Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-04
NORRIS PROPOSES
STEEL PRICE PROBE
Nebraska Senator Says Ad-
vance of ST Per Ton May
Violate Anti Trust Laws.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
investigation by the Justice Depart
ment Of an increase of more than 81
ton IN the price Of steel announced
yesterday by steel companies was de-
manded in the Senate today by Senator
Norris, Republican, Nebraska.
Norris said he believed the price in
crease involved violation Of the, anti
trust laws. He called attention to the
vast amount Of steel to be used In the
public buildings program being speeded
TO provide employment.
In the face of this patriotic move
ment we are faced with the announce
ment that the great steel companies,
including the United States Steel Corr
poration, have agreed upon ANNOUNCE
ing an increase that amounts to more
than 81 ton," he said.
1t looks to me like violation of the
antitrust laws. I hope the Department
OF Justice will take notice Of it,
Opens First Debate.
Norris speech started the first unem-
ployment debate in the Senate this ses-
sion.
Senator Walsh. Democrat. Massachu-
sets, read newspaper dispatches to the
effect that Youngstown and Chicago
steel prices were expected to follow
suit, and declared this seems to me to
make out a strong suspicious case of
conspiracy"
Senator King, Democrat, Utah, pro-
posed an inquiry by the Judiciary Com
mittee into the necessity for modifying
the antitrust law.
Rift Is Widened.
A rift in the House Agriculture Com
mittee widened today in the considera-
ton of proposals to authorize funds for
loans to farmers for seed, fertilizer and
feed to rehabilitate the drought-stricken
areas.
DR.. c. W. Warburton, secretary of
the Federal Drought Relief Committee.
testified In favor of the SIS, OOO, 900
fund. as proposed in a resolution by
Chairman Haugen of the committee.
Representative ASwell of Louisiana.
ranking minority member. charged
on seed and fertilizer loan matters. He
declared Warburton had arbitrarily
placed the relief figure at SIS, 600 600
when, he said, State Drought Com
needed.
The Louisianan is author of q reso-
luton to provide $60,O0O,OOO.
The witness rejoined that Aswell
pays me a great compliment when he
says I control Secretary Hyde, for you
men know Secretary Hyde is controlled
by no one"
Nominations TO Committees.
The bulky sheaf Of presidential nomi-
nations were referred without debate to
the various Senate committees, most of
them facing an unobstructed passage.
William N. Doak, chosen Labor Secre-
tary, appeared likely, to weather Senate
consideration easily. Even the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, which had
opposed him before appointment, said
1t would sanction no effort to have him
barred.
Closer scrutiny, however. is awaiting
the appointees to both Tariff and Power
Commissions. Yet no definite OPPOSE
ton to any Of the ii men on the two
groups has been announced.
Meanwhile, the Republican Steering
committee of the Senate had denied
priority to the Shipstead anti-labor in
junction bill. But Senator Norris in
dependent Republican of Nebraska. who
had demanded action on the measure
pledged himself to do all possible to get
the resolution before the Senate.
New instructions by the House to its
conferees on Muscle Shoals were in pros
pect. The Senate representatives in the
conference refused to recede from the
norris Government operation plan; the
House members awaited the return of
two absent associates before deciding
TO report the disagreement and ask what
TO do. The Senate objective Is to OBJ
tain House vote upon the Norris res
olution, which never has been before
the Representatives.