AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 May 1924, Page 2

AMERICAN ITEMS.

[Reuters Telegrams.]

.SENATOR WANTS TAX OX BUTTER

WASHIXGTOX. May 17 Magnus Johnson, of Winnesotn, apprehend ve c.l the clients of the cno- ( tinned importation of foreign butter. ( introduced in the Senate a resolution requesting the Tariff Commission to | enquire in connection "itii the produetion of butter in the United States and ( abroad with a view to increasing the duty on hut ter imports. Senator John-on said the importations of butter in January and February aggregated P.-VlOJiHOlbs. causing a ( rapid decline to a price which was now little, if anything, above the cost of production. UMPIRE PRKIT.RKNCE. AYIIERE CANADA STANDS. OTTAWA, May 15. “Canada lias given preference in her ow II interest, as well as what she conceived to he in the interest of the rest of the Umpire.'' declared the I‘reinier (Mr Mackenzie King) in corresponding with the Baldwin Government during the sittings of the Imperial Conference. published to-day. In a tetter to Sir Philip .Lloyd Graeme, then President of the Board, of Trade. Air Mackenzie King stated: “Ii hits never hitherto, in the ease of the United Kingdom, been made conditional on the grant of equal profeieme in return. Should British peoples decide at any time that it would he in their own interests, and in wnat they conceive ns the interests of tlie Umpire, to make far-reaching changes in the present fiscal policy. Canada naturally expects that in the establishment of a tariff, full and adequate consideration will lie given through preferential duties to the interests of the Canadian producer and to the suhst.antial prefere.ueo which Canada accords British goods.” The Premier outlined some of the chief Canadian exports on which off—ive preference would he of most value, especially wheat.

THE AVERT INDIES. KINGSTON (Jamaica!. May 15. Public ppinion here is strongly against the British Government's attitude* on preference. The newspaper “Gleaner.” discussing the abolition of the McKenna duties said: “If this Labour Government continues in office to tin* end of the teal, with the prospect of being returned, tin* AA’est Indies will begin to liegotiu» reciprocity treaties with any nations which oiler us satisfactory terms for similar terms granted them. TO STOP AVAR. WASHINGTON. May l'The discussions proceeding throughout the country on means to minimise war profiteering, in which secretaries Hoover and Wilbur participated, have reached an early legislative stage. The House Military All'airs Committee has reported a resolution designed take the profit out of war. Ihe resolution would create a commission composed of four Congressmen, two Senators, and three Presidentad Appointees. representing, respectively Hie public, l.nhotir ami industry. 'lhose, with the Secretaries for AA'nr. the Xavy ami Commerce, would he empowered to draft a plan for pooling the national resources and Governmental machinery hi miler to operate without profit any private interest in case ni war.

THE ‘•BOOTLEG” kin*

NEW YORK. May Hi

George Demits, the millionaire hootleg king of Ciucinnatti. w,lm is now icrving a term in the Federal Penitentiary for violations of the Liquor l aw told the Senate Daugherty F.nquuy Committee that lie paid •>" • Daugherty's intimate friend (as cabled on I2lb. March). 2T!.ir!.’l dollars since BJ2I. for illegal liquor permits, an 1 I’m r.roteetion front prosecution, ill addition to which Dennis maintained that an agreement existed under which Smith received an average of two dollars for each case of liquor released. Demits was Imrn in Germany, and came to America, at the age of four. He practised law at 1!) years ol age in Chicago. and entering the liquor business shortly alter the passage ol the \ olstcad Law in 11)18. he acquired cheaply within a few years, nine distilleries. which lie operated through a syndicate of so-called drug companies. The latter prospered by bribing the proli:hition officials who issued permits to -ell liquor for allegedly medicinal pnr|io-e-. which the law allows.

Dennis commenting on this, said: “That provision in the law i< a joke. It is the greatest perversion of ju-lt."< anywhere in the world. 1 do nor believe any ounce ol the whisky prescribed by physicians is used lor purely niedicinial p:trpos"s.'*

Dennis added: “Smith fail'd me on!v once, when I paid him twenty thousand dollars to secure the r*m sal of inv sentence in tlte pcnileiiti.'.rv.

.1 A.I’ANFSK KXCU SION. WASHINGTON. May 17. The Immigration Bill, providing for Japanese exclusion tetclie.l AYliitc ]| nise to-dav for consideration hv President Ccnlidge. Tim measure will first he -cut to the Labour and Stall- !)<•_ partments for their ooiniotis as to its practicability. Action lini-t be taken by the President upon the mee-iire by midnight. of May 2!).

BOV, S BILL DEI* VSSFD. I’D LSI DKNT COOLIDGF. INDISPOSED. WASHINGTON. May 17. The House uf Dej.resentatives. with litte dehue. definitely repassed the Bonn- Bill over President Coolidge's veto. The vote 313 to 78. indicated that the House members refusal to heed the administrations of the mediators will! reported strenuously endeavouring to placate the representatives in order to spate Mr Coolidge from embarrass, in,ml. The vote however, far exceeds the m,-called tWo thirds requirement necessary t" over-ride a presidential veto. The measure now goes to the Senate. which, admittedly, is more tractaide. but contains sufficient opposition to cau-e a lively struggle and narrowvote. Air Coolidge is ill with a cold, being ordered bed. AH engagements are cancelled. Dr. Sawyer, the White House physician. who. attended by President Harding declined (o state whether Mr Ceolidgc had a fever, but minimised tlie Pic-idciit *s indisposition. Dr. Sawver i- confident of a qttiek recovery.