Evening star., 1916-01-05
Calls on Interior Department
for All Information
at Hand.
BASIS OF INVESTIGATION,
Mr.. McCUMBER SUGGESTS
Two Resolutions Presented in the
House Ask Attorney General if
ANY Have Been Prosecuted.

cognizance OF the recent Jumps
in the price OF gasoline in the face
OF increased production, larger
reserve supplies and fewer ex-
ports than ever before. when the
Senate. adopted the resolution OF
Senator McCumber OF North
Dakota, calling upon the Interior
Department for all the informa
ton in its possession regarding
the matter.
In a brief address. Senator
McCumber suggested that the in
formation obtained might be
made the basis of an investiga-
ton.
Two resolutions were introduced in the
House on the subject. one which went to
the judiciary committee calling on the
Attorney General to report to the House
whether there have been any prosecutions
among gasoline producers for violation of
interstate and foreign commerce commits
sion to make an investigation of the recent
rise.
The Fuller Resolution.
The resolution introduced by Repre-
sentative Fuller of Illinois states:
In order to raise the necessary rev.
enues for the support of the govern
ment it has been proposed, among other
things, to levy tax on gasoline.
The producers of that article of uni
versal use have evidently been encour-
aged by such proposal to believe that
an opportunity to levy tribute for their
own personal benefit had been over
looked. and have in consequence more
than doubled the price to the consumer
1t is provided: That the committee
on interstate and foreign commerce be
authorized and instructed to investi-
gate the cause of the sudden and un-
precedented rise in the price of gaso-
whether any conspiracy exists and
whether any law of the United States
has been violated by any one in con-
nection with such matter. and to re-
port to the House its findings and con-
clusions at an early date"
Asks Economic Reason.
The bill by Representative Steener-
son of Minnesota. which went to the
judiciary committee. declares:
The wholesale and retail prices of
petroleum and its products. and es-
IecialIy gasoline. have during the last
six months greatly increased in the
United States:
There appears to be no sufficient
natural Or economic cause for such in
crease:
1T is alleged that the increase is due
to combinations and conspiracies be-
tween persons and corporations en-
gagged in the wholesale and retail trade
in these commodities among the sew
eral states and between the United
States and foreign nations. in viola
tion of the act to protect trade and
commerce against unlawful restraint
and monopolies.
BY reason of such combinations and
conspiracies the price of petroleum
and its products. and especially gaso-
line, has been increased to the con-
extent as to be unreasonable and eX-
tortionary.
Will Depress Industries.
This extortionate price. IL main
tanned in the future, will depress the
industries of the United States. and
especially agriculture" The resolution
provides
Jhat the Attorney General of the
United States be. and he is hereby, re-
quested to inform the House
FIRST. Whether or not any Drosecu-
tions have been instituted in any of the
courts of the United States for the pur-
pose of Furnishing as crimes and mis-
demeanors any such alleged violations
of the antitrust laws of the United
States, and
Second. II no such prosecutions have
been instituted, what reason exists for
not instituting the same and enforcing
said antitrust laws against such al
legged combinations and conspiracies in
restraint Of trade and commerce"
By Federal Trade Body.
of gasoline will be left to the federal
trade commission and not undertaken
at the present time by the Department
Of Justice.
Officials pointed out today that the
Department of Justice has no such
facilities as the trade commission, nor
has II power to examine witnesses un-
der oath unless it has brought suit
The trade commission has such power,
and since II already has an investiga
tion under way. attorneys for the De-
partment OF Justice decided to abandon
their plans for separate inquiry
If the commission develops violations
of law the prosecution would be under.
taken by the Department of Justice
CONGRATULATES MAJ. NOTION
President Wilson Pleased hv His Sc.