The Barnwell people. (Barnwell, S.C.) 1884-1925, February 22, 1917, Image 3
Dsns ra n act
f
WILSON TO GO TO CONGRESS
BEFORE IT ADJOURNS
01 NAVY IS BUSY
WAI NOT EXPECTED SOON
' * • *
—•
President Wants Authority to Move
Quickly in Emergency and Fund to
Use, Force Before Congress De-
cUres War—Prepares for Possi
bility—Does Not Want Extra Ses-
aiou*
President Wilson is contemplating
asking Congress, in alt probability
within the coming week, to extend to
him full power to use the armed
% forces of the United States in what-
•ver way seems necessary to protect
American lives and rights after Con
gress has adjourned on March 4.
The president is'‘not at present
.planning to calf an extra session of
Congress to meet the German emer
gency and probably will not do so
unless some unforeseen act on the
part of Germany makes necessary a
formal declaration of war. This was
learned after the president,had paid
an unexpected visit to the capitol to
confer with some of the Democratic
leaders in the Senate on financial and
other measures designed to meet the
existing and possible future emer^
. genciee. . -J . .. •
From various sources the belief
has been fostered for several days
that the president would go to Con
gress, lay before it the situation cre
ated by the German blockade, and
s ^ask approval before arranging for
/(he arming of American merchant
men. . From what can be learned
from the president's visit to the cap
itol this belief is entirely confirmed.
. Until Saturday it had not been
.known whether the president w’ould
consider it necessary to keep Con
gress in session after March 4, the
constitutional date for the expiration
of the present Congress, in order to
give hlrti ' the. necessary support
should war prove Inevitable.
* It now appears that -the president s
probable course will be to go before
Congress and not only inform tha't
body that be believes American ships
should be protected by defensive
* armament, but also ask. should the
situation resulting from the arming
, of merchantmen demand it. to dele
gate to him full 'authority to take
further steps for the prelection of
Americaii lives and Interests.
This would enable the president to
act without delay should Germany by
any sudden act make it necessary to
take more stringent measures, with
out having to wait until ht hkd call
ed Congress together again for an
extraordinary session. Should a
declaration of war become unavoid
able the president/of course, would
he comnelled to call Congr *ss to
gether. but it Is believed that he feels
that an emergency might make It
necessary for him to act quickly a nd
that he should have the authority to
use the navy in whatever way the
•Ituatton seemed to demand
There is every reason to believe
that having made up his mind that
American vessels should be armed,
and having decided to lav the matter
before Congress the president will go
to the capitol for that purpose early
this week. Only two weeks of the
present session remain, and as * It
might Ukke Congress some time to
decide Just what it wished to do, it
Is believed that the president will
wish to place the question before that
body at the earliest practicable mo
ment. It was said, however, that
the date of the president’s appear
ance had not been decided.
The president had a long confer
ence with Senator Simmons, chair
man of the Committee on Finance,
on the question of raising the neces
sary revenue for a possible emer
gency. Although it is underctood
Jhat no definite plan has been de-
'clded upon, the most probable
scheme would be the authorization
of a bond issue to orovide a fund
that could be placed at 1 the presi
dent’s disposal to cover any even
tuality that might arise between
March 4 and the time that Congress
could be called together in extra
ordinary session.
The Senate now has before it the
emergency revenue measure passed
by the House, designed to meet the
expenditures authorized by the pres
ent preparedness plans, and the an
ticipated deficit in the treasurv from
mobilization, on the Mexican border
and the Pershing expedition. ~
Should Congress be adjourned
with the outcome of the German
crisis still in doubt, however, the
president unquestionably would need
to be provided with new funds to de-
fr-av the costs of the emergency
which he intends to ask Congress to
authorize him to meet.
This would not mean that Con
gress would be asked to authorize a
“war fund,” but .that the president
would probably request that a cer
tain amount of money be laid aside
on which he could draw in h^s discre
tion as the situation demanded until
he could once more bring Congress
together to provide more funds.
The action of the president in
seeking the advice of Congressional
leaders came at a time when the|
crisis in, the relations between the
* United States and Germany had as
sumed an easier aspect Cable meh-
sages to the state department indi
cated that the sinking of the Ameri
can schooner Lyman M., I^aw by a
IT-boat was done under circumstances
that probably would not affonT the
United States ground for .holding
that pledges had been violated.
