The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-10-07
MELLON OBJECTS
 TO TRADE REPORT
 ON ALUMINIUM
Company Can Explain Monopoly Charges,
 He Declares
tBy Leased Wire to The Age-Herald)

(By Leased Wire to The Age-Herald) WASHINGTON, Oct. 6.-Secretary of the Treasury Mellon, who has been rather out of the political picture since the internal revenue investigation last sping, has been pushed back into 1t on the eve of the election because of devel- opnents centering around his business connections, which have been eagerly seized by democrats and independents for their own purposes.
 The secretary is provoked by the latest developments, the publication by the federal trade commission of a report charging that the Aluminium Company of America, one of the Mellon family holdings, is violating the antitrust law by certain practices. Publication of this report followed by just a few days an attack on Mellon by John W. Davis, and a challenge by the democratic na- tional committee that the President~and Mellon have the United States tariff commission republish a report of the investigation they have been making into the aluminium tariff.
 Far Fetched Findings
 On behalf of the secretary, it was ex- plained at the treasury Monday that he regards the conclusions of the commis- sion as ''far-fetched and unfounded," and his information is that certain statements by the commission are in accurate. The company, it was said, will publish a complete answer in the form of a public statement, which he believes will answer the charges that have been brought.
 But what Mellon can't understand, it was said. is why the report should be published at this time, since it is a re- port to congress, and congress is not in session. No counter charges were made that political motives were responsible for broadcasting the report at this time, but a statement of Melons reaction clearly indicates that he thinks so.
 The investigation was begun by the federal trade commission in 1921, upon order from the senate, and covered all manufacturers of household furnishings, and not just the Aluminium Company of America. Two reports of the in vestigation have already been issued. Not in the last two years has there been any investigation of the Aluminium company, as far as Mellon is informed, it was said. He does not understand why it should take three years to make a report, in the first place, and regards it as a ''rather unusual and peculiar proceedings" that it is published at this time, lon the eve of a presidential cleo tion," in the second place.
 Explains Rates, Etc.
 Information to Mellon regarding the companys business differs from that contained in the report. Earnings of the company were not 24 per cent, as the report states, but only 12 per cents, Mellon has been told. It is true, how ever, it was said, that the Aluminium Company of America owns 30 per cent of the stock of the Aluminium Goods Manufacturing company. It was said, however, if the subsidiary concern re- Ceived a per cent discount, as the re- port stated, that Secretary Mellon feels sure that this is the same discount allowed to all others.
 It was emphasized that Mellon is not an officer of the concern and has never kept in close touch with the busi- ness of the Aluminium company.
 Heading the tariff commission is Huston Thompson, a democrat, who was mentioned as a running mate for La Toilette on the independent ticket. Thompson charged before the senate committee investigating the department of justice last year that the department Hdu uClu uD CdSCS IhuL huu OCCh cCht to it for action by the commission, and generally has been out of sympathy with the administration. He is regard ed as a progressive Victor Murdock. another member of the commission, is also known for his progressive views.
 The democrats and progressives both may be expected to hammer on this incident for the rest of the campaign. Both Davis and Wheeler, independent vice presidential candidate, have at- tackled Mellon recently, and this report of the trade commission will furnish President Cooledge and Secretary Mellon further ammunition. In challenge to Ito have the tariff commission publish a report on it's investigation of the aluminium tariff, the democratic national committee thus brings the question home to the rank and file of the voters.
 Every American housewife, every hospital, every automobile manufacturer, and motor car owner is keenly interested in the aluminium tariff, because it has added millions of dollars to the cost of such products to the consumers"