Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-06-02
Monday June 2. 1919.
Organize. Standardize, Advertise
and Patronize Maine products. This
slogan Of the State Agricultural
and Industrial League 10 . pretty
good one fer the people Of Maine to
follow.
Political and Other Profiteers

Political and Other Profiteers
Congressman Fitzgerald o. Boston
says this country must come to life
and save itself from the Wilson Ad-
ministration and the profiteers. No
cice that he puts the two evils in
first and second positions. the great
or evil first. 1t Is good advice. The
Republican House was so impressed
by the words CT the Democratic con-
gresham from Boston that it extend
ed his speaking time twice without
fight. That is remarkable in view of
the fact that if every member of Con-
gress should speak for half an hour
in turn, there would be nothing but
speech making all the session and the
sessions would be perpetual. Fitz-
gerald was Impressive as he told of
the errors of the Administration and
the profiteers. He said we must say
to President Wilson: The war is
over and the people of this country
have the brains to manage the food
problem instead of letting it stay in
the hands of the profiteers.' He did
not tell us what the answer of the
President would be. but we may hear
soon. Fitzgerald said the people
cannot understand why the prices for
foods go up while the warehouses
contain the biggest surplus Of sup
plies in all history. He told lot of
truth. and the country gladly allows
him time for that purpose. Turn on
more of the Democratic steam and
xat RI orf ha
cession away from war and mixing
with the politics and religions of de-
cadent Europe and Asia.-Worcester
Telegram.
Investigation of the thousands be-
ing kept on the federal pay rolls for
no other purpose than to fix things
up in as favorable showing as pos
sible for the various departments and
the never-e ending bureaus under this
amazing. paternalistic administration.
will be an early work of Congress.
In the recess it was believed there
would be a wholesale releasing of the
extra official and clerical forces that
were modified for the prosecu-
ton Of the war. but Senators and
members Of the House. returning to
resume their duties. comment freely
upon the presence in Washington of
tens of thousands Of highly paid
clerks who. it was supposed, would
have been separated from the pay
roll surely within half a year Of the
termination Of hostilities. Many. of
their own volition. have resigned and
returned to their homes to resume
peaceful pursuits, but Washington is
still damned by those brought
for the emergency.
Congressman were first struck by
the overcrowded condition when they
attempted to obtain quarters for
themselves and their families. They
found all houses taken and apart.
ments over-crowded by the war
salaries.
Some OF the more inquisitive con-
gressmen have made quiet but rather
intimate investigation of their own.
They found that while hundreds OF
extra clerks are actually needed to
bring things back to normal hun.
dreds Of others are apparently doing
nothing but preparing voluminous re.
ports and histories Of the operations
Of the scores of bureaus in a way
most favorable to those responsible.
During the war. Congress patri-
otically poured literally billions of
dollars into every branch Of the gov
eminent that appealed for funds as
necessary to the final triumph. All
that was needed to get more money
was the statement from the proper
official that the sum was needed.
But the protests which have spread
through the whole country over waste
and incompetency have brought
Congress to a position where an ac-
counting will now be demanded. Gen.
orally speaking, there is hardly a SEN
ator or House member in Washing
ton who does not carry concrete in
stances of inemciency in handling
soldiers allotments. the failure Of the
insurance bureau to function, unsat-
isfactory equipment Of soldiers in the
field. transportation congestions that
have cost the consumer millions and
other examples Of administrative
hreakdownA
What promises to be one Of the
most interesting and searching in
vestigations Of the new Congress,
win be the probe Of the expenses of
tho commission that went to Paris
months ago to negotiate peace with
Germany and il still comfortably liv-
ing in the French capital
Immediately after the armistice
was signed it was believed that the
navy would be ordered to place at
the disposal Of the party SUFFICIENT
battleships and other craft speedily
to ferry across the representatives