.These messages were interesting
in showing that It was a German
submarine and not an Austrian sub
marine as hid been first reported,
that sank the Law, Official reports
that the German government had ar
ranged to carry American consular
tory and that the Turkish govera-
jnbC waald net interpose
to the*
•I
sens make the situation better*
The disclosure of the president's
purpose in going to the capitol has
made Jt evident that he doee not ex- v * ; , .
pact the immediate necessity of a ^ • —
out,'however, that the delegating of CANAL, GULF AND COASTS NEED
full power to use the armed forces
of the nation, as his best Judgment
and opinion of the interests of the
country should dictate, might easily
make it possible for the "United
States to be at war to all Intents and
purposes before Congress could be
recalled to make a declaration.
^ ■ •— r -—
It is not Known what has moved
the president to let Congress adjourn
at the end of the session. U is be
lieved, however, that it is in accord
ance with his general purpose to do
nothing to force the issue with Ger
many, and that he fears that shquld
he now proclaim an extra session it
might be interpreted as inspired bpa
belief that war was inevitable. *;
/Under the present plan, which
whuld give him full power to pro
ject American 'interests during the
interim before Congress could be re
called, any suspicion of a determina
tion to declare war would be avoid
ed. Besides this, it has been known
for some time that the president
does not wish to have an extra ses
sion on his hands for legislative rea
sons, as the existence of an evenly
^divided House of Representatives
would make it virtually impossible
to get through any new legislation,
and Mr. Wilson therefore let it be
known several weeks ago that if the
necessary revenue and appropriation
bills were passed he would not in
sist on an extra session for new leg
islation.
The president wishes to have his
hands entirely free for the handling
of the international situation, and he
FRENCH DONOR GERARD
ADEQUATE PROTECTION
» -
IEABY FOR /I!/
American Dispoaitions Have Been
Made and Steps Taken to Defend
Points From Attack—Trip of 1*53
Shows That Attack is Not Impos
sible—-Many New Ships Being
Built.
What part will the United States
navy be called upon to play if we are
finally drawn into war against Ger
many and her allies? It has been
freely assumed that, because we are
unprepared to land _an army' in
Europe, our role would merely be
that of banker, armorer, and victual-
er to the Entente Allies, but such a
belief is hardly justified.
The navy is our first line of de
fense. It would have a variety of
work to do the moment we changed
our status from a neutral to a bel
ligerent natfon, and, notwithstanding
its activities, might be confined sim
ply to the defensive. That fact alone
kould assuredly have a favorable in
fluence upon the naval operations of
—.the Allied fleets jiround the British
is understood to feel that the pres- Isles and in the TiTediterranean.
ence of Congress would be a handi
cap rather than a help until it actual
ly became necessary to ask a declara
tion of war and the necessary extra
ordinary measures providing for the
revenue and troops which suph a
declaration would entail. .
With full authority delegated to
him to secure the safety of the coun
try and the lives of itr citizens until
more stringent measures become un
avoidable. therefore. It is believed
that the president feels he would be
embarrassed rather than helped by
the; sitting • of an extra session
with little to do but mark time and
wait for developments.
Should the arming of merchant
ships and such other measures as the
president is now contemplating for
immediate action reault in the com
mission of an "ovtrt act”, during the
next two weeks the president would
still be at liberty to change his deci
sion and call an extra session before
March 4.' Except in the event of such
contingency, however, Mr. Wilson
will continue with his present plan.
Among the men whom the presi
dent saw besides Senator Simmons
were Senators Tillman and Swanson
of the Naval Affairs Committee, and
Senators Pomerene, Chamberlain.
Swanson. HiteHeock. Bankhead. New-
lands. Chilton and Overman. With
Senator Pomerene h^ discussed the
present status of the Webb bill, to
permit combinations of American
firms in foreign trade. Senator Bank-
head saw him in regard to water
power legislation, while! • Senator
New lands discussed railway legisla
tion with him.
With the exception of the deten
tion of the American seamen who
were taken to Germany on the cap
tured steamer Yarrowdale and held
as prisoners of war. all the cases that
might present cause for resort to
more positive measures by the Unit
ed States assumed an easier aspect.
