U.S.A. POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1924, Page 2

U.S.A. POLITICS.

BRINGING NAVY TO BRITISH

STANDARD

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CAIILE ASSOCIATION

WASHINGTON, May 28

The House has passed a Bill designed to bring the L’.S.A. navy to the five-live-three ratio fixed bv the Washington Conference. The Senate’s assent would authorise the construction of eight scout cruisers, six river gun-boats. and extensive improvements to six battleships, the total cost being estimated at one hundred and eleven million dollars. WASHINGTON, May 28. President Coohdgc has signed the Naval Appropriation lliil containing a provision authorising him to call an other conference in connection nth the limitation of naval armaments, dealing with cruisers, suhmairnes and aircraft (as cabled May 2.1). Ibe .1 11 carries the smallest annual appropriation for the U.S.A. Navy since the world war. It authorises 291 million dollars, compared with 330 million appropriated last year.

DRV LAW TO HE INVESTIGATED. WASHINGTON, May 28. The House of Representatives Alcoholic Liquor Traffic* Committee, meeting for the first time since the start ./(’''prohibition in 1919, ordered an official investigation into the success or failure of prohibition, every phase of prohibiton will he examined with a view to ascertaining the status ol enforcement and of determining whether the consumption of liquors has increased.

Meantime a special committee that has been considering the fifty-nine identic* hills-(cabled April 21) lias concluded its hearings.

FARM STATES BANKRUPT. WASHINGTON, May 28. Witn the adjournment of Congress .scheduled for June 7ill, in order to permit members to attend the Republican Convention, t lie Senate farm Bloc* to-day made it clear that the session cannot end without agricultural legislation. The wheat growing areas are avowedly bankrupt, with the land values disappearing under taxation, and heavy mortgages held by the banks causing many of these institutions to fail, because the in--irument- an* "Irojton assets.’ ((ingress lias discussed various measures in aid the farmers, hut none has been adopted, ami the members tear to return to their constituencies witlu/UL

according agriculture some practical aid.

.senator Goodling called at M bite House and informed President Coolnlge something must he done, and it is imped a cciinpiomise measure will be rushed through during the next ten days. The Republican leaders fear defeat at the polls in November unless tin* crucial central and north western s.aies can he placated.

A SENATOR’S THREAT. \\ .tsull.NG i u.N, .nay 28. •Senator La Eoilette virtually announces that i.e will run ior President as an Independent, unless the npproaeliing Democratic and Republican contentions demonstrate they van and wi.l purge themselves of evil lnlluenees. Mtiiator Lit l'oliette denounced the t (imminiists, and makes the charge so that they are trying to control the

rluiner-l.abour progressive convention, which is meeting at St. Paul, on June 17th.

NAVY VOTE CONDITIONAL. WASHINGTON, May 2c

An amendment has been accepted in Congress authorising the President to suspend the naval building programme should another naval limitation eoulerence he held.

A sum of 8,366, 000 dollars will lie used tor the conversion of the battleships New York, Texas, Florida, Utah, Kansas, and Wyoming into oil burners and for the installation of additional protective devices against sntimarines and aeroplanes. I lie proposed cruisers will lit* ol 10,0(1(1 toils displacement.

NAVY GUN VOTE REFUSED. WASHINGTON, May 28. The House* rejected tin* amendment to the Naval Bill to authorise* six iml a half million dollars appropriation :■> elevate guns oil thirteen battleships by

7-1 votes to 01. CABI.K COM BAY IKS’ BBOTKST. YKW YOliK, May 2S The rum licets anchored off the Jersey and Long Island (oasis arc playing havoc with the submarine cables, to such :m extent that- the ollieials of two cable companies have protested to t lu* Government.