The citizen., 1920-10-21

coal.
out Of total number Of 1854 ar
rests for proflteering In fuel, wear
ing apparel and food the department
has secured indictments numbering
i.i99 out Of this number only .0i
sentences have thus far been imposed.
Department to Be short.Handed.
One reason for speeding up the
trials pending Is that. the depart
ments bureau Of investigation VIII be
seriously hampered In Its work
through loss Of 80 per cent In the
appropriation allotted to this work by
the last congress This shortage Of
funds. II was said, will result In the
release OF approximately one-thlrd OF
the special agents who are securing
evidence used In obtaining indict.
The department Il now preparing
To prosecute In as many cases as pos
slble operators and dealers who hive
profteered In coal. A report by the
federal trade commission, II was said,
covers the ground sufficiently In the
matter Of investigation. and the de-
partment's activities will be directed
along the line Of securing indictments
from the evidence gathered by the fed
eral trade commission.
There Is one class of offenders
against the law OF the land that the
government will. inevitably. so Il is
asserted, move against In a vigorous
way after the presidential election.
The offenders referred 90 are the vio-
lators OF the prohibition enforcing
legislation. II Is n notorious fact that
In some OF the larger cities this leg
islation is almost a dead letter. The
enforcing organization of the govern
ment. which Is attached 20 the ,reve-
nue. bureau. has failed 20 cope with
the problem. The reason for this fall
ure which the organization offers IN
lack OF money When congress gets
back In December there will be n re-
quest for an appropriation OF several
down the violators Of the prohibition
law.
II is inevitable that the govern
ment must enforce prohibition iegisla-
tion or take II OF the statute books.
From the foundation OF the govern
ment federal laws have been enforced.
The former home OF Daniel Web
ster In Washington. better known
as the home Of the late W. W. Cor.
coran. the banker. In due time will
be torn down to make room for
building 90 be occupied by the Cham
ber Of Commerce. 4. $. A. This Is an
ornate brick structure which rambles
along II street. at the corner Of Con
necticut avenue The tradition runs
that the house was given TO Mr.. Web
ster by some friends. The original
building was erected In 1925.
The property stood In the name Of
Daniel Webster from June. 1874. until
December II. Is47. when II was bought
by Moses Grinell, who In 1919 sold u
10 Mr.. Corcoran. He remodeled the
place and added the east and west
wings. one OF which IL noteworthy for
having housed his excellent art col
lection. which there became the nu-
cleus OF the present Corcoran Gallery
OF Art.
Site Bought for $4,000.
The site upon which this national
home for business Is to be erected
tions TO date TO the building fund Of
the Chamber Of Commerce OF the Unit
ed States. The site faces Lafayette
square, In front OF the White House.
II was purchased at a cost Of $4,000.
The building will add to the archl-
tectural beauty OF Washington. Work
on the new structure Is TO be started
as soon as the remaining S2.OO0.OOO
necessary for the project Is received.
A number Of communities already have
subscribed their allotment. Others are
responding handsomely to the cam
palgn.
The Chamber OF Commerce OF the
United States. body founded eight
years ago. has been unusually success
full. But the leading business men OF
the country interested In the chamber
OF commerce have realized that not un-
I'll they had Washington home Of
their own-to give the aspect OF ma
terial solldlty TO their organization-
would they be able to exercise proper
constructive influence In national af-
fairs. With this In view, the cham
ber began plans In 1914 for the erec-
tion OF building In Washington. but
the war caused postponement. Com.
mlttees now are accumulating the
money for this project. 81 100000 be-
ing promised by smal, communities
outside OF New York and Chicago, be-
fore the business men OF these cities
gave a cent. The idea IL TO create a
nerve center for all business. big or lit
tie, that Is affected by national af-
fairs.
10 a National institution.
The institution will be national. The
hand Of welcome will be as cordially
extended TO the manufacturer or mer-
chant from the Pacific or the Gulf.
the Southeast. or the Northwest. as II