The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-01-04

has u resolution Tor Il joint
committee of congress to investigate
and report what Is needed in the way
of interstate commerce legislation.
Since the law was enacted there have
beer numerous amendments, some OF
them to meet court decisions, some OF
them to curb the carriers, some of
them TO effect Il reduction and control
of rates. And now after all the years
it appears TO he necessary to begin
over again.
Commission Should Know.
The present interstate IN com
mission should know about all there h
to know regarding railroad conditions.
1t should know more than a new com
mission can find out in five years. In
fact, any commission or committee
would simply 80 to the present com
mission for a statement Of facts and
supplement inquiries which the perma-
nent commission has made.
New commissions mean a postpone
ment of any proposed action. 1t must
be that there Is a great pressure for
something more In the way OF railroad
legislation or there would be no such
demands for commissions The unrest
In regard to transportation has been
increasing, but 1t is observed that war
and commercial conditions change the
whole situation from time TO time.
Agreed With the President.
When Congressman Mondell Of Wy
oming was making his speech against
the policy of preparedness he evoked
very largely indeed with what the
president has said on the subject OF
the great question of preparation. But"
he added, my agreement Is with what
he said In congress on Dec. s, 1914,
instead of what he said on Dec. 4.
1915" and he quoted the message OF
one year ago as showing that the presi-
lent considered preparation for war
unnecessary.
1t is likely that much will be said of
that address of a year ago during the
discussion Of the war measures.
PLEASED With Himself"
Il can well imagine" remarked a
man who knows the colonel. that
Roosevelt has not been quite SO we'll
pleased with himself for a year or
more as he is at this moment. BY at
tending the Gary dinner with the mul-
timillionaires he has got EN- dill guess
ing And he likes that better than
anything else except being president.
He has got the whole country talking
about him, specializing about his flu
ture, wondering what he will do. and
in fact he has entered the minds and
thoughts of the people again In n way
which causes people to talk about him
wherever they congregate and news
papers 10 discuss him day after day"
OF course Roosevelt is enjoying 1t
nightly. If he can't be president he
can create more talk about himself
than the president.
Another Storm Brewing.
One does not take much stock In the
reports of storms and indignation
movements against the administration
by the southern Democrats. There has
been altogether too much laundering
in the index to make them very fear
some. The latest report IS that m
thing win break loose unless the adj
ministration enforces a policy against
Great Britain and protest vigorously
against making cotton contraband of
war.
IL seems that the cotton producers
OF the south would like to share with
the other war material producers and
food growers in the war prosperity
that is coming to Americans. At the
same time 1t is not likely that the up
rising against the administration will
he serious.
The Popular Daniels Couple.
Secretary and Mrs. Daniels are the
most popular people in the adminlstra-
ton. They do more entertaining, go
TO more places, know more people and
show more pleasure In meeting people
than any other cabinet or COMPRESSION
al couple in Washington.
May Start Something.
There is n suspicion that something
may be started In regard TO Mexico.
Senator Cummins indicated a desire In
that direction by introducing a reso-
luton asking a number of embarrass-
ing questions. 1t was expected that
he would speak on the subject. but he
finally allowed the resolution to go to
the foreign relations committee. which
means chloroforming in most cases.
Other men of an inquiring turn of
mind may decide to go into this Mexi-
can matter more deeply. and there is
promise Of speeches OF the subject ear
y this month.