The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-07-28

| will see the wisdom of signing such a
treaty without great delay.
Meanwhile Il movement for the re-
call of the American troops in Ger
many has started in the senate. Mr..
Borah introduced resolution calling
on the secretary of war for all data
as to the size of the army of occupa-
ton, the cost of maintaining ii and the
payments of the German government
adopted the resolution without roll
call or dissenting voice.
The tariff bill, having been passed
by the house, Is now before the senate
but If present plans are followed that
body Will not act on Ii finally until
| legislation TO revive taxes has been
enacted. This is in accord with the
understood wish of the administration.
The prospect for considerably lower
taxes, however, was dimmed some
what by the rather startling state
ments made by A. ID. Lasker, new
chairman of the shipping board. He
asserted that his Investigations have
revealed the fact that the board
operated last fiscal year at a net loss
of S0000,00O, and predicted that dur
Ing the present fiscal year the loss
from operations alone will be $780,
100000. Mr.. Lasker said the records
OF the board were in deplorable con-
dition and that If 1t had been private
business concern the corporation
would have been In receivers hands
long ago. He indicated that appro-
priations of $300,000,000 would be
needed for this year, but later he
asked congress for only $125,000,000
for the next six months. The formal
request for this sum was made through
Director Of Budget Dawes and with
the approval of President Harding.
Pr0dded to quick action by a pre-
liminary report of the special commits
sion on soldiers relief. which scored
the government for neglect Of disabled
veterans, the senate on Wednesday
passed the Sweet bill without a dis
senting vote. An amendment was
adopted designed to transfer from the
eX-service men to the government the
burden OF proof In establishing the
origin Of disabilities. In some other
respects the bill as passed by the
house was altered. AS passed by the
senate the measure provides: For the
creation of a veterans bureau, respon-
sble directly to the President, consol-
idating all soldier relief agencies for
the decentralization of the compensa-
ton and insurance machinery now op-
Grated by the war risk bureau, and
for the liberalization of compensation
awards so as to relieve any former SOL
der suffering from ailments for which
the war service was responsible.
Director Of the Budget Dawes has
informed President Harding that 1t
will be possible to save about $112,-
512,628 In the government expendi-
lures for the current year. This will
be done mainly through curtailing de-
partmental forces and equipment, and
the work toward this end already is
well under way. The largest estimat-
ed savlng-$30 342, 119-will be in the
Treasury department. In the Interior
department 1t will be 1882, 101 war
risk bureau, $16.534, SOB; War depart
ment $15,OO0OO0; Navy department,
S10,047, 891; postal service, $1492O,-
421, and so on through the list.
Illinois provides sensation Of con-
siderable magnitude through the in
dictment of her governor, Len Small, |
and lieutenant governor, Fred T.. Ster-
ling. These officials, together with
Verne Curtis, banker, are accused OF
fraud, conspiracy and embezzlement OF |
state funds, the alleged crimes being
committed, according TO the charges,
when Small and Sterling held the po-
sltion of state treasurer. Briefly, II is |
charged that Small and Sterling made |
loans of millions of dollars of state |
funds to Curtis so-called bank, which |
had not functioned as bank since |
1908; that Curtis purchased with the |
money short-time notes of the Chicago |
packers which netted him about 8 per |
cent interest; that the state received |
only 2 per cent on the loans made to |
Curtis, and that the accused men |
shared the rest Of the profits. or |
course, both Small and Sterling pro-
test their entire innocence, the COVER
nor laying the whole affair TO the |
schemes OF his political enemies. whose
fight OH him, both before and since his
election. has been bitter.