River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1920-12-30

ed chief justice of the Supreme court
as Chief Justice White probably will
retire within the year. Other selec-
lions held likely are George M.
Reynolds of Chicago for secretary of
the treasury, Henry Wallace of Iowa
for secretary of agriculture, former
Senator Weeks for secretary of the
navy, and Charles M. Schwab for Sec
rotary of commerce. 1t Is believed,
also, that Herbert Hoover is certain
to be in the cabinet. The appointment
of Mr.. Reynolds to the treasury posi-
ton, it is said, would be very CRATE
full to the business and financial men
of the country, who have high opin-
ion of his ability and broad-minded-
ness.
The most important action by the
house of representatives during the
week was the passage of tho farmers
relief bill, which imposes high
emergency tariff on more than twenty
agricultural products, the decline in
the price of which is attributed by
the farmers In part to competition
with importations. The measure was
passed by vote of 1856 10 Sc, party
lines being broken. What the senate
will do with it is predetermined. The
senate finance committee will take it
up after the holidays, and 1t may be
killed by a prolonged discussion. The
commodities to which the new duties
would be applied are wheat, -four
corn, beans, peanuts, potatoes, oLlons,
rice. lemons, cottOnseed and soya
bean oils, cattle, sheep, lambs, NUT
ton and lamb, and wool and its manu-
features.
Justice Stafford IN Washington has
taken under adyisement the plans of
the big Five" packing concerns for
the disposal of their financial inter-
ests in the large stock yards and will
give his decision Immediately after
the holidays. At the conclusion of
the arguments he more than intimat-
ed that unless the packing companies
and the individual members of the
Armour, Swift and Morris families
can give proof within a few weeks
that they are actually divesting them
selves of their stock in the stock yards
and terminal railroads he will adopt
the governments plan and appoint a
receiver for the securities.
The senate committee that has been
investigating the price of coal last
week accidentally uncovered what
looks like sensational scandal.
George H. Gushing, general manager
of the American Wholesale Coal Deal
ers' association, was being questioned
as to those who took profits in the
handling of coal. He mentioned the
miners, the operators, the railroads,
the wholesale dealers, the retailers,
and then added, land officials of the
United States government who got
into the coal business" Mr.. Cushing
tried to stop there, but the committee
was insistent and drew from him the
assertion that government officials,
taking advantage of advance infOrma-
ton on the fuel stringencies obtained
in their confidential positions, de-
cfared themselves in on the coal-price
boosting and cleaned up" millions.
He told the committee of one in
stance in which government officials
cleared a profit of $675,000 on the
sale of 10000 tons of coal. He stated
that he was offered a share amounting
to over 100000 TO participate in the
deal but declined. There were many
other such instances. he told the COM
mittee. He supplied the committee
with the name of the ringleader, who
is said to be dollar-a-year man. He
added that railroad officials and labor
leaders who had TO do with the ham
ding of coal frequently managed to
get "rakeoff."
The disgust with which the public
reads this sort of thing is heightened
by the information that graft prosecu-
lions probably cannot be instituted
because the coal handled by the ring
was not sold to the government. The
senate committee planned to make
public. after full investigation, the
names of all officials VINO have engaged
in coal deals. and the contempt with
which they will be regarded by their
fellow citizens will be some punish
ment.
Later in the week correspondence
from the National Coal associations
files. seized by order of the commit
tee, was read 1t included a letter
sent out by Col. D. E. wrentz. presi-
dent of the association, stating that
the association. cooperating with rail
road officials and the interstate COM