The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-01-03
MESSAGE FROM
WILSON FRIDAY
Continued from page -

4 iAAttS -
Pershing will insist on a higher grade
of cloth uniforms.
Germany pays $3.50 a yard for her
mems uniforms" said Frelinghuysen.
we pay $2.S5 for an inferior grade
of shoddy. | nm convinced We would
save lives by giving u men better
clothing"
Herbert Hoover was to return for
questioning by Senator Reed concern
ing the food administrators motives
in sending a copy of his recent sugar
statement to President Wilson. Reed
wishes to learn why the country was
given the impression thai Hoover had
to go to the president to get ms
statement before the public after
Reeds committee had refused to
accept it.
Myer Bloomfield, New York sociol-
ogist, will continue his testimony be.
fore the shipping investigators on
housing conditions in ship building
communities; and plans being work
ed out to improve it.
The railroad investigation will be
resumed Monday with railroad presl-
dents on the stand at their own re-
quest.
After converting at noon the senate
adjourned Immediately out of respect
to the late Senator Newlands, who
died during the recess. The house
passed a bill placing militia and other
native forces of the Philippines in U.
S. service and then adjourned out OF
respect to the late representative Pat
rick, Ohio, who died during recess.
Would Change Tax Law.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.-Complete
-1a ~, 20 ~, r,o- ~ ~ 10 vi
will be sought by Senator Smoot,
a few days which he claims will sim
pIify the complex provisions of the
present law, passed last session and
bring in more revenue. Shoots bill
will hit excess profits harder than the
present law. leaving income taxes at
about the same rate as now,
The income tax provision will be
much simpler, however.
Clothes for Soldiers.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.-If the Unit
ed States had undertaken to clothe its
soldiers as we'll as Germany clothes
hers the shortage in uniforms and
o%vercoats would be much greater, NJ.
E. D~riscoll, superintendent of the
Raritan On. j. wooden mills testified
today before the senate military at
fairs committee.
Driscoll, a wool expert, was shown
samples of cloth from American and
German uniforms. He u~nhesitatingly
said the German cloth was much high
er grade.
"Of course it takes much longer to
manufacture than our uniform cloth"
said Driscoll.
Driscoll testified that changes made
by the supply committee of the ma
tional defense council in the specifica-
tons for shirtings and uniform cloth
did not improve the wearing qualities
or the warmth of the cloth. The wear
ing quality, on the other hand, was
somewhat lowered.
1T is my individual opinion that the
uniform now being issued to our SOL
ders is too light" said Driscoll.
The cloth used in marine corps uni
forms is much warmer than that used
for the army, he said. Wearing quail
ties are about equal he added. !
Hoover on Witness Stand.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.-Usurpa-
ton of authority under the food law
in fixing Of wheat prices, was charg
ed against, Herbert. Hoover, food adj
ministrator, by Chairman Reed at
the senate sugar inquiry today.
Didn't you assur congress when
the bill was pending that there was
no authority for price fixing?" asked
Reed.
Hoover said he did.
We'll, you abused the powers con-
on you in that bill-an act
that, under normal conditions, would
be a criminal one?" asked Reed.
We'll, everything has been done
dent" answered Hoover. Il consid
the bill in its general purpose
ne authority to do as l have in
the wheat matter, even If it does not
specifically say so. We faced a big
emergency !,
Hoover maintained that wheat
prices have been stabilized. /,
The farmer, he said, was consulted
and agreed to the price fixed, which
was fifty cents over the previous
market.
The flour price, he added, had
been reduced So per barrel to con
under the early war prices.
This is but a small advance over the
flour prices a year ago, he said.
Reed disputed that, Saying it was
nearly double the 1916 price. I
Reed had suddenly switched from
sugar to wheat. AS he continued
this line, Hoover protested against
going into the wheat situation in
this way.
Returning to sugar, Reed demand
ed to know why beet sugar from the
west was kept from the Atlantic sea
board district during the shortage |.
last fall. !.
I'VE had to obtain a higher price (;
Tor cane sugar to protect Louisiana
said Hoover.
The American Refining company,
through Ba9st, Hoover said, had con
for approximately fifty per {;
cent of the Louisiana output and the
company could not have afforded to
handle it at a lower price.
Methods to curb extortionate sug-
1T charges by retailers were outlined
~ Hoover.
Hoover said under the food law. 8
are forbidden to charua a~ I,