Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-04-04
WASHINGTON
DAY BY DAY

Washington, April 4.-Removal OF
the doub .tul status of trade, aSSo-
Citations and cooperative business
concerns of various kinds is sought
by Senator Edge. of New jersey
who YESTERDAY introduced resolu-
tion in the Senate asking Tor apc
pointment of a joint committee Oh
Senators and Representatives 10
consider this matter.
Much confusion as to whether or
not they are violating the law IN
forming such organizations is being
avnerienced BY these cooperative
buSiness organizations since the re-
cent decisions by the Supreme Court
i'm the Hardwood Lumber case and
various decisions on the Sherman
Antitrust law.
The Senator declared that since
Congress has authorized cooperative
marketing by agricultural organlza-
tions and has also legalized the for
nation of combinations for export
purposes. there rs no longer any
reason why it should not legalize the
organization of cooperative societies
in all branches of business, so long
as these societies do not attempt TO
fix and maintain prices.
Approximately $75,OOO,000 may be
needed to carry out the scrapping
plans that technical experts say
would be the most economical way
of disposing of the battleships
doomed to be scrapped by the Naval
Treaty and Congress will be called
upon to capitalize the largest junk
dealing business in the world, if the
plans of the naval experts are
adopted.
This proposal provides Tor the
Government to undertake the gigan-
tic task of breaking up the seventeen
old battleships slated for destruction
and the new ones as well, at least
those building in the Navy Yards.
If this plan is adopted it will pro-
vide employment for the skilled end
unskilled workmen recently tur-
loughed from the yards ana also be
possible for the government to
carry out the sc:apping in accord
ance with the treaty terms but to
store the scrap metal, steel and
brass. until the present price deDreS-
sion is over.
Most Of our naval experts believe
that the most eXpedient method OF
disposng of the problem will be to
offer all the doomed ships to the
highest bidders and let the private
concerns undertake the job of cutting
them up. This method, they point
out. would provide employment for
lust as many men, would stimulate
private enterprise and help to de-
velop ship breaking experts, some
thing the country badly needs. This
latter plan will probably be given
the support of the board OF naval
technical experts that is preparing
a report which is TO be submitted to
Secretary DENLY, with the above de-
scribed plan ana one or two other
alternatives.
Further developments which may
force a change in business methods
of the Bureau Of Engraving ana
Printing, are expected. following the
ousting of the executive heads Of
that Government branch. and steps
taken to make a probe of the affairs
of the money making plant.
A thorough investigation by spe-
cial agents of the Department OF
Jusice and the Treasury Department
is being made concerning the prac-
tices of the establishment. which are
believed 20 have been responsible for
waste of public money.
These Investigators are now trying
to find out the weak spots in the
system long in vogue at the Bureau
which system has long been sus-
pected to have been at the root of
the trouble in the establishment. How
ever, high officials who can speak
with ;Mthority deny emphatically
that anything has been suspected
that would reflect upon the personal
integrity of any OF the officials af-
feeted by the summary dismissals
Isaac Gregg