Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1914-09-17
Washington Letter.
(From Geo. w. Summers. }

Washington, D. c.. Sept 15-Favor-
able report has been made by the Sen
ate committee to which it had been re-
ferred IN Senator Chilton's resolution
for an investigation Of the alleged mo-
nopoly of the ownership of pipe lines
for transporting oil. The resolution
was amended so as to have the investl-
cation made by the Interstate Com
merce Commission instead ofby 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 it 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 h.
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-
I-A., -. 49, ;ec,,oo rf kbo 90 ~ no i0p
Few at time, the results of the civ
il service examinations for fourth-ciass
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
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. J. William DeGrange. of Mar
tinsburg, 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-
ginia, but whose business compels them I
to reside here D. W. Gall, formerly
Of Philippi, was chairman of the COM
mitteeon bylaws. 1t is expected that
3 permanent organization will be made /
within few weeks.
Exalted Ruler Darnell, of the Hunt
ington lodge of Elks. has called on SEN
ator Chiffon for help in having return /
ed to Hunting ton the body of II. w.
CuIberson, Huntington Elk, who was /
near Kaiu Flu, China, about |
ten days ago. The regulation requires
the cremation of the body, but the |
State Department has eabled for full |
at Senator Chiffon s re-
quest, and it is believed as CulbersOn :