AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1924, Page 3

AMERICAN ITEMS.

4USTIIAUAN AND N.Z. CA-3LE ASSOCIATION. COMMISSIONER OF 11KCLA.MATION WASHINGTON, April 4. - -V-- Doctor Ehvood .Mead has been appointed Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation in the United States Department of the Interior. He is being granted leave of absence from the University of California to assume his new duties, the first of which will bo the reorganisation of the reclamation service. FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE._ The 'quarantine order, covering the r - - ' San Francisco abbntoirs on account of 'r■ the foot and mouth disease (cabled 23rd I , February) has been lifted as a result of the subsidence of the affection. Racking accordingly was resumed. The authorities expect the quarantine wilt be progressievly removed as the successive localities control the disease. AMERICA FOR AMERICANS. NEW I MM,IG R ATION I’d ED. WASHINGTON, April 5. A debate began in the Mouse of Re■m. presehtativt’3 to-day on the most discussed piece of legislation since prohibition, namely, the Immigration Bill wlierounder the census of 1890 will be the basis of the racial groups percentage admitted being reduced to two per cent. Representative Johnson is sponsoring the measure and sounded the keynote of America for Americans. Oriental exclusion features, however, are omitted. The Mill exempts wives with children under eighteen and parents over fifty-five of American citizens. Party alignments have broken down in consideration of the measure and the chief opposition comes from New York and other largo alien centres with support from the South and West. 'Hie Xu Klux Klati supports it and has made. ' its sentiments already felt. It is estimated the Bill will reduce immigration from 350,000 annually fo 100,000, chiefly affecting Southern Eastern Europe. Britain and Ireland, however, would have their quotas nearly doubled due to the change of the census year.

Senator Johnson will shortly also report a measure providing for the deportation of aliens after serving sentences for the violations of flic liquor and narcotic laws. STERLING GOING UP. __ NEW YORK, April 5 Sterling has reached 431, representing a nett gain of three cents for a single day, heavy buying on London being reported. Dealers in foreign exchange are unable to determine the exact reason underlying the sudden large volume of purchases, though the opinion is expressed that tho imminent publication of the Dawes report lias resulted favourably lor an upturn. The Continental exchanges acted sympathetically, tho franc and lire gaining several points. ENFORCEMENT OF PROHIBITION LAW. POLICE RAIDS IN WASHINGTON. Received this day at 8 a. in.) WASHINGTON, April 5 Acting under President Coolidgc’s » orders and as part of the camapign to W clean up the capital, the police conducted a series of spectacular raids resulting in the arrests of one hundred and fifty persons for illegally possessing, selling and manufacturing alcoholic beverages. The police confiscated thousands of gallons of liquor. Tho raid disclosed tho fact that Washington is lprobablv the wettest American port. Tho raid covered every part of tho city. Dotocbivos during t'he pas't fortnight luivo boon making secret investigations, purchasing liquors at various places and using the evidence thus obtained to secure search warrants. Hotels, storage structures and private homes were included. There were so many prisoners taken to the police station that the cells were overcrowded and many were kept in tho corridors under guards. A largo number of negroes were included among those apprehended. The authorities declared the raids

b- will be continued until something approaching obedience to the Prohibition law is secured.