AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1920, Page 2

AMERICAN ITEMS.

By Ejectnw t elegraph —Cog.. 1 CONSUMER TO PAY. WASHINGTON, July 20. Mr E. T. Whiter, representing foci; hundred railroads, announces that they will need an immediate increase of 18 per cent on freight rates to meet the wage addition of $600,000,000. There are 1,800,000 workers on their pay roll, which is now $3,344,000,000. The rail ■ roads, lie said, had already made plan, to pass the wage burden on to the consumer. DANGER OF BIG EPIDEMIC. NEW YORK, July 22 Thirty million United States city icsi dents are menaced by infected drinking water, because the authorities are c?,able to obtain alum and chloride for purification purposes, owing to rail vay congestion. The medical officers are alarmed at the prospects of a gigantic epidemic oT typhoid fever, and are making frantic appeals to Washington for supplies of chemicals. ~ ■ ' BIG STRIKE IN MEXICO. NEW YORK, July 22. Telegrams from Vera Cruz state that strikes have tied up tli.e railways and demoralised industry throughout Mexico. The Government are considering the operation of the railways by the military. Conflicts between strikers and strike breakers are threatened at many points. DR MANNIX. NEW YORK, July 21. The Maynook College Alumni Union entertained Dr Mannix and President 1,1 1 Valera at a dinner at New York. Dr Mannix said:—“l was told that I would not be allowed to land in the United States, but the. Hieracliy of the Church, and the people of America, have made my sojourn heile a veritable triumph. I made enemies in Australia because I never forgot that I am an Irishman. I found a systematic British propaganda in Australia against Ireland.” ; ■ *

PRESS CONFERENCE DELEGATES. (Received tills dav at 9.30 a.m.) ST. iOHNS, July 21. Preparations' aro being made to enter into wireless and telephonic communication with the steamer Victorian, bringing the English delegates to the Imperial Press Conference. The vesse: has been keeping up conversation with the Irish c oast since:July 20tli. •