Saint Mary's beacon., 1911-06-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, D. c., June Is. 1911
BY CLYDR ri. TAvENNRR.

That the farmers" principally
interested In killing reciprocity
are Wall street farmers, whose
crops" consist chiefly OF lumber
and paper trust dividends, was re-
vealed in testimony taken by the
Senate finance committee.
IL was shown that Allen & Grange.
are really professional lobbyists for
for the big tariff trusts. Their argu-
ment when seeking business is that
they can pull the necessary wires
in Washington to defeat or bring
about the passage OF any Legislation
they may be assigned upon.
Mr.. Allen was made TO admit un-
der cross examination that the anti
reciprocity literature with which
the agricultural districts have re-
Gently been flooded came direct from
the lobbyist headquarters within e
stones throw OF Wall street. Mr..
Allen also admitted that the Ameri-
can Lumber Manufacturers associa-
tion, the Pulp and Print Paper asso-
citation and the American Wool
Manufacturers, association Qumber
trust. paper trust and wool trust,
respectively are among those who
pledged themselves to finance this
holy crusade for the farmers.
Allen & Graham have among their
clients some OF the best farmer"
in Wall street. The firm was shown
TO have represented as lobbyists the
Whisky Security Company. whisky
trusD and the Standard Oil company,
the latter OF which organizations Is
headed by John d. Rockefeller,
whose occupation as big oil farm
er" is beyond controversy.
COMMISSION APPLY NAMED.
IL is known now why Senator Aid
rich calls his lame duck commission
q monetary" commission. Il Is
because IL spends so much money.
The Monetary commission, &C.
cording 70 a treasury report. has
expended $2D7, 130.4S OF the people, s
money on Europe IN travel, meetings
at famous summer resorts, on manu-
scripts, book translations, mono
graphs and members salaries. The
report also contain various insinuat-
ing entries that read account cleri-
cal force and persons in attendance
on commission.
The European trip cost $19, $50. 18.
IL was a nice summer trip and any
body who has travelled with q Cook
party will tell you that select little
party of o half dozen can make a
mighty fine circuit OF the continent
for $19. .260.8O. The account is not
itemized beyond this statement. In
deed. Senator Aldrich has fixed it
so the commission may spend any
amount OF money it desires without
consulting anyone, and without Civ
ing detailed report to anyone.
The former senator is not hampered
by any forma1ities whatever. He
has only TO reach into the treasury,
get money and sign O receipt. IL is
appalling to contemplate what would
happen to the treasury II all COM
missions and departments of the
government were permitted to em-
ploy similarly loose business me-
thods while spending the peoples
money.
However, as q fresh. air fund to
promote the recuperation OF lame
ducks. the commission Is maniiestly
big success. To this end witness
the meeting OF the commission At
Narragansett Pier in July. 1909.
IL takes monetary backing 70 go to
Narragansett in July. The bill was
%. .493. .75l
And Senator Cummins of Iowa is
sufficiently inconsiderate OF the
health OF the lame ducks 70 contend
that the commission is absolutely
useless to the people. and that il
ought TO be abolished.
CAT Is Our BAG.
Soon after President Taft entered
the White House o movement vas
started by members OF Congress to
bring about Congressional inves-
tigation OF the sugar trust. It was
not q partisan movement. Senator
Borah OF Idaho. republican. intro
duced sugar investigation resolu-
tion in the Senate. and Campbell OF
Kansas. Republican, introduced q
similar one in the House.
The President was greatly dis
pleased. He sent a message to Con-
gress advising against an investiga-
tion on the ground that 10 might
give immunity to the men higher up
and otherwise embarass the govern
ment. The message was based on
an opinion OF United States Attor-
ney General Wickersham, who was
inspiring Washington dispatches at
the time with the impression that