AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 March 1924, Page 2

AMERICAN ITEMS.

[BY TELEGRAPH —I'ER I*RESS association.]

U.S.A. NAVAL ESTIMATES

WASHINGTON, March 15

Because all the nations who are parties to the naval limitations treaty are scTtiplously observing their obligations, a. representative of the Naval Committee has introduced a measure carrying the smallest annua] appropriation for tlie navy since tlie world war. It authorises 294 million dollars as compared with 393 millions which President Coulidge’s budget asked for and 330 million which the Congress appropriated last year. Mr French further attested to the desirability of: reaching a speedy and progressive reduction of tbe naval appropriations, reaching tlie level previous to the United States’ entry into tlie war, notably 1916 when 157 millions we re app ropri a ted. Representative Byrne, a minority member of the Naval Committee, informed the House that he will offer an amendment to the Appropriations Bill requesting President Coolidge to call a conference for a further limitation of naval armaments. He said the Washington Conference, in so far ; -s naval annaniciits were concerned, merely changed the form of naval competition without eliminating it.

Mr French asserted, however, regarding tho construction of types of vessels not limited by the Washington 1 reaty. that there had been no feverish activity on the part of any nation justifying the United States’ apprehension. CHESS. NEW YORK, March 16. Two sensations developed on the opening day of the chess tournament among the world’s leading chess masters. Janowski, the French champion, played a draw with Capnblnnea, who had the black of a Queen’s Gambit Declined game. Alekhine deleated 1 ates playing black in a Ruy Lopez game.

U.S.A. CRLAIE

WASHINGTON, March 16

A Member of the House of Representatives, Air Tinkliam, has issued a statement stating that two thousand per cent more murders occurred in Washington during 1922 than in London, which had 28 murders, compared with Washington's 38, although the former city has 16 times more population. Washington also had 300 per cent more drunkards than Paris. The police statistics, he says, show that crime in Washington is increasing more rapidly than the population. The statement added “Alany causes ni.n v lie assigned for these a mazing port cautions phenomena of American social decline, the chief of which are the entry of the Church into politics, and the loss of popular respect for the present Congresses, and for tho laws which they pass ruthlessly destroying the rights of individuals and of property. Air Tinkliam also blames prohibition.

TRADE COAIBTNKS

WASHINGTON, Alarcli 10

I lon Ai r Hoover lias informed Senator Capper that foreign mniipulies or trade combinations potentially or actually control the prices and distribution of at least eleven important commodities, whereof the United States are importing annually 000.639,030 dollars worth, and is paying for them much greater prices than are justifiable. These are sisal, potash, quinine, tin, mercury, coffee, quobriuco, nitrates, iodine, crude rubber and guttapercha. The four latter commodities are under British control. Air Hoover lias advocated legislation permitting the American manufacturers to combine for tlie purpose of securing better price conditions.