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Show Capital "Social Lobby" Is Stunned PRESIDENT HARDING has dealt the Washington "social lobby" a staggering wallop. Refusing Re-fusing to sanction payment of $1,700,000 from the federal treasury to reimburse P. DeRonde of New Jersey, Jer-sey, Ill-starred postwar speculator In Argentine sugar, although authorized to do so by special act of congress. Mr. Harding has served notice that as long as he occupies the White House no measure will have his approval concerning con-cerning which doubtful methods to obtain ob-tain its passage have been used. Back in 1920 DeRonde had a ship In an Argentine port. It was loaded at the time, but on request from Washington Wash-ington the cargo was unloaded and. to aid in the sugar shortage here, 5,000 tons of sugar taken aboard. DeRonde asserts he was induced to import the sugar to the United States by an official of the Department of Justice under the Wilson administration, administra-tion, and that he paid 19 cents a pound for It. He had official letters to support his contention. While the sugar ship was en route to New York the sugar market suddenly sud-denly brokg and DeRonde was left with the 5,000 tons on his hands and a loss of $1,700,000. He came to Washington to prove his claim and collect It. He set nbout making frieuds and nobody ever essayed es-sayed It more cleverly. Establishing himself In one of the corner suites of the Wlllard hotel, he kept "open house" In a manner that won the unstinted un-stinted admiration of bellhops. The DeRonde claim passed the senate sen-ate on January fi, 1022, by a vote of 31 to 24. There was pending at the same time a similar claim of the American Trading company for $2,500,-000. $2,500,-000. Both claims were Investigated by a special subcommittee of the house agricultural committee. President Harding signed the resolution reso-lution authorizing payment of the American Trading company's claim, but declined to sign the DeRonde resolution res-olution and it became law without his signature. However, Mr. Harding refused re-fused to exercise his authority under It. Instead of ordering payment, the President has turned the n'atter over to the sugar equalization board for further investigation. The sugar board, composed of buslnefrs men of sound judgment, must first give approval ap-proval to the claim before the President Presi-dent will be willing to consider payment. pay-ment. The "social lobby" Is stunned. |