The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1921-10-13
Manufacturers Committee Votes al
Unemployment Conference to
Reduce Freight Rates.
BIG BOOTLEG RING FOUND
Senator Kenyon of Iowa Introduces
Measure to Curb PROTECTING
of Coal Operators.

Harding's unemployment conference
voted to recommend reduction in
freight rates as part of it's perma-
nent program to relieve unemploy-
ment. With this it coupled steps to
insure decrease in railroad operat-
ing expenses. Howard Elliott of the
Northern Pacific, Robert H. Lovett of
the Union Pacific, C. M. Markham of
the Illinois Central and other rail ex-
ecutives were in conference with ad-
ministration officials and members of
congress looking for a way to slash
operating expenses so that freight
rates may be reduced. Representative
Dowell of Iowa introduced resolution
in the house directing the interstate
commerce commission to reduce
freight rates on grain, grain products,
livestock, coal, hay and cotton by rs
per cent within 80 days, with the stip-
ulation that there shall be no increase
in the future without the consent of
congress.
One of the most successful and ef-
ficiently managed bootleg gangs in the
country, which has been operating al
most under the caves of the nations
capitol, was run to earth when an
army of internal revenue officers and
Washington police made 81 raids in
the city and it's environs, making near
ly 40 arrests, confscating many gal
Ions of liquor and obtaining posses
sion of valuable papers disclosing the
intricate workings Of a systematic
bootlegging organization with it's ten
tacles extending to Philadelphia, Allan
tic City, New York and other eastern
cities.
Two far-reaching bills hitting the
coal industry were introduced in the
senate by Senator w. S. Kenyon, Iowa,
chairman of the committee on educa-
ton and labor, which has been inves-
tigating conditions in the West Vir-
ginia coal fields One Of the Kenyon
measures imposes heavy penalties for
profiteering in, coal The other is a
revision of the original Calder bill
giving broad powers to the president,
the federal trade commission, the geo.
logical survey and interstate commerce
commission. The Calder bill. as re-
vised by Mr.. Kenyon, provides that
whenever the federal trade commits
sion shall determine that an emer-
gency condition exists (which seems
likely to produce shortage or bring
about unusual, unwarranted or un-
reasonable coal prices and be detri-
mental to the public health" the pres
ident shall be empowered to fix maxi
mum coal prices and dealers commits
sions and margins. The president also
is authorized under such circumstances
to deal in coal and to control it's pro-
duction and distribution. The presi-
dent may go so far as to take over the
operation of coal mines. A heavy
penalty attaches for violation.
John H. Kirby, president of the Ma
tional Lumber Manufacturers asso-
citation and member of President
Harding's unemployment conference,
declares that any attempt of the fed
eral government to regulate labor and
employment conditions would be vio-
lation of the constitution and a menace
to the liberty of the citizen.
Opposition to proposed liberaliza-
ton amendments to the tax bill, pro-
posed by Senator Medill Mccormick,
/. L.. Lenroot, Arthur Capper and a
group of their colleagues, developed
so strongly in the senate finance COM
mittee that approval was deferred.
Republican sponsors of the amend
ments believe, however, that the
amendments will eventually be ap-
proved by the committee.
President Harding has failed to per-
suade union miners officials to prom
Use not to strike next spring. Four
hours argument failed to move the Of
fcials from their stand that they were
powerless to bind the United States
Mine Workers to any such agreement.
It is pointed out that this is no indica-
ton that the miners would strike when
their wage agreement expires next
March.
Early approval by the house ways
and means committee of the admins
tration bill giving the treasury au-
thority to refund foreign loans ap-
peared probable following the appear
ance before the committee of Secre-
tary of the Treasury A. w. Mellon.
Attorney General H. M Daugherty
has placed his influence and that of the
department of justice behind any state
governments that may be hesitating
to institute prosecutions for crimes
and atrocities laid at the door of the
Ku Klux Khan. Congress- was asked
to investigate the Masons, Knights of
Columbus and all other secret orders
in a sensational resolution introduced
in the house by Representative w. D.