Evening star., 1928-02-14
SENATE CONTINUES
UTILITIES DEBATE
Dawes Steps Out in Choosing
Committee as Walsh Pushes
for Probe.

The Senate Is expected to continue
debate this afternoon on the Walsh res
olution for a Senate inquiry into the
financial affairs of public utility COM
panies throughout the country. with op-
ponents contending such an inquiry
should be made by the Federal Trade
Commission.
With the lineup admittedly close.
both those advocating and opposing the
resolution took comfort from some OF
the developments of yesterday. which
Walsh. Democrat. Montana, In favor OF
his measure and in which the power
lobby was assailed.
Immediately after the resolution was
called up. Vice President Dawes, who
was presiding. asked Senator Walsh to
change his resolution so that he.
Dawes. would be relieved Of the task OF
appointing the special committee OF five
which would conduct the inquiry.
Il am interested in some public util-
tiles companies" the Vice President
said. II have no desire to evade my
responsibilities. but / prefer for this
reason that some other provision be
made for selection of the committee"
Senate will Choose.
Acquiescing in the suggestion, the
Montanan amended his resolution to
call for the election Of the special COM
mittee by the Senate itself. This
change was agreeable to opponents Of
a Senate inquiry. as they believed 1t
strengthened their hand.
Senator George, Democrat, Georgia.
sponsor of an amendment to have the
inquiry conducted by the Federal Trade
Commission. announced that he also
would change his proposal so as to re-
quire monthly reports from the COM
mission during the progress Of the in
vestigation, with final report upon its
conclusion.
Proponents of the George plan be-
lieved this might bring support to 1t.
as one of the several objections urged
against the commission investigation
was that it would require many months
and would be unattended by the pub
licity which would come to Senate
inquiry.
Reviewing amendments made to his
resolution by the interstate commerce
committee, Senator Walsh said he
would ask for separate vote on the
one limiting the inquiry into campaign
contributions by the utilities to those
made in presidential and congressional!
campaigns.
Seeks State Check.
The author of the resolution declared
that the primary purpose was to ascer-
tain what influence. If any, the util-
ities WELD over State and municipal
regulatory bodies and that he wanted
the resolution amended so that such an
inquiry should be made. Senator
George agreed that this should be done
Referring to the hearings before the
committee on the resolution. Senator
Walsh gave in detail the interests rep
resented there. including State commits
sions, the joint utilities committee, in
vestment bankers and the National As
sociation of Manufacturers.
Senator Walsh took the position that
the Federal Trade Commission had no
power to make the investigation be-
cause of a rider TO an appropriation
bill preventing the use OF its funds for
the conduct of Investigations ordered
by a single branch of Congress.
Besides challenging the power of the
commission 10 make the inquiry. Sena-
tor Walsh assaiied some Of its mem
bers. He called attention that Abraham
r. Myers work as an assistant attorney
general in the Ward Baking dissolution
case had been the subject OF inquiry by
q Senate judiciary committee.
ASSails Chairman.
The Montanan also attacked William
E. Humphreys. chairman of the CON-
mission. In that connection he said he
was surprised that the suggestion fog
q commission inquiry should have come
from the Democratic side Of the cham
ber.
In a heated reply to the Montana
Senator. Senator George demanded that
Senator Walsh be willing TO concede
10 all of us here the same courage 10
withstand the seductive influences OF
the lobbyists"
Defending his proposal for an inquiry
by the trade commission. Senator
George said his move 'contemplates a
fair. calm. diSpasSionate study OF a
great business OF our country"
1T is passing strange" he said. that
the Senator from Montana has so little
faith in the Federal Trade Commission
when he offered as the most pertinent
basis for hts inquiry testimony from this
same commission"