New Britain herald., 1926-02-23
LET THERE BE LIGHT IN AIINIIAIM CAGE

lectcd in the baking industry --
 that fhc Senate has been rcminlc.
 by an administration spokesman
 that Investigations cost money, an,
 that il saving might be effected fo
 harass"d taxpayers )y not having
 them,
 Nothing was mentioned as 10 thI
 honchts 10 tho public, Tho invest
 Fotlon Of the oil industry aIonr
 saved the government millions an,
 led 10 the fall of Fall and Daugh Hrty, not 10 mention inconvenience caused 10 certain oil magnatcs; bu
 investigations cost money, and ad
 mlnistration economy would curl them if possible.
 In the case Of the aluminium company Senator Walsh will no
 bo denied, He is the senator who was responsible for insisting upor the oil Investigation which finally
 uncovered tho oil scandal; and f was patent 10 all that he got in, dicted twice for his pains.
 The administration hasn't ar, rived al the point in the aluminium case where it is indicting Senator Walsh about if, but he has beer getting a plentiful lack of assist anco from the administration. And all because Mir. Mellon, one of tho master minds In the cabinet, has been identified with the trust. In fact. the corporation is commonly being referred to as the Mellon trust.
 The dilatory tactics of the re- vampcd Federal Trade Commis- sion. d body now dominated by the administration, and the Depart ment of Justice, have been much criticized. The Trade Commis- ministration. The Trade Commis- sion had to be forced to yield the information it had gathered and charges it had in it's files; and then Attorney General Sargent. who re- gently admitted he did not know about the aluminium trust, promptly threw out the charges with the explanation that they were not justified and 10 pro- cecd against the corporation was useless. It apparently did not re- quire much time or study for him 10 come 10 this dccran,
 But the Senate is in different mood. II does not take either the Trade Commission or the Depart mont of Justice seriously enough 10 accept their vcrdicts as final. The charge has been made by the apologists for the Mel lon combination that the whole scheme is a Democratic attempt to provide campaign material; but this supposition cannot bo accept ad There arc too many indcpcnd- cnt Republicans who do not agree with this view and they no doubt will give their assistance to bring about thorough silting of the Mellon concern in the interest of the public.
 Attorney General Sargent has tackled tho charge in a typiraIly ioEalis'iG manner. Although il ap- pears that manufacturers wore put 10 considerable inconvenience and some extra expense by reason of these delays Gin shipmcnts) there s no specific complaint alleging in- jury, he ayers. The remainder of his legal thesis Is Of a piece with his claim, Evidence could have ocon found without much troubln, put Sargent moves quicllly'; hc had 10 time 10 gather snch evidence.
 And this. "With respect 10 the ,hargo Chat known defective ma crials We're furnishcd) it is true hat many deliveries of defective metal were made. Here ,gain it is required the proof must 'o conclusive that such shipments we're knowingly made for the pur- pose of hindoring competition in heir business operations"
 It is clear that an attorney gen 'ral who uses the soft pedal so cf- actively is not inclined to swing an Ike against a combination that may layo donc wrong.
 We cannot avoid tho conclusion hat if tho aluminium trust were come other concern, without q ,abinct member bound all up in it n an aluminium casing, the at orn"y general might be inclined 10 liscard his nice whit" social affair gloves in favor Of a pair of pugi- istic miltcns.
 Senator Walsh proposes an i'm Investigation by the ju- llriary committee Of thc Senate 10 lrtcrmine whether there is foun- Iation for the charge made hy tho federal Trade Commission in 1921 hat tho aluminium company has violated tho 1912 con