Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-11

n
One of the hardest working commit
tees in Congress at present is that of
the Senate on post offices and post
roads. Were it not for the great war
issues. with the debates on prepared
ness and the Mexican embroglio. it
would be the storm center of the sit
uation. The questions under consider
alton involve large interests. The
presidents of nearly all the great rail-
road systems of the east have been in
attendance appealing, in impassioned
language, at times. for more generous
treatment of their claims than the
Post Office Department is willing to al
low. Postmaster General Burlesons
propositions have aroused them, and
the burden of the entire controversy
now rests upon the Senate committee
because of the peculiar legislative con-
ditions that-now prevail
Senator Bankhead, chairman of the
committee. is, by virtue of his posi-
ton. the central figure and a dominat
Ing personality at all the hearings. He
has been called the wellington of
make him one of the real factors in
senatorial life and one of the best poll
tfcians in or out of Congress. More
than thirty years in public life,- he has
been beaten only once-then by Hob
son for Congressman this he turned
into his greatest victory, for he came
back as senator to Washington from
Alabama Seldom seen among the
moor orators. he never INDUCES in long
speeches, even in the most exciting
campaigns To obtain an interview
with him on any public question is
difficult task. but to Star reporter he
r-Saly laHN
few things bearing upon the political
situation. and particularly on the idea
prevalent in some quarters that the
President has lost his grip on Con-
gress-
No Real Detection From Wilson.
THAT idea." said Senator Bankhead,
referring to congressional opposition to
the President. els erroneous. Mr.. Will
son is human. like the rest of US. He
makes his mistakes. 1t is the duty of
his friends, in and out of official life,
to call attention to them, for correc-
ton. not concealment. Criticism of
this kind does not mean desertion but
really. devotion. to the President. oar
trueSt friend is he who tells us of our
shortcomings. That is practically all
there is to this alleged detection in the
Senate and the House. President Will
.,
but he is the leader of the democratic
party. He will be the unanimous
choice of the party in its coming ma
tional convention.
His election? Why should there be
any serious doubt about it? Avoiding
mere partisan claptrap, when has the
United States been more prosperous
than under this democratic administra
tion that was predicted to bring calam-
ity and woe to our people? From one
end of the country to the other the de-
mand for labor exceeds the supply
Mills and factories are working over
time. The farmers were never so well
of. Wages are higher than in years.
and while ] am willing to admit the
stimulus that war has given the in
dustrial world, you cannot help being
impressed far more by the fact that the
big manufacturing interests are con-
stantly affirming and reaffirming that
war orders are a mere incident in their
tremendous output.
More important to this revival of
business than all the war orders that
have been will be booked is the
confidence the business world is COM
ing to have in Woodrow Wilson Has
he not made good? BE fair. Has he
not redeemed the pledges of the party?
Why he has made the conventional
Wall street panic impossible by the
way in which the nations finances have
been placed by congressional enact
nent forever upon rational. scientific
cornered, as it has been from time to
time by the cliques of the big moneyed
institutions. Small borrowers find ac-
commodations easier and it is only a
question of time when that vast, far
reaching reform of rural credits will
he in as successful operation as the
federal reserve banks. In other words,
everybody is going to share in the gen.
eraI uplift, and that is precisely what
the President has aimed at throughout
his public career. 1t is the fundamen-
tai doctrine of democracy; it is what
real democracy means"
Railroads and the Government.
It was suggested that the railroads
of the country are up in arms over the
proposed action of the government.
That is a pretty strong statement Of
the case" replied Senator Bankhead
but their alarm is quite unwarranted
The Post Office Department. bent upor
read3usting the rates of pay. has laic
certain propositions before Congress
and Congress is giving careful consid
GRAFTON to these recommendations. but
they are considering the railroads OBJ
5ections to them just as carefully.
cali your attention to the fact that ir
doing SO this democratic Congress ha.
broken all precedent. For the first time
in our legislative history. SO far as
am aware, the House post office com
mittee has granted open hearings wheT
the Post ONCE Department appeared
in advocacy of its own recommends
lions. The railroads and everybody els,
who cared to come were free to do so
There were no secret proceedings. Thi.
IL . radical departure from esta blishet
form. but the Senate committee is do
ing the same thing. The railroads were
given a wide-open hearing last week
The Post Office Department had beer
invited to be present. All was don,
openly. Next week when we hear Post
master General Burleson and his staff
the railroads and all other interest.
will be free to attend every hearing
speak of the railroads, but what 1 sa,
applies to other interests. Last Wed
nesday. for example. tho pneumati,
tubes and all that underground mai
and parcel transportation represen
had an entire day before US. More tina,
seventy business organizations from
New York. Philadelphia, Boston, ST
Louis and elsewhere were represente.
by congressman and other public ON
ciala, besides the officials Of the tub
conpanieA. But the Post ONCE Depart
mont WAS also represented and givel
.apcQportusitxs to be heard just tn,
week the tub,