Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1921-01-04
WASHINGTON AFFAIRS


Washington. d. c., Jan. S.-During the
recent debate in the senate on the war
department purchases Of coal Senator Nc
Lean took an active part in protesting
against the extortion practiced. II was
during that debate that SeAntor Calder
of New York testified that Col. wentx
president Of the National Coal Operators
association purchased less than 275.00O +
tons OF coal for the war department and
while merely acting for them as their
agent was paid $137. 900 as commission
or agency Fee" Mr., Calder stated the
price paid for the coal was $f1 q ton |
while coal at the Wentz mine was selling
for 1915 ton. Senator Mclean Spoke |
forcefully of the lack of power or lack OF
enforcement OF power, which the federal |
trade commission seems to possess and |
referred to>the situation in Connecticut. !
I"If the trade commission has gums with
| out teeth" said he then we better put !
some teeth into the gums" Referring to |
the prices Mr.. Mclean said in my sec
| ton Of the country in the early autumn !
Of this year, operators had sold large
quantities Of coal at contract price. say
IF SO or 81 a ton delivered there. ard
lihe purchasers could not get the coal.
They were told by the operators that they
lad not got It, that they could go 10 waat
they call the independents and buy an the
coal hey want at from SIS TO szO I'm
'AIr Mclean said he had been IN corre-
SIC aGemce with the trade commission in
regard to the situation but got no sails
faction from them. 81 believe SAID re.
| ''the law ought to be so amended mat
/ the federal trade commission IN eoooe-a-
ton tn the department of Justice CAN
Iret at a situation like THAT and punish
/ Them. II she trade comm cs', has not
tine power w. had better give ;tienl addi-
/ ti5ea. payer If they have t.n*nas will
out teeth we had better pat some teeth
/ 1t is apparently conceded that Mr..
Harding will put before the senate
peace plan that will meet the approval
of the several factions which split wide
apart on the Wilson league. Mr.. Hard
ing is deliberate and careful in all his
methods. He is man Of his word, 50
when he talks with men OF many m1nds
n and they all come away having found
favor IN his tentative plans, it foretellss
harmony of action, for no one-not even
his bitterest political enemies, has ever
accursed Mr. Harding OF intention to de-
: ceive One of the strongest points Oh
his candidacy was the perfect confidence
II the country felt in his wholesome, person
Il al integrity. And that some honesty Of
. purpose has led him to confer with Lead
ers of both parties and will surely result.
so it Is believed here, in the placing be-
IOre Ine S6nHCe pfd1lS u Gil
policy which will result in a Quick and
honorable. peace with Germany and some
sort of an association tending to pre-
l. vent future wars And it il to be an sl-
Nance strictly non-political and nonA'ns't-
tary. and e-aich leaves the United States
I Independent, according to the statements
, of men who have been to Marion and
conferred with Mr.. Harding. They all
seem pleased, though their views on the
| L. eli FROM Mt ZAP
9 rejection to acceptance. No two men
p vera farther apart in their league views
0 than BorAh of Idaho, Brandegee OF Con-
: necticut, bitter enders and McCumber OF
t | Dakota. who would have swallowed the
a whole league without qualrn. Yet they
A | all report themselves to be in accord with
the tentative plans Mr.. Harding Is likely
4. ! 10 adopt. ut does beat the Dutch, how
y Harding can influence men to- act in a
+ Eget-together spirit and satisfy them all. "
: said prominent man here today.
In the unAuthoritatIve lists Of the
: Harding cabinet which Marion correspond
a ents send out daily. the name of former
= Senator John w. Weeks continually ap-
# pears That New England will have q
4. representative in the cabinet and thai
i Senator Weeks will be the man selected ia
y not much doubted. Probably he will ac'
eept such position although he has moi
YET made no comments. There is stron5
4 sentiment in Washington that Mr.. Weekl
:. should be given the treasury portfolio
3 for his record in the senate and hous'
IS during his long term of service, won fo
lie him The confidence of official Washing
N ton and brought to the front his especia
ID fitness for that position. Opinions her
ae indicate he will soon be named for eithe
IN the treasury navy or war portfolios, ii
is the order named.
Perhaps no enc act Of Mr.. Harding
~ shows his really unspoiled human sid
a. better than the Christmas dinner he an
Mrs Harding shared with the corps o
~ newspaper correspondents who wer
1t stranded in the little city Of Marion owe
Sc Christmas. There were about dozen @
e, them, and one of the New York men ha
III with his his two little children, two an
to five years old. And what did the Hard
1t. ings do? Why, they asked all thos
as nomeside men to come to dinner an
ed bring the children" and instead ofe form
Il al dinner with the frills and furbaloN
- that mark state occasions, it was an O.
. fashioned welcome home affair, with tw
I'M little girls in high chairs as the guests {
p- honor. The president elect carved Il
'er pound turkey, and under the shade
ill crimson lights Of the Harding table wa
ny as merry dinner party as could be foun
in the country. Somebody went out an
lieut. little Christmas tree which IL
president and his men folks guests de-
Grated with festoons of corn they poppe
ow over the open fire. at didn't cost MOI
than dollar said the president-ele1
but those little girls were happier tina
ION 1 can describe" And so were the grow
"a ups.
The present week will be well AHt
with hearings of great interest to Col
out necticut people. The so-called patent o
cir fee bill comes up before the senate cor
mittee of which Senator Brandegee
ranking member and the hearings we
tad calles: at his request in order that pc
far sens holding different views on the ma
ter might have opportunity to expire
them; the ways and means committee
(which Congressman Tilson is a menb
md will oegin regular hearings preparato
ter to framing a new tariff bill; the Gems
committee Of whi4h Mr.. Glynn Of the 5
district is a member will consider t
proposed reapportionment of represent
ton measures; Mr.. Merritt of the 4th d
uN trict is OIL the interstate commerce col
mittee winch has already held dai
hearings for most of the month congrt
let has been in session and will continue the
ked on various interstate matters. l ha
, IL never yet heard a member complain
his hard work as a committeeman b
they condemn the wholesale plan Of lc
bying through bills. Unless the CON
70 tions improve and there is less offensi
OF lobbying il IL a pretty safe predict
nta congress will take some action to ST
y the present methods and make it OF