AMERICAN ITEMS

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14306, 18 March 1912, Page 8

AMERICAN ITEMS

(mOM ocr. own CQiinEsroxnENT). } SAN FRANCISCO, February 19. THE "MONEY TRUST." Whether or not a ! 'money trust" dominates the financial affairs of this | nation is to be determined by the Banking and Currency Committee of the House of Benrosentativcs. In intro- ! during a resolution calling for the investigation, Mr Henry, one of the Texas representatives. made tho following sensational assertions: — "More than 75 per cent, of our Gunncial resources, industries and railroad corporations is now dominated j by uot inoro than four small groups of ! financiors. They have now at tboir feet [ in merciless subjection more than 75 j per cent, of the vast army of banks and bankers throughout the country. They are combined and acting in strict accord with the railroads and industrial trusts by throwing their protecting j arms around them, with tbo avowed i purpose of assassination in business of all competitors. Is it not time to enquire into tho Black Hand methods of tho financial Mafia -which exists in this country?" A piquant quarrel has enlivened tho opening of the. investigation. William Jennings Bryan trod on the toes of the members of tho Banking and Currency Committee by intimating that they wero subject to the control of the money trust. Tho ''great commoner" demanded' that a special committee bo named to conduct the investigation. Mr Bryan is to bo called before the . committee to "explain exactly what he means." CABINET MEMBER ACCUSED. A land scandal, involving the good faith of a member of President Taft's Cabinet, James Wilson', tho Secretary of Agriculture is now under investigation by a committee of tho House of Representatives. For some years past a Government project for the draining of tho Everglado lands in Florida, which are utterly worthless in their present condition, has been in progress. On the strength of this project land syndicates, printing enthusiastic accounts of the prospective value- of the Everglade lands, have sold millions of acres to purchasers in different parts of tho United States. Frank Clark, a Florida representative, now charges Wilson . with having suppressed tho ronort of a Government engineer, C. G. Elliott, becauso it cast doubt on the value of tho lands. Wilson did this it is charged, at the behest of land promoters; and the secretary is further accused of having dismissed Elliott because ho refused to alter his report. Clark asserts that tho people are heinrj humbugged "by a co-partnership between a great Government Department and the&o land jsneculators." It is answered by Wilson that he dismissed Ellr'ott because ho presented false accounts; and that the report was not printed because the engineer radically changed his concerning tho Evercrl«de l»nds w'+hout further investigation. To this Elliott retoTts .that fhe charge upon which hi* "was disnv'ssed was i> technical one of the transference of public funds. There has heen a crf!\t deal of dissatisfaction with Wil«on sinco tho of Tr's attempts to thwart Dr. WiW in tho administration of the Pure Frod Act and it is not-improbable thnt the outcome of the present accusation will bo his elimination froTn the Cabinet. Wil«on wn«> (mjyimtpd ftowinxy of Agriculture by Pr'ocjdent MrKinley, nnd has rei mnined in office eontinnouslv ever since. J fjo- was the only member of the Roose-t-pH retained in office by President Taft.