Imperial Valley press., 1913-08-13
HAD FINE
TIME ON PEOPLES CASH
(By ellison Gardner.)

and why is the southern commercial
congress? What mysterious influ-
ence did this organization have with
Taft in order to pull down a s25 200
appropriation for junketing purposes
The return of the so-called rural
credits commission" from Europe has
made this question timely and pertin-
cnt The commission had a perfectly
lovely time. It's congressional mem
ters, with the exception Of Represen-
tative Moss of Indiana did not go
along, but their places were taken by
some persons who We're nominated 10
the honor by the southern commercial
congress. These members are called
an advisory committee" and con
sisted of more than 100 men from Va
rious states Of the south, who went
with the federal commission "unotft-
cially."
The federal commission Of seven
members consisted besides Senators
Fletcher and Gore (whO did not go to
Europe) of Representative Moss of IN
diana. Col Harvey Jordan. DR.. Clar-
ence J. Owens, DR.. Kenyon L. Butter
field and Dr. John Lee Coulter. Or.
Owens figured as director general"
There is no such title in the law ere
ating the federal commission. Accom-
panying the commission We're a staff
of stenOgrapherS, clerks, assistants
and employees. Senator Cores secre-
tary, who is the senator's brother
went in the capacity Of clerical help.
having his expenses paid out Of the
appropriation. So did the secretary TO
Representative Lever, chairman of The
house committee on agriculture. Sen
atOr Fletcher's two daughters also ac-
companied the commission in some ca
pacity not generally understood:
1t is announced that permanent Of
fees are to be opened in Washington
and that this fall a voluminous report
will be sent out on the subject of rural
credits and farm banks.
The legal status of this commission
is rather peculiar A paragraph was
slipped into the agricultural appro-
priatiOn bill which says that "the pres
ident shall appoint a commission COM !
posed of not more than seven persons |
who shall serve without compensation |
IT, Cooperate with the American com |
mission assembled under the auspices |
Of the southern commercial congress |
to investigate and study in European |,
countries cooperative land mortgage |
banks, cooperative rural credit unions. |
and similar organizations and institu-
tions, devoting their attention to the |
promotion Of agriculture and the bet
terment Of rural conditions"
The law set aside $4,000 which |
may be expended on the authority ol
the chairman Senator Fletcher) for |
any necessary expenses either N
" ashngton or elsewhere Presumably |
this covers travelling expenses.
Although the appropriation is con /
tanned in the agricultural departments |
appropriation bill, that department has
nothing to do with sending the |
money. Senator Fletcher has been /
made special disburshing officer 70 !
dlsburse this fund, and when he makes
his final report, undoubtedly he will !
tell how much of this $4,000 has !,
been used for that purpose. Fletcher
is president Of the southern CONNER !
cial congress, and also chairman Of the
American commission" as well as the |
federal commission
What this provision Of the law
to. therefore, is handing over
tG the southern commercial congress,
or its appointees, $4,000 Of govern
ment funds to spend in gathering sup
posedly valuable information to be had
i'll Europe on the subject OF rural
credits. There is no doubt that every
fact embraced in this commissions re-
port could be obtained in the congress
SIGNAL library: II not, it could certainly
be had through the American consular
officers.
Representative A. w. Lanerty OF