The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-06

bIleS anu tO pIeVSIII dlltSeu
 The debate. in which Senat rs Sher- man of Illinois and Shoot o1 'tah led the attack on the commission sas pre- cipitated by introduction by Senator Gore of Oklahoma of an amendment to
 the emergency agricultural appropria-
 tion bill carrying out in the main the commissions recommendations. The amendment later was withdrawn when
 it was apparent that consideration of it would further delay passage of tho bill
 Senator sherman declared the conn lntission to be a self constituted prose cutting agency' made up of "business failures" while Senator Shoot of Utah ! charged that the commission from the
 beginning has been political organi,
 zaton and has been used as step ping stone" to campaigners Tor office. Senatcr Shoot said the Gore amend ment proposed to carry out the thing that every newspaper in the country has denounced and added that if any amendment was adopted. it should be one abolishing the commission. Tho senator called attention to the recent report made by the federal trade com 1 mission of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States and transmitted to the President, which criticized the commissions manner of making inves, | legations
 EXPERIENCE CRITICIZED The Utat senator also criticized the busfness akility and experience of the commissioners and declared their re- port on the packing industry was based "on prejudice and not on the first prin- 1 cirle of justice" The packers. he said, | were denied an opportunity to present their side of the case completely, i Senators Gore and Kenyon defended
 the report, declaring it largely justi- fled, the latter saving 1t received iha 1 indorsemant of thousands of persons who have been robbed by the l&cl CTS all these years
 senator sherman declared if the m smbers of the commission desired to know what the people thought of them, they had only to offer for offie. and would be beaten by vote of four to one. He referred to officers of the commission as "self-appointed business men who have done nothing in theix lives put criticize men who are doing things and said Chairman Colvar was the most ''vociferous and blatant one in the lot"
 There isn't one. Senator Sherman continued, who isn't radical bol- shevist. an economic firebrand ] COMPARED WITH I. w. w.
 They're younger brothers of the l. W. Wall of them. They're poor excuses for public officers. They're disgrace 0 the administration. They're a menace 70 business They're discredt to tho country"
 Senator Ashurst of Arizona interruptei to say that there was nothing in the record of the men to justify Senator sherman fin traducing them in such a violent way" that the commission could not reply and that it was unfair 10 thus use the Senate's rules for freedom of speech.
 Senator Sherman replied that he re- gretted that he was restrained by parli- amentary limitations from saying what he desired. but that he would make the same statemens outside of the Senate and hold himself responsible in the courts. if necessary.
 Senator Ashurst suggested that Sena- tor sherman might have prevented con- firmation of members of the commission by the Senate, to which the Illinois sena- tor replied that the minority lacked pow
 CT to prevent confirmation.
 ''It's useless to talk about rights cf
 the minority in this administration" de-
 cared Senator sherman. What rights have we?' Simply to our seats. What
 rights has Congress? It's lagely in-
 structed what to do.
 stand by the President How can ws
 when be can't stand still on any ausstio, long enough to tell what it is?''
 OUGHT TO RESIGN
 Referring again to the trade conmis- sion Senator sherman shouted in con
 cnsion.
 "They ought to resign.
 Senator Kellogg of Minnesota said he knew Chairman Colvar as business manager of a newspaper, that he is an honorable gentleman, and not dis honest.
 Senator Thomas said he wanted to |offer his testimony to the integrity, honesty and uprightness of the member of the commission with whom he was acquainted He said Commissioned Mur-
 dock has been a purifying element in political life, and also praised J. Frank lin Fort former governor of New Jer- sey, another member of the commits sion. He explained he did not know Chairman Colvar.
 The commissions report on the pack ing industry. Senator Thomas said. was made after full and fair investigation. the body's only offense being it's au- dacity in attacking one of the most un- scrupulous monopolies. Senator Thomas added that in considering the comluuni- cation sent to the President by the Cham- Der of Commerce ofthe United States. it should also be taken into considera- tion that undoubtedly members of tho packing firms are also members of the Chamber of Commerce in various cities.
 Senator Thomas explained that in defending the members of the commis- sion 1t should not be inferred that he approved the recommendations as he approved of the government taking over the packing or any other industry during the war. unless 1t was shown to be absolutely necessary. Senator Johnson of California said he indorsed Senator Thomas attitude and concluded by praising the integrity of the commission.