Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-06-16

EVENTS, OF THE WEEK
Subscriptions to the governments Liberty Loan
closed at noon on Friday, and when the books were
closed the announcement was made that the loan had
been ovsr-subscribed by more than Is per cent. The ex-
act figures have not been announced at this writing, as
reports from some of the districts were not forthcoming.
1t Is known. however, that the two billion required was
exceeded by at least half a billion, with the possibility
that the excess might reach a full billion or more. The
work that has been done during the past two or three
weeks to popularEe the loan has had Its effect, and sub
scrtptions came In with a rush during the last few days.
. .
All the reports agree that the agricultural districts
were the slowest to respond. but that toward the close
OF the campaign there was evidence Of an awakening,
which to present the case, these districts would have
caught up with others. North Dakota subscribed be-
tween $~2,50o,000 and $4,000, 900, and former Governor
Hanna, who headed the work in this state, expressed
himself 40 we'll pleased with the result in view Of the un.
favorable crop conditions Of last year. The agitation
BY Townley and his associates has also had some efset,
though 1t must be Disappointing to these men to md
that IN spite OF their efforts the people Of the nation
at large have taken such an interest in this loan, and
that those Of North Dakota. where their most active work
has been done. have done 10 we'll.
. .
These are days Of big things in every line, and while
the government gathers in money by billions with one
hand, it arranses for its expenditure in equally large
amounts with the other. Congress has lust passed the
largest war budget ever passed by any legislative body,
The bill carries appropriations Of 1921. 900. 900. Ono
OF the most important items is that appropr1atink $780,
100000 for a government merchant marine, something
which many people have urged for a long time. but
which IL now to be brought to pass BY the pressure Of
war. It Is likely that the possession Of this shipping by
the government Will present some new problems ut the
CLOSE Of the war. and it may also tend to hasten the So
luton Of some old ensa.
" *4@ 90 . @ -
Food control bills are still pending in congress. The
nrst OF these 10 designed to stimulate production. In dit.
fsrsnt forms 1t has passed both houses, but It is held
up in conference. The other bill has been threshed out
IN committees and 1t 10 expected that it will be passed
within less than two weeks. Its purpose 10 to provide
Tor actual government control OF the distribution Of food.
The bill as It now stands empowers the president to nx
minimum prices. but the maximum price clause has besn
eoenoonsd. 1t u believed that the end which was sought
to b accomplished by this clause will be accomplished
by ths pyovinons against boarding.
.
The espionage bill has been approved bv the presi-
dent. After much debate the censorship provision was
stricken from this bill. hence the restrictions on the press
now are simply those which have always existed. The
newspaper may publish what 1t Will, but it ia held re-.
sponsible before the law for the abuse Of the privilege.
Reasonable utterancss> are punishable under existing
laws and the majority in congress has not seen At to add
to the restrictions.
Tho need for some systematic work to prevent spying
In this country in the interest Of Germany 10 shown by
the fact that in some way the news Of the departure Of
the American squadron to British waters was Forwarded
to Germany before the American people knew that the
ships had sailed. Not only was the fact Of the sailing
known to the German government, but that government
also knew the port which had been selected for the
arrival Of our ships of war. This matter is being invest.
gated. ana some arrests have been made, although facts
connecting the suspects with this leak have not been
made public.
Following the ofhctal registration day for men liable
70 military service. the time for registration was extend
ed several days by the authorities in order to give an Cd.
portunity to those who had failed to register through
inadvertence. and to those who, having intended tn defy
the government in this matter. had changed their minds.
MANY - hMkAE --~,.-. ---a-.