Carson City daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1907-1930, 1915-02-23
A NEEDED INVESTIGATION

During the last two weeks Republican Senators have repeatedly
insinuated that corrupt influences were back of the Smp-Purchase bill
Senator Townsend OF Michigan charged in effect that William G.
McAdoo, secretary OF the treasury, and Paul NJ, Warburg OF the
Federal Reserve Board were engaged in a corrupt conspiracy with Kuhn,
c>So & Co.. and the Hamburg-American Steamship Company to sell
the German steamships now i'll American ports to the United States
government. To be sure. the senate from Michigan was careful to
avoid direct accusations. What he charged he charged by inuendo, but
there could be n o mistaking his meaning.
Senator Burton OF Ohio practically indorsed the Townsend accusation
when he offered his resolution for an investigation OF the influences SUP
porting the measure. Both the senator from Michigan and the senator
from Ohio. in their efforts to show that the administrations bill was
spawned in rascalry. had the moral support OF Senator Penrose of Penn
syNana, than whom there is no greater authority on political purity.
In adopting the Burton resolution with al amendment providing for
m inquiry into the influences that oppose the bill as we'll, the sena-e
hos taken the right course.
By all means investigate Mr. McAdoo, Mr.. Warburg, Kuhn, Leob &
Co, and the president himself ii necessary: Also investigate the sources
and the authority Of this extraordinary opposition to the administration
What influence, if any, has been exerted against the measure by the
firm Of ] 7. Morgan & Co. and their financial associates of the Inter
national Mercantile Marine company, which operates the White Star
line, the Red Star line. the Atlantic Transport line. the Dominion line,
the Leyland line and the Whhe-Sar Dominion line? With n excep-
ton, all these lines fly foreign flags ito evade the navigation laws of the
financial interests that w ships which sail under foreign flags?
Is j a mere coincidence that Senator OGorman, who fought the
coastwise monopoys fight against the repeal Of the Panama tolls exemp-
ton, broke with his party to become OF the leaders against the
presidents Ship-Furchase bill; What is the attitude of the principal
ship-ouilding concerns toward the measure. and what are they doing TO
kill it: How does it happen that so much public opinion was so
accelerate it?
II is a curious fact that no other measure presented by the admin
istraton has encountered such fierce hostility as this proposal to spend
s5ooOoOoo or $4oOomo for ships that could be used Immediately to
relieve the commercial blockade and would also be available for use as
naval auxiiaries Neither tariff revision, nor currency and banking re-
form, nor the Panama tolls repeal Q the amendments to tn Sherma
law, nor any other administration measure has met such desperate
opposition. This antagonism cannot be accounted for by fear of a
"sociahstic experiment" OF by fear that the presidents policy might lead
the government into international complications. There is something
more important behind it. and the best way to discover the full truth is
for the senate to make a thoroughgoing inquiry into the activities OF
the bills supporters and opponents
The country needs all the light that an be shed upon this extra
ordinary snation-New York World.