AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 July 1924, Page 2

AMERICAN ITEMS.

[Reuters Telegrams.]

CANADIAN j.uaN

OTTAWA, July 1

A resolution authorising the Government to borrow three hundred million dollars to meet its maturing obligations lias been passed by the House of Commons. The Acting Finance Minister, Mr Bobh. said it was expected to float the loan at less than five per cent.

The suggestion was made that the Dominion should issue bonds to its own Treasury and then issue the necessary credits thereon.

Mr Bobh replied that they did not propose to ‘‘Bu.ssiani.se” Canadian securities. ADMIRAL’S ADVICK RESENTED. OTTAWA. July ]. A statement attributed to Vice-Ad-miral Field in Victoria, that the Dominion of Canada should equip four cruisers for service, two in the Atlantic and two in the Paeilie ocean, was the subject of sharp questioning in the Canadian House of Commons.

Mr A. B. Mi-Master (Liberal) asked whether Admiral Field had been asked by the Canadian Government to give this advice.

The Minister of Naval Defence, Mr MacDonald, said Admiral Field had not been invited to make the statement attributed to him in the press. He (the Minister) proposed, he s,aid, to take .whatever course was deemed best in order to assert tlie well recognised practice in regard to this mat-

ter. “Tell him to blind his own business.” said Mr lloclic Lancelot, another Liberal.

LIQUOR CONSPIRATOR CONVICTED. NEW YORK, July 1. Mr Gaston Means, an ex-agent of tlie Department of Justice, whose mvestigatorial exploits read like romantic Action, was, after a fortnight’s trial by a Federal Court, found guilty of conspiring to violate the Prohibition laws. 'Means, with a co-conspira-tor, will shortly be. sentenced. The penalty is a maximum of two years’ imprisonment, anil a line of 5000 dollars for each. The conviction resulted from a charge that- Means and his associate collected 20,000 dollars from a Havana merchant,, promising him to obtain the release of 50 barrels of whisky which, hv pre-arrangement was to he re-consigned to Pittsburg, but would he diverted on route.

The merchant testified that he pant the money, but be bad received neither the whisky nor the money. The Government, through witnesses, and the defendants’ confessions, proved that tho latter, within two years, collected ill excess of 400.000 dollars from persons seeking favours in high official places. Means contended that ho had delivered money to Jess Smith (ex-Attor-noy-Gonornl Dougherty’s associate). Means' eonviction ends a myth as to his impunity. This had gained currency because previous indictments for murder and other crimes have never made any headway against him. Means, throughout the trial, insisted that tlie Government was prosecuting him for the revelations lie made before various Senate Committees.

DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION

LATEST VOTING FIGURES. NEW YORK. July 2. The Democratic Convention. alter sitting ten hours, adjourned following the thirtieth ballot, which stood as follows : MeAdoo -H5 Smith 32-1 Davis 12'j Cox •>< Underwood 30 AIRPLANE MAILS. NEW YORK. July 1. A Chicago telegram says that airplanes are inaugurating a new air mail service to-day. They are heating the schedules. Owing to a heavy mail, two planes left New York instead of one. They left Chicago to-night at about l o'clock. One from San Francisco left Chcynne somewhat later. The aviators are guided at night by overlapping pools of light, and by beacons circling the horizons and intercepting each other. The plane?, arc equipped with ten million candle power lights lor forced landings. The av.iators are working in relays. Nine are used to make the entire distance.