The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-30
MARVIN DENIES TRUST HALTED SUGAR INQUIRY Charges Brought By La Toilette Against Tar
 if Commission ISSUE IS THROWN
 INTO POLITICS Dissension In Investigat- ing Group May Be
 Thoroughly Aired
By THOMAS L. STOKES tBy Leased Wire to Age-HeraId)

up here by his sudden and sensa- tional charge that sugar interests have brought pressure Through the highest official channels of this government" to hold up the final report of the United States tariff commission on Che cost of produc- ton of sugar, which is expected to lead to important developments.
 La Toilette declared further that attempts have been made to in- timidate and obstruct action of the commission, and cited persistent reports" through several weeks that the investigation had in real ity been completed, and the report to the President was ready. The investigation has been going on since March IT, 1922.
 Though there has been no word from him recently as to when the report would be sent to the President, Chair Tuesday, when he learned of La Fol lette's charge, that:
 Ready In Week
 1. A report would be made within week to President Coolidge. V letter of Senator La Toilette, asking information, at a meeting Friday.
 NI have reHs0n t0 believe that rep. resentative of the sugar interests have been powerful eh0uxh to delav flfouxh i the highest official channels of this gUss ernment the final decision and report q the tariff commission, and that at tempts have been made to intimidate and otherwise obstruct the action of that body" La Toilette said in bis statement.
 The Wisconsin senator did not designate what, he meant by the "high- est official channels" Marvin denied La Follette.s charge, and stated that the report has not been completed, but will be ready within week and pre- sented to President Coolidge.
 There has been no delay in prosecu- tion of the investigation or preparation of the report to the President that is due in any way to any activities on the part of representatives of either the domestic sugar producers or of the ims pOrters of Cuban sugar." Marvin said. "The commission has proceeded as rapidly as possible with the investiga- tion and preparation of the report as it was possible to do."
 The investigation into the cost of production of sugar, which the report will cover, was ordered by President Harding as, a result of the sudden jump in prices during January and February, 1922, which was laid by some at the time to high tariff rates, as well as to speculation.
 :, The report will be submitted to Pres ident Coolidge as a basis for deciding whether the tariff rates should be lowered. The public, however, will be more keenly interested in just what the report will show as to cost of pro- duction, which can be compared with the cost of sugar to the consumer. 1t is not likely, however, that any action which would follow publication of the report would come in time to give any comfort to householders who are using large quantities of sugar in canning.
 The sugar question has been thrown into political waters as result of La Follette's action. It will give his forces another issue, along with de- mands for. cheaper bread and gasoline. The Wisconsin senator will not rest with the charge he has made, if he sue -ceeds in getting the desired informa- tion from the Commission, he will use that in his campaign.
 Marvin said Tuesday that the law does not allow the results of such an investigation 10 be made public until the President has examined the facts and made his decision, but he will lay the mntter before the commission as to what information can be given La Toilette. w
 The letter of La Toilette to the com mission and his public statement are expected to bring into the open the differences in the commission itself which have been brewing under cover for many months, and which, when thrown into outline; may bring signifi- cant revelations of wider scope. For this reason, the meeting Friday, when La FOllette's letter will be discussed, will be intensely interesting.
 The commission, composed of Six members, is broken into two distinct factions, one headed by Chairman Mar win, the other by Vice Chairman Gull person. Recently, the two have been at odds on numerous questions which have been brought in for settlement. One of the most significant was the dispute over whether H. H. Classic, a member of the commission. should sit in the sugar investigation.
 Culberson objected to Classics par ticipation on the ground that the latters wife was interested in sugar produc- tion. Quite an; internal row developed. Finally, the matter was carried to Congress, and Classic was barred from participation by congressional action. Marvin upheld Classic in his right to take part. Culberson is held in high
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