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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (June 27, 1913)
V " "5-W7f' J '?"l 7' to ' ) JUNE 27, 1913 gation and to avoid any suggestion of collusion, Secretary Houston de cided it would be better for Mr. Olm stead to be out of the office during the inquiry. The investigation is likely to result, it was suggested by an official in the transfer of the en tire bureau of statistics to the cen sus bureau. A press dispatch says: In an effort to validate the federal govern ment's claim to thousands of acres of oil land in Wyoming and Califor nia, valued at hundreds of millions of dollars and even as high as. a bil lion dollars, according to some esti mates, Attorney General Mclteynolds definitely decided to appeal from the decision of United States District Judge Riner of Cheyenne, "Wyo., up holding the Midwest Oil company's title to 4,000 adres in Wyoming. This is a test case and round it re volves many tracts of valuable oil lands claimed by other interests. Not only will this case bo appealed but a similar case pending at Los Angeles will be prosecuted and many other suits will soon be filed to con test the title of innumerable claim ants and prevent their withdrawing the oil until the ownership 1b settled. It is believed the issues finally will reach tho United States supreme court. These developments are regarded here as indicating that the new ad ministration indorses the conserva tion policy of Former President Taft with respect to these lands. Presi dent Taft withdrew the -tracts in 1909 on the ground that the great quantities of oil were being wasted and squandered by private interests when the lands should be reserved until the government was prepared to dispose of them in the best in terest of economy. He also held that adequate tracts should be withheld from entry to afford fuel oil for the United States navy. The president's power to make the withdrawals was questioned and on June 25, 1910, congress affirmed his authority and the lands were re withdrawn. In the meantime many entries were made and Judge Riner has held that the original withdrawal was invalid. A press dispatch says: Probably the moBt radical and far-reaching ex tension of the food and drugs act since its enactment was made on June 17, when Secretaries Houston, McAdoo and Redfleld, charged with enforcing this statute, ruled that meat and meat products in interstate or foreign commerce, which hitherto have been exempted from the pro visions of the pure food law, may be seized if misbranded or adulterated. Beginning at once manufacturers of meat foods will bo required to com ply strictly with the food and drugs act, as well as with the meat inspec tion law. The action was taken on the strength of an opinion by Attorney General McReynolds. The three secretaries revoked a regulation adopted in October, 1906, only four months after the passage of the pure food law, which had pre vented the department of agricul ture, according to a statement by Secretary Houston, "from prosecut ing manufacturers of meat foods under the pur food law. or ordering seizures or prosecution for misbrand ing or adulteration of domestic meats." Secretary Houston said he could not Understand why meat and meat products were not food in the sense of the food and drugs act, or why his department could-not seize bad, adulterated or misbranded meat once it had entered interstate commerce. He had therefore sought the advice of the attorney general. "Under the meat inspection law," the secretary said, "meat inspectors The Commoner. havo absolutely no power to seize meat or meat food products that have become bad or havo been adul terated after they have left a feder ally inspected house. Ono remedy possible under the meat act is to pro ceed criminally against one selling bad meat, but even in this case, meat can not be seized nor its sale pre vented. "With the regulation of 1900 re voked, the department can seize and prevent the sale of bad and adul terated meat, once it has crossed the state line and remains in interstate commerce. In caso spoiled meat again reaches a federally inspected establishment it comes, of course, under the jurisdiction of the meat inspection law, and can bo destroyed as heretofore has been done. Under tho new decision, the government can control foods from the hoof, from the retailer, subject only to the limitations of the power of tho federal government in interstate commerce. The department is em powered to require all manufactured meat products to conform fully to its labeling regulation, and can enforce its penalties, prosecutions and seiz ures for misbranding and adulteration." 