The Washington herald., 1921-05-08
House Activities.

IlOuSC HSIlVIIlcS.
7 EAVINC the army bill half-completed Saturday
L week ago, the House turned its attention to
other things this week and passed the farmers
cooperative marketing BILL the bill creating national
budget system and bill authorizing the President
name member OF the Joint Commission on Reorgani-
zation of Government Departments
Another bill reported favoraby by the Immigra
ton Committee to grant citizenship to Emil Fischer
of New York defeated by close vote. Fischer
America from Austria in 1892 took out his
first papers in 1904 but never remained in this
try long enough to become eligible for naturalization.
The probably will up again since per-
mission granted for reconsideration of the vote.
The Agricultural Committee, after extended hear
ings during this session and more during the past
Congress somewhat similar BILL favorably report
ed the Tncher bill for the regulation of trade ex-
changes While the measure will not abolish specula
ton interfere with what is known the legitimate
hedge its advocates declare it will absolutely destroy
manipulation and will make for uniformity among all
markets
The Bergdoll hearings held the center of the stage
far as the House committees were concerned They
were held before a special committee appointed to in
vestgate responsibility for the escape of Grover Ceve-
land Bergdoll the millionaire Stacker" of Phiadel
pha.
Among those who called upon to testify be-
fore the committee Adjutant General Peter c. Har
rs, John w. Wescott New Jersey lawyer and the
the Presidency before the Democratic conventions.
Samuel T. Ansell formerly in the office of the Judge
Advocate General of the army, and later attorney
for Bergdoll, and Edward S. Bailey law partner of
Ansell
TN SPITE of his denial, Wescott, former judge
was consulting counsel for Bergdoll, Ansel tes
tilted. This assertion backed up by Anselrs
partner, Bailey, and Cen Harris testified that he had
heard that Judge Wescott approved the gold-huntng
expedition which the through which Berg
dolls escape effected.
Gen. Harris denied that any letter warning of
Bergdons intention of escape had been received by
the Adjutant Generals office Wescot denied that he
had heard of the gold story until after the escape
The chairman of the committee announced Friday
that the investigation would be concluded in few
days.
Whether strict military discipline should be OBJ
served in hospitals for former service men was de-
bated before subcommittee risk, with Col.
c. H. Forbes, new director of the Bureau of War
Risk Insurance, taking the affirmative and Dr. Thomas
Salmon and Col Abel Davis, chairman of the American
Legion disqualification Committee, on the negative
Dr. Salmon and Col. Davis both criticised Col.
Forbes sharply for advocating strict discipline over
sick and disabled veterans Col Davis declared
the chief difficulty with the Public Health Service is
the fact that it is sem-military organization. Under
the present system he said, it is impossible to obtain
the best medical talent because to give specialist
rank commensurate with MS aollity might put MIN
above regular army officer, and thereby cause
friction and jealousy
The farmers cooperative marketing BILL passed
by the House and to the Senate, would author
ize farmers form associations for collective market
ing, with immunity from prosecution under the Sher-
man antitrust laws
~ REPRESENTATIVE JOHN N. TILLMAN of
N Arkansas, speaking in support Of the measure,
read into the Record a newspaper clipping tell
ing of Arkansas farmer who brought two calf
hides to market and received 40 cents for and 50
for the other He then purchased short piece
Of feather lacng half inch wide for which he paid