The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-07-18
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
Congress Finishes Up Much
Legislation and Ends the
Special Session.
BY EDWARD W. PIcKARD

~ ETERMINED to bring the special
~ session to q close before the
Fourth of July, congress was very
busy the first part of the week, clear
ing up the pending legislation. TAX
ing up the new World war veterans
bill passed by the house, the senate
again showed it's utter disregard for
President Hoover's views and its keen
desire for votes next fall. 1t loaded
the measure down with amendments,
chief of which was one increasing the
pension rates to the Spanish war level.
Another would permit veterans who
contracted venereal diseases during
their war service to obtain disability
allowances.
The bill was sent to conference for
elimination of the features that would
be most Objectionable to the President.
Among the bills passed by the house
was the Wickersham commissions
border patrol bill designed to help in
curbing the smuggling of liquor from
Canada and Mexico. 1t establishes an
enlarged and unified border patrol
service in the treasury under the as
sistant secretary In charge of the
coast guard, increases the number OF
entry stations, and makes it mis-
demeanor. subject to 500 fine. to cross
the border except at an entry station,
with certain exceptions.
The senate passed the house bill
which authorized the President to con-
>solidate and coordinate governmental
activities affecting the war veterans.
G ECRETARY of the Treasury Mel.
~ Ion announced that the fiscal year
1880 closed with a surplus in the treas
ury of $1S4,OOO,0O0. This amount rep
resented the difference between re-
ceipts and expenditures. The public
debt was reduced during the year by
$T46,OOO 600. There was net balance
in the general fund at the close Of the
year of $31S,O00,O00.
While the surplus was substantial
" the same as in the fiscal year 1929,
Secretary Mellon pointed out that 1t
included the abnormal sum of $76,OOO,-
600 paid by foreign governments In
June in cash instead Of in securities
of the American government and also
included abnormal customs receipts,
due to anticipation Of tariff legislation.
G ENATORS JOHNSON Of California.
- Moses of New Hampshire and Rob-
inson of Indiana filed with the senate
their minority report from the foreign
relations committee, setting forth their
reasons for opposing ratification of
the London naval treaty. These rea-
sons are already well known to the
public and need not be repeated.
Dispatches from Washington said
that the national defense committee
of the American Legion had made
report two weeks previously recon-
mending that the Legion declare for
rejection of the treaty. and that moth
ing more had been heard Of the mat
ter. One rumor was that administra-
ton influences had succeeded in bring
ing about the pigeonholing of the
report.
Over in London two of England's
most famous naval commanders, Earl
Beatty and Earl Jellicoe, made hot at
tacks on the treaty, asserting that by
signing it their government was throw
ing away "the sea power by which the
British empire came into being and
developed into what it is today"
DRESIDENT HOOVER has named
as head of the new federal power
commission Lieut.. Gen. Edgar Jadwin,
who in his service as chief of army
engineers gained thorough knowl-
edge of the waterways of the country.
His nomination, with those of the other
four commission members, will be sent
to the senate in special session this
summer for confirmation. When two
members have taken office the new
commission will supplant the old one,
which had as its members the secre-
taries of war. interior and agricul-
ture, and which. since 1920, has super
vised the expenditure of about $780,
100000 for power development.