13 An Associated Press dispatch, dated June 16, says: Four promi nent Japanese have arrived in Wash ington in pursuance of an inquiry they are making to ascertain the real feeling in the United States re garding the relations betweon Japan and America with special reference to the California land , legislation. They are Dr. Soyeda, one' of the fore most statesmen and financiers of Japan, and Messrs. Kimlya, Shiraa and Abeko, the latter editor of a Japanese paper in San Francisco. The visitors are charged with no offi cial mission, but are engaged in an altruistic effort to ascertain and if possible to remove the causes that have been imposing a strain upon the friendly relations between America and Japan. During their stay in Washington they will seek con ferences with some of the higher officials of the government as well as with members of congress. Accompanied by Japanese Ambas sador Chinda, tho four envoys paid an unofficial visit to Secretary Bryan. During the conference Dr. Soyeda, who heads the envoys, told the sec retary of the results of their peace mission along the Pacific coast, and expressed the hope of an carjy and amicable settlement of the diplo matic negotiations over the Califor nia situation. An Associated Press dispatch says: Tho Webb law forbidding interstate shipments of liquor into "dry" states is not a criminal statute and violations of it can not be prose cuted in United States courts, accord ing to instructions sent by Attorney General McReynolds to every United States attorney in the country. The law merely prohibits such interstate traffic and contains no penalty for in fractions. "It's purpose," said the attorney general, "is to permit state laws to operate in respect of intoxicating liquors moving in interstate com- i merce. The law simply deprives shippers of any privileges they might claim on tho ground of interstate commerce and permits the application of state prohibition laws to interstate com merce in liquors. This is tho first time the depart ment of iustico has construed the Webb law, which was declared un constitutional by former .President Taft and former Attorney General Wickersham. President Taft vetoed the bill on tho ground that it violated tho interstate commerce clause of the constitution by delegating tho regu lation of interstate commerce to the For That Picnic -to ensure complete lucceii take along a caie of The satisfying beverage in field or foreit; at home or in town. As pure and whole some as it is temptingly good. Send for Free Booklet. Delicious Refreshing Thirst-Quenching Drmuid tbe Cenulrc Refute SuliitliaU. 61-A At Sod FounUlm or Carbon ated In bottles. THE COCA-COLA COMPANY, AtUnU. G.' r I 400 Acres of Good Nebraska mammmmmmmimmmmmmmmmmmamfmmimmmmmmaammmatmmmmmmummmmmmimmmkmmmmmmmmmmmm Farm Land at a Low Price I am offering for sale 400 acres of good farm land in Perkins county, Nebraska. This land is a dark sandy loam, very produc tive and is increasing In value. Will sell all or part Write for price and terms to T. S. ALLEN, Fraternity Building, Lincoln, Nebraska A Remarkable New Book by Woodrow Wilson THE NEW rKfcHLHJlVl The publication on Monday. February 17. of a book by Woodrow Wilson, Is the most Important political event of tho spring. It is oho ui iuu most sinning events or ine political ujsiory oi me na tion. Nover beforo bad a president-elect, on tho evo of his inaugu ration, addressed to tho country a profession of faith and a state ment of his intentions. Speaking of this remarkable book, the Mobile (Ala.) Item says: "Tho work is one of the most remarkable ever put in the field, both by reason of the bitterness of its arraignment of the present financial system and by its exploitation of a futuro presidential policy. No other chief executive of tbe United States since the declaration of independence has performed tho feat of Mr. Wilson on tho evo of taking ofllce. Ho not only attacks the trusts and monopolies of the country, but makes it clear that he will do all in his power to legiti mately restore trade competition and individual opportunity and to disentangle community centralization which, he says, has become dangerously co-ordinated." A SPECIAL OFFER TO COMMONER READERS In anticipation of tho tremendous demand for this new book special arrangements havo been made to supply Commoner readers direct from the publishers without delay. Tho book alone will be sont prepaid to any address for $1.10, or will bo sent prepaid in combination with a year's subscription to both Tho Commoner and Tho American Homestead for only $1.75. This book Is handsomely bound in cloth and printed in largo typo on fine book paper, and con tains upwaTds of 300 pages. Every progressive American should own a copy. Send your order at once. Address All Orders to The Commoner, Lincoln, Neb. l 1 M v W .