A report cabled to the state de
partment by the United States con
sul at Rome Indicated that this gov
ernment would have no ground for
holding tfiat Germany had violated
the rules of nations In sinking the
this weakness would prove to be a
great danger to the battle float If tt*l
were forced Into action, for the da- - —■»
“foyer I* the reel guardian of the Official* Pay Hcepcrt to
ponderous battleship. '
Of course, all of the available ves
sels are not stationed on the ^tlsn-
i
and Crowd* Cheer Him.
There can be no doubt that the
navy department has already made
its dispositions in the event of hos
tilities. What these may be no one
save those who direct naval affairs
at Washington can tell. The navy is
now at work in secret. We do not
know for certain where the main bat
tle fleet is stationed; we do not know
whither the various units in the At
lantic and Pacific will .be sent, but it
Is not difficult to outline the defen
sive measures which musj be'taken
for the protection of our ports and
the trade routes leading to them.
Supposing that war is a fact and
the United States navy takes over
the patrol of the western Atlantic,
north aferi south. Such a move would
have an immediate effect *ln Euro
pean waters. The meat ships from
the Argentine, the oil ships from
Mexico, the munition carriers from
our own ports would come under the
protection of American war vessels
for at least a part of the voyage to
Europe. • . . ' •••
Most of the French and British
cruisers—and (here is a large num
ber of them steaming along the At
lantic trade route*—would be re
leased for service in fighting sub
marines and convoying transports,
while those that remained on this
station would have the use of Ameri
can ports to refit and coal.
A great burden would be taken off
the shoulders of the Allied navies.
England would no longer have to
worry about the transport of oil from
Mexico—the great fuel resertoir pf
the Royal navy—while American
commerce would under the circum
stances move with a greater degree
of security along the ocein highways.
Moreover. * any Germany raiders
which succeeded in eluding the North
Sea patrol would find their task of
destruction a difficult one if their
enemies were multiplied by the addi
tion of the American fleet.
In the event of war we shall un
doubtedly witness a vast expansion
of our auxiliary fleet. The navy
heeds more light, fast vessels for
cruising off shore, more colliers and
oil fuel vessels, more supply ships,
many more small veaaels for patrol
Lyman M. Law. Affidavits made by | duty around the harbors and .along
the captain and members of the crew, the coast. Fortunately, It would be
of the Law showed that the schooner possible to draft many of tbeae Tea-
tic seaboard; hence one of the flrat James W. Gerard, former Ameri^
duties, of the fleet would be to ae- can ambassador to Germany, was the
cure the Atlantic and Pacific ap- * ue,ll of bpnor Sunday at a lunebeaji
proalhes to the Panama Canal in at th e foreign office by Premier
order that a concentration of the BrUnd. A distinguished company
whole fighting force could be effect- waH present, including the dlplo-
ed rapidly. • •• I matlc representatives Of Hhe Entente
The canal is a vital lin'T thn* m ist P ow ers.
not be broken, and it mpy be * wr - ( »erard was accompanied by
ed that part of the submarine iiO- tbe Ame.iLu.ii ambassador to France,
til la will be stationed at both en
trances. Although the canal fortifi
cations are well under way, a tacti
cal defense is not in itself sufficient,
particularly on the Atlantic aide,
where the chief danger would lie.
The routes to the canal through
the Mona Passage, west of Porto
Rico, and by way of St. Thomas,
must be guarded, and so must the
William G. Sharpe, and both were
recipients of many marks of cordial
ity. While expressing appreciation
for the courtesy extended to him,
Mr. Gerard carefully avoided any
thing in the nature of an Expression
of political-views.
Ambassador and Mrs* Gerard and
Ambassador and Mrs. Sharpe later
attefided a performance at the Tro-
HIGH PRICES
PROBE BEGUN UNDER, BOB’
TiON OF THE PRESIDENT
LAW VIOLATORS SOUGHT
Windwafd Passage between Cubal^de 1 * 0 for the benefit of the Cana-
and Haiti. Fortunately, the latter d* an hospital at St. Cloud Shouts of
route is dominated by the United I “fi ravo greeted their arrival and as
States naval station at Guantanamo, soon as their presence became gea-
Cuba, while both Porto Jtlco and St. | era Jiy known the immense audience
Thomas—the latter recently acquired renewed the chering. Both ambas-
—would serve as useful-bases for sadors bowd their acknowledgements
naval operations in the Caribbean an d the orchestra gave way to the
Sea. I band of the republiea guard which
‘ Another strategical point that will immediately marched on the «tage
not be overlooked is the Straits of ; an( i played j£e “Star Spangled Ban-
Florida/* which unite the_ Atlantic ner ” at the close of which there was
with the Gulf of MexicB ami the Mis- another outburst of enthusiar.m.
