Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-24
FINANCE Wal 7 s
FOR RAILROAD
RATE BOOST
Progress Ahead if Commission
viii Allow Quick Advance,
Declares Forbes.
By B. C. FORBES.

BY B. C. FORBES.
Are We about to enter troubled
seas, or does smoother water lie
ahead?
we are on the eve Of important de-
velopments one way or the other.
Abroad trade il falling off badly
In this country conditions are sound
at the Foundation, and a truce be-
tween Washington and business
could start signal recovery.
But the head of very responsible
highly regarded investment banking
firm asked me this question.
are the Interstate Commerce Com
mssioners anxious to keep the Dem
ocratic Administration out Of a hole?
"Who appointed them
4 have been asked this, and have
heard significant hints on the sub
iect
The commissioners were, of course,
Republican nominees, but | refuse to
believe that any one Of them is ami
mated by Administration, anti
Democratic motives | have, indeed
very good reason for believing that
the I. pilulsSlUIl mas lllt illE iltel At-
gard for President Wilson's ideas and
policies, and that 1t would cooperate
with rather than antagonize him.
Ny information is that the Com
missioners have virtually reached the
conclusion that the railroads need re.
lief and need it with all possible dis
patch. Their decision on the momen-
tous rate question, II hear may he
rendered about April Is. That 1t will
not be wholly unfavorable to the rail-
roads is now accepted as certainty
Washington's intentions have been
better than its performances. It has
meant well. but has acted foolishly In
many instances. Some proposed laws
have had good aims In view, but have
been absolutely impossible and ride
ulous
President Wilson, ] learn. realizes
this He is now particularly anxious
TO avoid indorsing any measure cal
culated to upset the country's bust
ness equilibrium. The antitrust
give Brothers" have been found sad
~ wanting as every thinking man 81
affairs clearly saw the moment they
appeared. President Wilson is bent
upon PULLING every unnecessary A'RAA
from these bills He wants only COM
mon sense. really helpful legislation,
not vengeful destructive laws that
w6ul precipitate chaos in an effort TO
reach big Business"
The stock Exchange will also viii
be modified.
had the privilege OF entertaining
Senator owen when he was In New
York ON the strength of a fairly
intimate friendship with him, felt
entitled to talk with perfect freedom.
We discussed the Stock Exchange
bill, of course, and / found him
ready to consider objections to the
measure as now drawn. ! particu-
larry emphasized that Americans
would not submit to tampering with
their mail, that freedom OF communi-
cation is as inviolate as freedom of
speech and that other methods
would have to be devised for reach
ing INSCRIPTIONS financial manipu-
lators and promoters. A more FEAST
bic plan was discussed, and II may
prove the best available solution.
But It was the general situation
anu llif EIdNltA VI AAlt ldlIbhu i'oHi-
ton that ] took occasion to impress
upon his mind
Senator owen is not a hot head. He
IS not a revolutionist He is not
corporation batter Neither is he a
sycophant, a kow-tower to High III
nance
This little anecdote win picture the
man;
Made his fortune selling good.
clean candy at small profit per
pound" remarked as we passed
Lofts store In City Hall square
What building is that?' he asked
as we turned toward the Woolworth
Building
The product Of nve-and ten-cent
stores replied
You see what that means. don't
you he commented Service -
service 20 the people to an he'peo-
pie u both cases, That was what I
set myself as my aim when I entered
political life. II is the only road to
success
The senator incidentally. has got a
good deal further than the average
ft..4..