ferred en- Senator ChiIton's resolution
for an investigation Of the alleged mo
nopoly of the ownership of pipe line
for transporting oil. The resolution
was amended so as to have the investi
cation made by the Interstate Com
merce Commission instead of by spec.
ial committee of the Senate. 1t re.
quires investigation as to whether the
charge is true that substantially the
same interests have operated the pipe
lines, made the market, bought the
crude oil, refined 1T and fixed the price
of the refined products and whether the
laws Of the United States have been
violated Investigation is also required
concerning the effect on the oil indus
try of the purchasing agencies refusing
to buy all the oil offered or part of it.
While the adoption of this resolution
would have no immediate effect upon
the situation in West Virginia it prob
ably would prevent any future disaster
to the oil business of the State such as
has been caused by the failure of the
purchasing agents to buy oil at the
present time.
What promises to be novel feature
of the campaign is being arranged in
the First West Virginia district where
three-cornered JOINT debate is about
to be held in each county in the dis
trict. Chairman Ira L. Smith, of the
Progressive committee. in behalf of n.
w. Harmer, the Progressive candidate
for Congressman, issued challenge
for this series of debates to be partici-
pated in at every important city in the
district by M. M. Nicely, Democratic
candidate; Geo. E. White, Republican
candidate, and H. w. Warner, Pro-
gressive candidate. Through the chair
man of the First district committee,
Henry w. Lively, Congressman Nicely
has accepted the challenge. He pro-
vides only that the challenge shall
also be accepted by Mr.. White and
that dates may be arranged which will
not interfere with his public duties
at Washington. Mr.. White is expect
ed TO accept. insuring the series of de-
bates on the issues of the campaign.
Few at time, the results of the civ
il service examinations for fourth-class
postmasters are being announced. The
examinations were held on different
dates in different parts of the State,
most of them in July. AS rapidly as
the Civil Service Commission can COM
plete the grading the results are being
announced and the appointment of
postmasters follows. In every case
the person standing highest of all the
applicants is appointed unless some
good reason is shown why that person
should not be named and why the one
second on the list should be named.
Col. ]. William DeGrange. of Mar
tinsburg, a clerk in the War Depart
ment, was selected as temporary chair
man to assist in bringing about the or
ganization of West Virginia Society
in Washington composed of persons
whose legal residence is in West Vir-
GINA, but whose business compels them
to reside here. d. W. Gall, formerly
of Pbilippi, was chairman Of the COM
mitteeon bylaws. 1t is expected that
a permanent organization will be made
within few weeks.
Exalted Ruler Darnell, sof the Hunt
ington lodge of EIks, has called on SEN
ator Chiffon for help in having return
ed to Huntington the body of H. w.
Culberson, Huntington Elk, who was
drowned near Kaiu Flu, China, about
ten days ago. The regulation requires
the cremation Of the body, but the
State Department has cabled for full
information at Senator Chilton's re-
quest, and it is believed as Culberson
was drowned. that this requirement
may be set aside.
John w. Davis, of Clarksburg, now
Solicitor General of the United States.
has returned after spending few days
campaigning in Maine He made sew
eral speeches in various parts Of the
State, supporting the administration s
policies and advocating the election of
officers who can be depended upon to
assist the administration in carrying
! theu out.
/ Senator Chiffon was compelled to
break several speaking engagements
in West Virginia because he was una
BILE to get away from the Senate. He
was appointed one of the conferees on
the Clayton antitrust bill and has been
busy with the other conferees of the
Senate and House trying to get the
measure in such shape that both Hous-
es will agree to it and pass it. He was
to have attended the postmaster's con-
vention at Huntington, the Blue and
4 the JIdJ NElEOI oblOh at lSdNCuSWOOu,
and the dedication of church at st.
Albans, but had TO cancel all these ap-
pointments.
The Democratic Congressional Com.
mittee for the Second West Virginia
district met in Washington Friday and
completed its organization by electing
4 -
G. E. Nethkin, of Keyser, is vice.
chairman and treasurer. and ). Sloar
Kuykendall, Of Romney, secretary
Keyser was selected as headquarter:
of the committee. which will meet
there Sept. q. The campaign will bt
formally opened October l.
Congressman Brown managed to ge
away for part of the day on Saturda!