sissippi Valley. The United States! Mr. Gerard on leaving the Troca-
navy, like the British navy, draws a dero became /the object of most
large part of its oil supply from Mex-; friendly demonstrations on the part
lean wells. The British supply is of the crowd thajt lined the streets,
drawn from the Tuxpam fields, the
American from Tampico.
The patrol of'the Gulf of Mexico
and the Caribbean would call for a
large number of vessels, but there
are other great areas which demand
equal protection. For instance, there
is Chesapeake Bay, where great pri
vate shipyarls are engaged in build
ing vessels for the navy and vast
quantities of coal are shipped. .*
♦ ♦
CAMPS AWAIT GERMANS
Thousand* of Teutons May Be In
terned in Case of War.
Plans for the internment of ten
thousand Germans, residing in New
York City, have been completed by
I hen there is Delaware iitty, an- ( the federal authorities. Two concen-
other danger point. Finally, there tration ramps on Ellis Island and
Is the great stretch of coast from Staten Island are provided for *and
Philadelphia to Bo r ston,'> behind others may be equipped in a* very
which, and not very far from the sea-' 8 hort time, in the event of war with
board, lie the chief industries of the Germany, Plans also call for the
nation. The deep harbors of Phiia- immediate arrest of more than one
delphia. New York, and * Boston are | hundred prominent Teutons identt-
the. ones to which the biggest ships fled with propaganda work. Similar
of the navy must come to refit, for arrangements have been worked out
here ar? the great dockyards with- (other *ections of the country .
qut which the fleet would.be help-1 In New York City the forces under
less Thl* long coaatMne must be chief Hynn. of the United Rtstes
adequately patrolled, while the en-rgecret Service. 8upt. Offley, of th*
trance to Long Island Sound niust 0 f justice, and Commis-
also be defended. * » | sioner Woods, of the police depart-
One may ask why it Is necessary ment, have been preparing lists of
tak^e so many precautions. * The 1 tullD p r # B
to
was examined by men from the Ger
man U-boat and that opportunity to
sels from the merchant service.
Considerably more than a . year
get away in safety was afforded to ago the navy department took the
those on board before the schooner. precaution to order a survey of all
was sunk. ~ American merchantmen which would
The reason given for the sinking B ^ rva ,t8 purpose in dime of m ar. and
was that the Law carried contra
band. While the United States de-
the result of this farsighted work
will be immediately apparent if a
•nies the right of a belligerent to sink ra H f or - a uxiliaries is sent out. The
an American merchant ship even if, navy department also has a list of
she carries contraband, unless It jg m ot° r boats and yachts which would
impossible to destroy the cargo with-i^ or,In a “ ni08 Quita fleet,’ as It was
out sending the vessel to the bottom | c ; lled in the Spanish-American war,
or to take her to port as a prize, I no ® ean proportions,
there is'believed to be little likyli-! fishing industry has lust be-
hood that the administration will, t0 adopt the steam trawler, and
make a serious issue of the Law fin- - e nil,n ^ er these, vessels under
cident. ^ the American flag is infiiflcant, but
i 4 , . j I we are fortunate in having a differ-
“ls» ”J2L» r.; ul „.o™s £ •KmTS'oV.s
jn»m*r In th»t th* n»»y c.n not af-i • M . ny , hew ,
ford to take chance.. -The I'nlted Vral official, “hold hitch place* In
State. I* on the rerge of war., and If, New York Clty'a life. Aod there are
i?. "t™ 16 ** 8 * 8 do the women, equally well known..who will
will of the German government de- fl mV e a hard Job proving that It
cide that war can not be avoided wr OU id not be better for thl* country
to keep them under restraint. Many
*^ a t of these people have been the enuae
many has the power to carry naval 0 f activities of governmental agents
warfare to the American coast, even during th day* of Capts. Boy Ed and
though her battle f* e «l ®ay be con- V on Papen We never were able to
tained In the North Rea. A sudden enough evidence to warrant our
blow, while attended with great dlf-. Arr eHtinK them •*
Acuities. * might carry . destruction j yrm.
