The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-03-17
10000 PERISH
IN EUROPE WHILE
CONGRESS TALKS
Republicans Block Legislation
Looking Toward Aid of
Stricken People" Steering
Committee" Has Charge.

WASHINGTON, D. T.. March II.
(Spl mot fewer than 10000 persons
have died Of want in the famine-strick-
en- countries of Europe while the house
OF representatives mas held up action on
the request of relief for these stricken
peoples, made several weeks ago, Rep
resentative Claude Kitchin charged on
the floor of the house of representa-
tives the other day.
! Supplemented by Herbert c. Hoover,
former food administrator, Carter Glass,
then secretary of the treasury, asked
congress sey eral weeks ago to extend
aid TO these stricken peoples. The ways
and means committee agreed to rec
ommend an appropriation OF $4,000, 900
for this purpose, but no action was
eyer taken. The responsibility, Demo-
sfatic leaders in the house are charg-
ing, Is with the Republican steering
committee" without whose approval
nothing ever gets to the house calen-
dar.
Recently, the United States Grain
corporation advised congress that 1t
has on hand 100000 barrels of flour
which is clear profit from dealing in
and selling wheat to foreign countries
that this flour can not be disposed of
in the United States because 1t Is made
I of the softer grains of wheat and is of
an inferior quality to what American
people demand, therefore, there Is no
/ market for it at home. If not disposed
of before warm weather comes, it will
spoil, and it was proposed to congress
that this be substituted for the pro-
posed $50,O000 900 appropriation The
ways and means committee amended
the bill so that this might be done ano
1--WE were assured thatiif we did report
1t out, the committee on rules woult
report rule for its immediate consid
Grafton" Mr. Kitchin said
The bill was. then reported out. Mr.
kltchin told the house, land | wa
curious to know what has become o
the assurance given to the chairman o
the committee on ways and means b.
the committee on rules that If we di'
4 TINS, they would give US rule" Mr.
Kitchin then told the house that sine
the committee reported out the frs
relief bill unanimously a month ago, a
least 10000 people have died in the YER
countries in which the bill was Anne
TO give relief. {
The relief it is proposed 20 give, O
the suggestion of the United State
( Grain corporation, could hardly be sal
Ito cost the country one penny, becaus
Il 1.-THE 100000 barrels of flour which
a lis proposed to send to the famine
4 stricken peoples of middle Europe ha
no market in America, and will 500
/ spoil, unless used. And yet, for som
reason still unexplained, congress, froi
which authority is desired to make TIL
donation, has failed to act, althoug
1t has been several weeks since tt
first appeal for relief was made TIL
appeal has been made to all the WORT
" In transmitting it to the board Of GOV
kVernors Of the League Of Red Cross 81
/ cieties. Arthur J. Balfour, acting fl
+ the league of nations, said: THE CT
tastrophe is of such unexampled maj
nitude that no organization less powe
full than the League of Red Cross 81
Sieties seenlS adequate to cope with
There can surely never be an occasic
calling more instantly for action" N
Balfour added that the calamity seen
worse than the war itself"