The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1911-06-13
Things In General.


Washington, D. c., June 12.-That
the ''armers" principally interested in
killing reciprocity are Wall street
farmers whose crops consist
chiefly of lumber and paper trust divi,
dends, was revealed in testimony
taken by the Senate Finance Commit
tee.
1t was shown that Allen & Graham,
alleged. attorneys for the National
Grange are really professional lob
byists for the big tariff trusts. Their
argument when seeking business is
that they can pull the necessary
wires in Washington to defeat or
bring about the passage of any leg
islation they may be assigned upon.
Mr.. Allen was made to admit under
cross examination that the anti-reci-
procity literature with which the ag-
ricultura1 districts have recently been
flooded came direct from the lobbyist
headquarters within a stones throw
of Wall street. Mr.. Allen also admit
ted that the American Lumber Manu-
facturers' Association, the Pulp and
Print Paper Association and the Am
erican Wool Manufacturers Associa
ton Qumber trust, paper trust and
wool trust, respectively are among
those who pledged themselves to fin
ance this holy crusade for the farm
ers.
Allen & Graham have among their
clients some of the best farmers in
Wall street. The firm was shown to
have represented as lobbyists the
Whisky Security Company, (whisky
trust) and the Standard Oil Company,
the latter of which organization is
headed by John D. Rockefeller, whose
occupation as big oil farmer is be-
yond controversy.
It is known now why Senator AL
drich calls his lame duck commission
a monetary commission. 1t is be-
cause it spends so much money.
The Monetary Commission, accord
| ing to Treasury report, has ex-
pended $207, ,13O.48 of the peoples
money on European travel, meetings
at famous summer resorts, on manu-
scripts, book translations, monographs
| and members salaries. The report
also contains various insinuating en-
tries that read account clerical force
and persons in attendance on commits
| sion.
! The European trip cost $19,250.18
| 1t was a nice summer trip and any
body who has travelled with a Cook
party will tell you that select little
| party OIL d HALL uOZ0u Cali make -
mighty fine circuit of the continent
for $19,250.80. The account is not
itemized beyond this statement. In
deed, Senator Aldrich has fixed it sc
the commission mayy spend any
i amount of money: it desires without
iccnsaItipg any one, and without Civ
/ ingaa detailed feport-to any one. The
former Senator is not. hampered by
any formalities whatever. He has
lonly to reach into. the treasury, gel
money and sign. a receipt. 1t is ap
palling to contemplate what would
happen to the treasury if all commits
sions and departments of the, govern
iment were permitted to employ
similarly loose business methods
while spending the peoples money.
However, as a fresh-air fund to pro
mote the recuperation of lame ducks
the commission is manifestly a big
success. To this end witness the
meeting of the commission at Nara
gansett Pier in July, 1909. 1t take:
monetary backing to go to Narragan
sett in July. The bill was $3,493.74
And Senator Cumins, of Iowa, is suf
ficiently inconsiderate of the health o
the lame ducks to contend that thu
commission is absolutely useless tt
the people, and that it ought to b.
abolished.