*(th It Naval men are not unaware • * *
of this possibility, otherwise we
should know more about the move
ments of our fleet.
GREEC FACES FAMINE
CREW IS SAFE
Anief-tran* Tell How G
Took Their Hhtp.
Kwb
Uapt. McDonough and the crew of
legation at Wa»hingi<»n Tell* of Kn- the American schooner Lyman M
. * ... L H 1 J Law, recently sunk by a German sub-
lente Blockade.
marine, arrived in Rome Friday
I The Creek leg.tton Meted Bund.y T’®" 1 ”* "‘! h Ro «® r 1 T ~ d "®! , > ‘ h !
that famine I* reaultlng from the: tB “® < * 8u ‘*» co ! ,,ul \* T .« rl » “><»
Entente blockade of Greece and the w ®f® ln,err0 «“* d ** ,h * American
poor classes are living on herbs and •”**?*• ** ^ w.
grew It alao declared that de.plte 1 . c *»*.
compliance with the ultimatum 0 ( “07 of the .Inking of the achooner,
the AlUea there baa been no relax.- th ® * large
lion, of blockade nieaaurea. Th , fiPPlr of canned good, which doubt-
atatement follow. I 1 ®" attracted the offlcera of the anb-
The Creek legation ba. received m ®l' 0 ® th t ®' r “V ch .. ,or . v
information to the effect that the re-i McDonough deecrlbed the
aulU of the blockade of the Greek •ubmarine crew a. being compo-d
coasts enforced by the Entente Allies ! )f about forty men -all big. blonde,
since December 8 are of the most/ 1 u,,Ky rel ‘ ow **
gruesome character. | "If my ablp had been armed with
“Ten* deaths from starvation have * pounder,” said the captain. ”1
been reported from the province of could have destroyed the submarine
Jannina, one at Laurium, ten in easily as buttering a piece of
Ac&rnania, two in the province of bread. Neither myself nor ray men
Preveza, one in Eubig and one in lowered our dignity by showing any
Messinia. The poor classes have be- resentment. I did not ask them to
gun to live on herbs and grass. The spare the ship and left her smilingly
epidemics of enteritis and dysenteria while the Germans also smiled.”
♦ ♦
BRITAIN HOLDS 85 U-BOATS
carry the Law in prize to a German
port. The apparent probability is
that the case will be settled by an
agreement by Germany to pay for
the vessel as was done in the case of
the-American sailing ship William P.
Frye, sent to the bottom by a Ger
man raider in order to destroy the
cargo of grain consigned to the Brit
ish government.
Other reasons for regarding the
situation as less tense'were found in
assurances that the German govern
seamen—sailors who could be de
pended upon to do the heroic work
that the British fisherman is doing*
The tugboat fleet is large. More
over, the Coast Guard fleet, of which
the nation has reason to be proud,
would also be drafted into the naval
service, and as ijts vessels are already
lightly armed, they would be avail
able for service at once.
The necessity for a large number
of auxiliaries is apparent when one
ment had made arrangements for the ^r^t^f
safe conduct of Germans of the ^
American consuls and their families, | ^ ^ de '
and official reports that the Turkish' ^ p 'i s Ser ^
government had granted permisaion Kngluiid and
for the departure of about one I ’itll TS f° fe , ucce / 8f . U " y ’
thousand American citizens on the “" d m f® a If ,orty - n '" e de <> tr °y-
Des Moines and the Caesar Therp er flt for BerviCe ’ according to the
nes Moines and the Gaesar. There United State Navy Y ear Book for
1016, just issued. *
This publication says that there
sretgixtcen coast torpedo boats avail
able, seventeen torpedo boats, forty-
two submarines, eight tenders,
twenty-eight gunboats, four trans
ports, four supply ships, one hospi
tal ship, twenty-one- fuel ships—
probably the best of their type In any
navy; fourteen naval yacht, Jorty-
seven tugs, and eight other vessels of
was fear that Turkey would not per
mit these American citizens to de
part. ' A
ZEPPELINS HAVE FAILED
Cicrvnany Will Abandon Long-Dis
tance'Raid* for lau-ge Dirigible*
The construction of Zeppelins for special type
long-dlatance raid* ha* been aban- .The leas «ald about the air aerrlce
doned by Oennanr. according to re- the beUer. although .the mean* for
port* aald toha\c been received In expanding tbla uaeful arm are not in-
l-ondon from Berttn. It la claimed significant. The aubmarine flotilla,
that Germany baa found long-din- (bough much abuaed. has a potent
tanen raid* uaaatl.f.rtory and ba* tlal value that can not be overlooked,
given up the idea ( .f bomblnb lain- en^ thirty-three more of theae under
do* from the air Lpalaad Germany .*ea at a more now*
will construct large dirigibles for tba are now uodor construction
*®7. w® «***« to aid me-| The destroyer float Is decidedly
urtelly in Uormaay s eedereeo weak la cambers Bet elao more of
SINKS MANY SHIPS
are rapidly spreading in the country.
