Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1920-03-13
THE WORLD OVER
Interesting Items Of Present
Important Happenings.
EVERY ITEM A NEWS ITEM
Relating to the Latest Happen
ings of Interest Just Now
Throughout the World.
WASHINGTON NEws.

WASHINGTON NEWS.
J "A decrease Of s264,O57, 387 in the
public debt was effected in February,
the treasury announced Wednesday,
leaving the total debt $25, 404, 331, 707.
4 o.
! Acting on the recommendation Of
the new secretary of agriculture, the
senate agriculture committee Wednes-
day voted to eliminate from the annual
agricultural bill the $4,000 voted by
the house to continue the time-hallow-
ed custom of distribution of free seeds
to their constituents by members of
congress.
.Twenty-one states Joined with tie
federal government Monday in asking
the Supreme Court to dismiss the
original suit brought by Rhode Island
to test the validity of the prohibition
amendment to the constitution. Sub
scribing to brief filed by Charles E.
Hughes, with the courts permission,
and which asked dismissal of the
Rhode Island case on the ground that
no justiciable questions we're involved,
were the states of Delaware, North
Carolina, Kentucky, Louisiana, Indi-
ana, Alabama, Maine, Arkansas, Mich
igan, Florida, Oregon, Kansas, West
| Virginia, Nevada, Nebraska, Montana,
North Dakota, South Dakota, WyO-
ming, Utah and Arizona.
| Americas rail transportation sys-
TENS, operated as one great public
utility since December %, 1917, were
again divided among their 230 respect
i've corporate owners when the govern
ment released control at midnight Sun
day Director General Hines, as the
agent of the president, handed over
the properties and equipment, valued
at approximately $4,000, 100000, to
their old direction, free except for the
! Jurisdiction retained by the govern
ment in the new railroad reorganiza-
tion bill
%
Drastic reduction of permanent Of
fieers of the army from their tempo
rary ranks to regular army grades, eff
fective March Is, has been ordered by
General March, chief of staff, Of APP
proximately 5000 officers now holding
temporary rank higher than their per
manent appointments. About 1000 will
probably be returned to their regular
status.
A tax Of cent on every 100 matches
to be paid by the purchaser is pro-
posed in bill introduced by Repre-
sentative Ackerman, republican, of
New Jersey, as a means of realizing
revenue bonus for the soldiers move
ment.
A resolution proposing diplomatic
negotiations with Great Britain for the
purchase of the Bermuda Islands was
introduced Friday by Senator Kenyon,
republican, of Iowa.
Texas postmasters nominated: Ar.
thur e. Davis, Blue Ridge; Edgar
Lewis, Mesquite; Duane D. Scarbor-
ough, lakewood; Edmond L. Wheeler,
Paducah.
Postmaster General Burleson. Rear
| Admiral William s. Benson, retired,
and Walter s. Rogers of La Grange,
H., were nominated Friday by Presi-
dent Wilson to be the American mem
bers of the international conference
on communications which is soon to
be held in Washington.
| o.
cambridge Colby, who was appoint.
ed secretary of state by President Will
son, said in an interview this week
that he was thoroughly in accord with
the league of nations and all other Of
the presidents views of public inter
est my sympathies have been with
the president and his work" said Mr..
Colby. This surely is clearly indi-
Gated by my appointment"
If such is the wish of the nearest Of
kin, the bodies of American soldiers
overseas will not be disturbed in any
way whenever practicable. Secretary
Baker said Friday. In cases where the
men are buried on private ground, or
in isolated spots where the graves can
not be given proper attention, how
ever, they will be reinterred in per-
manent cemeteries
STATE AND DOMESTIC NEWS.
Selecting Houston. Texas, as the
meeting place in 1921, and deciding to
have called meeting In Dallas during
the State Fair, the yearly gathering
OF the Texas Butter, Egg and Poultry
Association adjourned Tuesday at
Waco.
Forty-seven persons were killed and
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