The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-03-25

counsel, denied the pertinency of the
queries, asserted that answer might
jeopardize the outcome of litigation in
which his company-the Mammoth Oil
cOmpany-was engaged with the gov
eminent and denied the authority of
the committee to question him on mat
tiers which had become the subject of
litigation.
Justice Hitz in his charge warned
the jury that the pertinency of the
questions had already been decided by
the court as matter of law and that
neither the fact that Sinclair, in refus-
ing to testify, acted on the advice of
counsel or may have believed he had
legal right, to refuse If he wished.
could be considered as defense for
the oil man.
THE first meeting of the new fed
L eral radio commission was held at
Washington on March 15. One of the
first acts of the new commission was
to announce dates, March % to April
1, for public hearings, the purpose of
which will be to obtain methods of re-
ducing radio interference. A tentative
schedule of topics for discussion in
cludes proposals for widening the
broadcasting bands of wave lengths,
a limitation of power, and reduction in
frequency separation, simultaneous
broadcasting with the same frequency,
a division of time broadcasting sta
lions, a consolidation of broadcasting
service and limitation of the number
of stations. The hearings will not be
open for individual claims or COM
plants.
ECAUSE he published an article in
- the Christian Enquirer declaring
that the God of the Bible preferred
the savory smell of roast outlets to the
odors of boiled cabbage" Ernest v.
Sterry at Toronto, Canada, was found
guilty by Canadian jury Of blasphe
nous libel under an ancient British
statute making it a crime to criticize
the Christian God. Sterrys defense
was that he was merely trying to lib
eralize public opinion and that he
thought his article would clear the
controversy over the personality Of the
Deity.
A UNITED STATES Supreme court
"A decision of considerable impor-
lance to many communities, especially
in the southern states, was handed
down on March IA. The court held az
unconstitutional the Louisiana state
and New Orleans municipal segrega-
ton codes under which negroes are
barred from residence in predominant
ly white communities where major
ity of the white residents have not
given their consent in writing.
DREMIER MUSSOLINI has under
L taken to organize vast insurance
organization to guarantee longtime
credits extended by Italian manufac
lui " lOl CAEA VA
made merchandise.
1t is estimated that before the plans
can be fully carried out the new credit
insurance institute must have fully
paid up capital of $10,OOO,OO0,00O lire
nearly $45O,0O0,O00. The field of OPP
GRAFTON is so large it is thought this
money will be easily found. Fascist
circles insist that all the money in
vested in this organization should be
italian, thus freeing it from any for
eign influence whatever.
In conjunction with the credit insur-
ance the government plans to station
able business men abroad to keep in
closest touch with market conditions
throughout the world and to assist in
placing large accounts for Italian
firms. These observation posts"
would maintain constant touch with
the homeland through the consular
service and other agencies.
italian industry is in serious con-
dition. Many factories are closed or
running on short time or with limited
crews. IL is estimated tnat 2oO,OOO
people are out of work, or five times
as many as could not find employment
few months ago. 1t is to remedy
this condition and to insure an in
crease in Italian markets that the
Mussolini government is making siren
uous efforts to find foreign markets.
THE completion of the Moffat road
L tunnel through the Rocky noun
tains near Denver may bring about
new grouping of railroads and produce
one of the most gigantic railroad COM
binations in this country. The tunnel
is now nearing completion. When it
is ready for use it will mean the short