AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1923, Page 3

AMERICAN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CAULK ASSOCIATION. CII URCII -B U R NINO MA NI AC. OTTAWA, Feb. 22. Montreal report* that owing to the frequency of fires in Churches, the Canadian Fire Underwriters Association has cancelled the policies on churches, schools, colleges and religious iutitutiou.s in Montc-rul. They are offering to renew at rates from thirtytwo to fifty per cent higher. COUNTERFEIT!''IIS. NEW YORK, Feb. 22. A counterfeiting plot has been (Its- ! covered of wide international ramifications. The Secft Service announces I that fifteen arrests in Germany. Eng-! land, France and Austrian on charges of manipulating false American money. The New York police also believe that several hitherto unsolved mtirdors may now be cleared up as a result of these exposures.

A FATAL EXPLOSION. NEAV A'01! K. Fell. 22. All explosion nt. the nitro-clycorme works in Alton, Illinois, resulted in nt least ten deaths and nianv injured. F RENZIE D FI NA XCE. NEW YORK, Fob. 2d. A telegram from Chicago says that another frenzied finance scheme, such as Ponzi's, which resulted in the loss

of many thousands of dollars to eredu-

4 • lous investors, has just been disclosed ay by the authorities, who are seeking a young Italian harher named Joseph 'Biata, who is helieved to he in Mexico. Biata, who arrived from Italy after (he war, obtained considerable money from countrymen here, for a hanking scheme which consisted of the purchase and control of small banks, with the idea of ultimately controlling a large system of these institutions throughout the country. Rank after bank was thus obtained, but each failed shortly afterwards. The operations were conducted in many States, and also involve insurance companies. The latest institution to collapse was the Rank of AYorren, Massachusetts, whose entire resources ot 210.000 dollars in the foim of negotiable securities, disappeared. Each hank of which control was obtained, was staffed t'» if h a small number of incompetent, low-salaried men. who knew little about the conduct of business. It is estimated the losses to shareholders and depositors in these hanks total a million dollars. Kll KLUX Kl-AN. NEW YORK, Feb. 22. The New York Times Washington correspondent states:—Fresh formal charges against the Ku Klux Khui have been filed with the Senate. Ibis took place when Mr George Poddy, who j was the defeated candidate in (lie Tex- i as Senatorial election, placed with the j ('pper House documents alleging that , the Senator-elect, Air Earl-Maylield, I has been illegally elected. _ j Mr Poddy charges the Ku Klux Klan , party with fraudulent and reprehensible measures, which were taken to . defeat him in the election for the Sen- , ato seat. 1 The documents charge the Klan with many serious crimes in Texas, where, it is alleged to lie now wielding va.-t political, governmental social and religious powers tor its own ends, and . to he breeding disrespect for the duly- . constituted authority. I Mr Peddy has also filed the contest i papers, asking the new Senate to un- I seat Mayfield. I The ease promises to take on the aspects of a great eontrovei • , AMERICAN AGITATION. NEW YORK. l'eh. 2,1. j A mass meeting of fourteen thousand persons was held in Ruin. I loimnin' speakers voiced anti-French sentiJ.ents Senator Borah telegraphed, advocating the calling of a conference to adjust the Ruhr situation, which, he said, threatened the peace of _ the world Telegrams from prominent citizens all over the country expressed opposition to the occupation. One prominent lawyer was ,i'uitc ■ hut refused to attend. He •’ statement defending France, and lotto terlv attacking Germany This meeting has been the first of its kind since the French marched across m the Rhine.