The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-07-21
A POWERFUL COMMISSION.

: posed of six cabinet members with seven civil
! Ilans selected by the president who We're to &C
n IN purely advisory capacity. But according
!. to Chairman Graham, of the special house com
: mlttee to investigate war department eXpendi
lures, the president made the civilians the rea
executives of the council and clothed them will
unprecedented and almost ilimitable powers
Working behind closed doors months before WI
entered the war, these seven men designed prac
Ihcally every war measure which congress sub
|sequently enacted. They devised the entire
system of purchasing war supplies, the press
censorship, the system of food control. the day
light saving scheme. They persistently ignored
and violated the law. They allowed interested
parties to fix the price of war supplies and put
the people of the country to incalculable and un-
necessary expense
| We shall doubtless hear in time of specific
criticised activities Of this council. As origin
ally constituted these seven men who in Judge
Gary's words operated in disregard of the
Sherman law, the Clayton law and all other
statutes that are supposed to regulate business
were Daniel Willard, Bernard NJ Baruch, How
ard e. Coffin, Hollis Godfrey, Samuel Gompers,
Franklin IL Martin and julius Rosenwald The
average American had never heard of more
than one or two of these men prior to their ap-
q
curiously constituted commission to be entrust
ed with such extraordinary powers
Representative Moore, of Pennsylvania, tells
congress that the loss OF, revenue through pro-
hibition is likely to make a billion-dolar bond
issue necessary within a year after the new or
der goes into effect. For the current fiscal year
ending June thirtieth, next, we should, without
prohibition, receive six hundred and thirty
eight million dollars and income and excess
profits taxes sufficient to bring the total to
billion. This is fully three times as much as
our tariff revenue can possibly be; yet all that
we shall get will be something like seventy mil
lions from non-beverage alcohol. Congress, in
Mr. Moore's opinion has no power under the
rider in the agricultural bill of last November
to define an intoxicating liquor; and what the
country wants is reasonable enforcement code
for reasonable people.
The president is understood to have told per-
sons with whom he has talked that the conces
5ions granted to Japan in Shantung were not
political but merely economic, and are to ter
innate at the end of sixty OF seventy years. If
hat is the truth there is little wonder that
China refused to assent to the agreement. BY
he end Of that time Japan, with the foothold
given her in Shantung, would have the whole of
Jhna in practical subjugation. Even if the
province should be then technically restored it /
would still continue under japanese control to /
III intents and purposes. There is no difference I
n effect between giving Japan economic conces- i
ons in Shantung for seventy years and present /
6 her with the province outright.
Municipalities which have the authority to
10 so may now buy government canned and
ured meats in carload lots for sale or distri- 1
'ution In their communities. 1t was stated
ew days ago that at that time Washington and
Baltimore were the only cities which had taken
dvantage of the opportunity. These meats are
ffered at twenty per cent. less than cost, and
probably they are at least that much below
PRESENT market prices. It would seem therefore
IS though cities with institutions to upkeep r
night proftabIy purchase some Of these govern t
nent stores. II
VILLA is not nearly so active as he was two !
II three years ago. writes border newspaper e
correspondent. One reason, no doubt is that r
us German banker friends have taken away f
heir support
Although the treaty of peace has been signed, u
lie turkish question, to-wit, Which OF the al y
les is to have the Wishbone? still remains nm in