The midland journal., 1913-12-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.

A new phase of the cost-ofliving prob.
lem was brought to the attention Of the
department of agriculture Friday.
T.. P. Gil, secretary OF the Irish board
Of agriculture, told Secretary Houston
that spectators in The large cities Of the
United States were buying this years.
short American potato crop and planning
to hold out for high prices. counting
upon the existing quarantine against
potatoes from many foreign countries To-
aid them in their undertaking.
Mr.. Gin is here to urge the removal of
the embargo of potatoes from his coun-
try, aud has been getting private adyices
from various sources on. the potato
in Amer ca
He in lists that the powdery scab found.
on POTATOES imported from Ireland is no
cause for a quarantine, because similar
blernish already is common in the United
States, and declares that continuance Of.
the embargo will contribute 10 the grow
ing cost of living.
u.
With the railroads pleading for a per
cent increase in freight rates. deter
mined movement for additional regulation
of common carriers has developed In.
congress IF the railroads win their
petition. they will be confronted with the
demand to yield further control to The
government as counter concession.
The principal proposals which now are
being embodied in bills for consideration
at the regular session are:
Regulation by the interstate commerce
commission Of the issuance of stock.
bonds. short term notes and other securi.
ties by all interstate carriers.
Provision that one railroad cannot pur-
chase control of another railroad without
the permission Of the interstate commerce
These moves in the direction of greater
supervision of the transportation lines of
the country are being supported by many
senators and representatives. Like Sena.
tors Cummins and Kenyon, Of Iowa, they
are seriously contemplating the proposal
Of legislation looking to the government
ownership Of railroads.
~.
What Is practically a cooperative
boarding hon'e, without lan.llady, has
proved success in the city Of Philadel-
phia, and has materially reduced the cost
Of living of those who have worked out
the plan and are operating under it.
Nine persons, none of them related, are
now conducting complete cooperative
household at No. 34I7 Hamilton street
and they are so delighted with the sue
cess of their venture that they are an
xious for others to benefit from their ex-
periences. Each Of the residents contri-
butes his or her share of the expenses
and the work, of the house and, to all
intents and purposes. an ideal socialistic
community is operating within the four
walls of the big residence.
Mrs. James Y. Rirpen. a worker for
the Society to Protect Chill iren from
Cruelty, Is the originator Of the idea and
the leader in the household. The nine
residents of the house pay weekly as
sessment and are assigned to their pro.
portion of household work each week.
Divided among nine. the expense Is re-
markably small, while the amount Of
work each one does is trifiing.
For instance, Mrs. Rippeu has figured
that the average cost of living for each
person is $50 month. including rent,
heat. light, laundry and meals. The
rent of the house Is $50 month. Fuel
and light cost $a2 a month. Each CO
operator pays $3 so week for meals,
which is actual cost. and 81 week for
laundry Two maids are EMPLOYED to
cook and clean, and their wages are d.
vided equally among the nine. amount
ing to little over 81 a week apiece.
Whatever work the maids and laundrv
do not accomplish is divided among The
nine members of the community. One
has charge Of the marketing only; an
other supervises the cleaning; another
attends TO the preparation of meals. the
women taking turns at this duty. The
meu divide the work of attending the
furnaces in the winter and moving the
lawn in summer
-.
Congress on Monday closed M the
longest extraordinary session in lis his
tory. beginning as It did on April ?. and
settled down TO the grind of the regular
"long'' session, expected to last we'll into
next summer. Only The absolutely nee
essary formality marked the ending Of
the old session and the beginning OF the
new.
The Senate was at work practically all
day, and a short night session CON-
pleted the FIRST reading Of the Currency
bill. but adjourned without a formal
opening Of the debate.
The House conteuted itself with brief
meeting. formally opening the new ses-
sion. All formalities were curtaiied.