The Washington herald., 1914-04-18
THE WAR ON BUSINESS.
One Days "Output of the Political
Nachine, Assembled.

Observe the following output of the
political machine recorded in yesterday
mornings newspapers:
President Wilson's determined insist.
enee on the execution Of his program OF
trust legislation though it keep Congress
In session all summer.
| Interstate Commerce Commissioner
Clark's letter resenting criticism Of the
commissions delay in the Eastern rate
case.
The Interstate Commerce Commisslon's s
announcement indicating that after deCi-
sion in the present inquiry as to the sutii-
ings further inquiry would be necessary
to discover the remedy IL income is in
adequate.
Senator Cummins' attack on the rail-
roads. charging a conspiracy to procure
a judgment in the Eastern rate case by
public ciamor.
A similar onslaught by Senator Thomas.
of Colorado.
Senator Lewis mammoth bill for gov
ernment ownership of the railroads and
the merchant marine plus a Federal COM
mission to supervise the conduct OF all
American business
Congressman Lobeck's resolution in the
House of Representatives for an inquiry
into the reports that wage reductions
were impending in the steel trade despite
last years tariff revision, designed to
encourage business development and
promote prosperity"
Continuation of the hearings in the gov
ernment litigation to demolish the AmCri-
can sugar Refining Company.
1ntimations of a nationwide inquiry
planned by the government preparatory
to instituting fresh lawsuits against to-
bacco companies.
Decisions by the Federal Supreme Court
upholding the Montana State tax on olco-
margarine; validating the Arkansas law
establishing a double liability for live
stock killed on a railroad right OF way;
compelling the Chicago. Milwaukee ard
St Paul Railroad to comply with an
Iowa Railroad Commission order reduc-
ing rates at the State line.
II must have struck reflective readers
Of the newspapers that Mondays national
politics made a very promising beginning
of a new week when the country was
supplicating its political oyerlords for
an interval of relief from governmental
agitation of the business community.
OF all the foregoing matters perhaps
the most depressing TO business con-
fidence is the administrator obstinate
adherence 10 the mistaken supposition
that the country in 1872 gave to a mi
party W VI
flee, a mandate TO subject the corporate
organization of industry to the oppres-
siye exactions of omnipotent bureau
Gratis. The next in order Of depressing
importance is the evidence of the Inter
state Commerce Commissions evasive
intent in face of an issue which calls
for the earliest kind of action.
Obviously in accord with its prepos-
sessions the commission desires to find
some excuse for repairing the made
quacy OF railroad earnings through
changes in the category of service
charges at industrial plant lines. II this
is any remedy at all it should be a
supplement and not a substitute for the
direct general advance of rates. The
increase of rates which the railroads
seek to make is less than they deserve
IL they deserve any increase at all, and
the public is convinced that a rate ad-
vance is not only deserved but imper-
atively REQUIRED. Moreover. if the COM
mission postpones action on the rail-
road petition in order TO direct a read
justment of charges at industrial plant
lines il is altogether likely that the
shippers affected thereby will throw the
case into court.