“Notwithstanding the complete ex
ecution of the Allies’ ultimatum no
relaxation of the blockade has been
brought about. Numbers of fishing . ... .. . n .. -
boats are constantly sunk or s.ques, ‘ H,um,>la nlvcrMt) President Saw
tered by the ships enforcing the Many in Harbor*,
blockade. Coasting trade between •
ports of the kingdom is cotapletelyDr. Nicholas Murray Butler, preai-
prohlbited.’’ dent of Columbia university, in New
♦ York City, stated in an address be
fore the alumni of the institution In
F’ittsburg that England has captured
fryer eighty-five ~«5qr«kk: submersi-
Germany Announce,. Success*** f , (r 'bl™. Including the Deutschland Ur.
Butler declares he knows positively
l — U-Boat in 21 Hour*. I that eighty-five such crafts have been
[captured because he saw them him-
It is officially announced in Ber- self in England harbors. He insists
lin that one German submarine with- that the submersible marked
ing 2 4 hours .sank^ one auxiliary “Deutschland" in the harbor* in Bre-
cruiser of .20,000 tons gross, two aux- men is not the craft that crossed the
iliary cruisers or transport steamers Atlantic with cargoes for the United
of 13,-600 tons each, and one trans- States,
port steamer of 4,600 tons.
Six steamers and one sailing ves
I •> K AAA ,
Trade UommisMlon and
:a ... . •
v of Agriculture Active—Wllaoa De
clare* Charge* of Illegal Food Me-
nipulaUon Moat Be Cleared Up
This Critical Time In Nation's Mfe.
1 '-f 1 \ • • ~~~rr ‘'’V' 1 -:';- 1
An immediate investigation • IntJ
the causes of advancing food prices
in the United States, with special k. i-
erence to alleged violations of the
anti-trust laws, will t* mader by the
federal trade commission, aided by
the department of agriculture. The
inquiry is at the direction of PreaU r
dent Wilson, and to provide for the
expense an emergency appropriation
will probably be asked of/Congrasa.
The trade commission, at the same
time it mad public the president’s re
quest. announced that it already had
been in conference with department
officials to work put preliminary
plans for the investigation.
An adequate food supply is a mat
ter of- concern to the®nation at all
times, Mr. Wilson declared, but it hi
<>f peculiar importance at this time
when the nation is threatened with
war. Despite much that has been
done toward obtaining definite infor
mation concerning the supply and
demand of foodstuffs, it is not yet
clear, he said, what measures are
necessary to effect fundamental im
provements. The present Inquiry in
designed to clear up the food sit na
tion and put market conditions on a
more wholesome basis.
In his letter directing the Inveatl-
gatlpn, the president said:
“While the population of the na
tion has increased twenty-six million
since 1900, the production of Uua
two leading cereals, corn and wheal,
while tending, to increase, haa shown
only a slight ^advance; and, that oC
the meat products In the same period
has shown an increase of only thirty-
five hundred million pounds, a de
crease of twenty-nine pounds per
capita
"Much remedial work haa
done and no little headway has
made. Nevtreheleea, It Is not
clear In many directions Just wi
the nature of the difficulty la. or
what measures should he adopted to
effect fundamental improvements*
“It Is ohvlons that there will he an
sufficient Incentive to enlarge pro
duction If there doee not exist an oo-
ohstrucied and economical system nr
distribution Unjustifiable fits too
tlons in prices are not merely 4n-
moraltziag. they Inevitably deter ad
equate production. It haa been al
leged before committeee of Congvenn
and eleewhere that the course of
trade la Important food products In
not free, hut Is restricted and
trolled by artificial and 111^*1
It la of the highest public
ascertain the truth or falsity of tl
allegations. No business can he ti
acted effectively In an atmosphere of
suspicion.
