Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-04-13
WILSON LOSING INTEREST?

lbSON LOSING I'M EKESIE
The democratic leaders have been en-
couragcd to take this course because
since sending the Brandeis appointment
to the Senate President Wilson apparent
~ has taken no further active interest
in the subject.
1t is said by several members OF the
committee who are opposed to Mr.. Bran
deis that if the President had made as
vigorous n campaign for his confirmation
as he did for Paul Warburg on the fed
eral reserve board 1t would have been
possible to get a favorable report from
the judiciary committee.
The committee is composed of ten dem
ocrats and eight republicans 1t has
been ascertained that all of the republic
| can members intend to vote against the
| confirmation of Mr.. Brandsis. OF the ten
democrats, one, Senator Fletcher, is out
of the country, although 1t is believed he
may have left his proxy TO vote for the
1 confirmation.
REPUBLICANS SEE VICTORY.
The republican members of the com
mittee, who are opposed to Mr.. Brandeis
! believe, however, that two of the remain
Ing nine democrats, Senators Shields and
supposition-w which amounts to convc-
ton with thu republicans--is correct, the
majority of the committee will vote for
n report adverse to the confirmation, and
If only one democrat votes against Mr..
Erandeis the vote will hc n tie.
| Under the common practice of the Sem
ate no action at all is taken when a com
mittee makes an adverse report, and it
! &c hn ,,la of hr
t, proceed in this manner unless Presi-
dent Wilson takes hand and forces n
vote on the Brandc's confirmation in the
Senate.
PRELIMINARY GASOLINE REPORT
\ preliminary report on the investiga-
ton of the increased price of gasoline
now being conducted by the fedora
trade commission has been transmitte
to Congress. The report explains the
method the commission is pursuing and
submitted some "tentatve' statistics n,
to production and price. The commission
explains that the gasoline Investigation
necessarily involves an inquiry into tn,
whole petroleum industry
A series of tables showing monthly prc.
ducton of crude oil and gasoline durnl
1915, average monthly prices for crud,
oil, kerosene, gasoline and fuel oil ant
other statistical matter accompanies tn,
report. But the commission says:
"ReinG prepared at an early stage in tn,
investigation, and returns not leing com
plcte from all rcnners, these tables are t,
be regarded as tentative. Due caution
should he used in drawing conclusion
from them"
The price table shows that while crud
oil in the western field increased in prize
: from Is cents n gallon in August to "G
IN December the price of gasoline in tn
same period increased from 6.61 to IA
cents. In the eastern field crude ad
) vanced from $50 to 5o5 cents and gasoin
from 905 to Is cents a gallon The price
; used in the table are refinery prices an
g show in the western field an increase q
I Iii cents a gallon for crude oil and i.>
0 cents for gasoline. In the eastern fiel
crude oil increased 1.55 cents and gaso
tine increased - cents.
r AS TO INCREASED PRICE.
3 As to the causes of increased price!
= the report said:
3 In Investigating causes, the commit is
e sion is considering both domestic an
: foreign conditions. and is wcighin
3 every factor to detect any artificial ,
@ innnipulatiVe element The followin
It points are being examined: Forces
i demand and supply as affecting Il
= price of crude oil, exports and import
ii deterioration of quality of crude. il
y ceased cost of refining. improve
methods and speculative holding
:: crude and gasoline.
k THE close connection between IL
tn, # rb f 81,
legged discrimination in prices shou
H.. be noted if prices are found to hay
!, been raised to higher levels in son
nj sections than in others, making due "A
If lowance for quality of products, freigl
Y and marketing conditions, it may
Inferred that an element of artiici
#. manipulation has entered into the a
he vance"