Pursuant to the authority
ferred upon me by the act
the federal trade commission,
fore. I direct tho com mission, within
the t»cope of Its powers, to inveetlgnto
and report the facts relating to thm
production, ownership. manufnctosuL
storage and distribution of foodataffn
snd the products or by-prodneto aiio-
ing from or In connection with their
preparation and manufacture; In un
certain the facts bearing on allosod
violations of the anti-tmet acta, and
particularly upon the
whether there are manipulal
controls, trusts. combinstlohSk
spiracles or restraints df trade out ef
harmony with the law or tho puhHc
interest. . « .
“For the adequate prosecution of
the Inquiry by both your commlmdMa
and the department of agriculture lh
is essential that sufficient funds hm
tJTI
SALVAGE FROM MEMPHIS
vel, totalling 25,000 tons, were sunk
February 13. - One steamer carried
1,000 tons of hay,' t,500 tons of
wheat and 2,000 tons of oats and <*»»»« and Equipment May Be Saved
one steamer carried y kerosene for
England. A- submarine haa brought
In three captains, two engineers and
From Wrecked Cruiser.
V
William R. Armitage, vice presi-
one wireles* operator a* prisoners.. 1 dent of the National, Suretv
Two of the tank
armed.
steamers
U. S. SHIP IN CHARGE
Mine Ijiiyer in\CControl* of rinr(M»r of
Santiago.
com-
wer *' pany, which as assumed liability to
the United States government for
performing the salvage of the U. S.
cruiser Memphis, wrecked off Santo
Domingo, has announced that one
million dollars worth of guns and
equipment may be recovered from
the vessel. The salvage will include,
four ten-inch guns and sixteen sixv
TDir, rriitawD o* . . • . „ inc ^ tf un8 * anchors, cables, fifteen
PrJf h j J? d f ta ^ es In, ” ar ' la yer San hundrhd tons of coal, steering engine
am isco, arrived at Santiago Sun- an( j propellers, and other rigging.
day and Commander Henry V. But
ler, arranged with the military *ov,| * V #
ernor loot to allow the warships of, HepohUcOo support Uledged.
President Meuocal. or others carry-! William R. Willeox. national Ro-
mg troops for the purpose of attack- publican chairman, called, at the
ing Santiago, to enter the harbor, White House Thursday and* toUf
provided the governor would not President Wilson that he could rely
• or #1,lk • •*** ih# strong support of the Ro-
* lh * chaanel No Americas troops pebiicae party la the present later-
hum. and have been Un'jcd as reported ■ aatioaal crisis
avallabre I accordingly request
you furnish me at the earliest
slide moment an estimate of an
propriation, if one is needed, to sup
plement existing appropriations. Cm
enable you successfully to carry out
the investigation."
It is stated that four hundred
thousand dollars will be the amount,
of the appropriation to be asked tor
the proposed investigation. The In
quiry is expected to require at kumt.
six months before any sort of a re
port can be made. The aim of thm
probers will be to cover every side of
the food situation. Their oboerva-
tions will include the work of thw
farmer, the packer, the commfssioia
dealer, the wholesaler and retaflor.
Experts will go into every detail oC
food production, distribution and
consumption. The trade commissfoor
has ample authority to take wolf
measures necessary to make the tn-
vesigation successful.
WILL NOT WITHDRAW
Belief .Commission Continues hm
■ Work in Belgium.
Representatives of the Americsm
Commission for Relief in Belgium
will not withdraw from the occupied
portions of Belgium and northers
France as previously had been aiy
ranged, but will remaia-for thc peon—
ent, it is now* stated.
The commission received Th its day
a dispatch from its office in Rotter
dam stating that at a meeting h«
in Brussels the German authoriclmk
announced that all representative* of
the commission might remain In
gium and northern France on th#
same footing aa. heretofore.
. News of Germany’s retraction of
her order forcing the America*
hers of the Belgiaa Relief
to Ipave Belgium aad
France waa received by state
t officials aad by
of the