The Washington herald., 1917-06-23
Acquaintance.

trict is already SO developed as to
make it a model Of systematic organ
ization, also OF the principle Of COM
plete harmoniZing of plants. and Of
such methods as make 1t possible to
maintain high wages and occasional
ly to increase them while at the same
time steadily reducing the cost OF
production. Ultimately the Birming-
ham district will, unless the govern
ment destroys the United States
Steel Corporation, be developed into
q steel and iron making district, per-
burgh district, providing reasonable
compensation with independent COM
panies without restraint of trade in
the markets of the South and the
Southwest.
One remark which was made by Mr..
Perkins at a dinner given to the
finance committee by President Craw-
ford, of the Tennessee Coal and Iron
Company, reflects a thought which
has been occasionally expressed by
other leading men of affairs. All feel
that as one Of the results of this war
there are to be established new ideals
which will aid in the progress Of civili-
cation. Mr.. Perkins said at this Bir-
mingham dinner that he is persuaded
that there is to be as one Of the effects
OF the war a combination of German
efficiency with the ideals OF the United
oldlGS III Tie ldluES ISldllOIlS OI
kind which will place the world upon
a higher plane than ever before. Fur
thermore, he thought it likely that
this combination Of efficiency with
high ideals might have its visible be-
ginning in Birmingham. thence to
spread all over the world.
Some of the business men Of the
United States have subordinated their
feeling that some injustice has been
done to them in Washington, and
especially that they are by some of
the authorities there regarded as seek
ing to make undue profits out OF the
emergencies Of the war. The magni-
men of the United States to the liberty
loan, the Red Cross, and other activi-
ties will when the history of these
times is written be spoken of as one of
the striking characteristics of Ameri-
can business life OF the war time
Recently two incidents have occur
red in Washington which, business
men feel, reflect a somewhat narrow
view on the part of high authorities
toward business men of the United
States. J. P. Morgan offered his
yacht, the Corsair, to the government,
knew that it was worth fully $500, 900.
He was willing to leave the matter
OF price to the decision of a commits
sion which represented the govern
ment. lnaI commission reported thaI
a fair price for the yacht was $450, 200.
A higher authority ran its pencil
through the figures and in place of
them put down $375, 600. 1t seemed as
though the higher officers had re-
pudiated the findings of its own COM
mission. Mr.. Edward Harkness OFFER
ed his yacht to the government, not
naming any price. He agreed to a
proposition made by the authorities
that he name one member OF a COM
mission, the governmental authorities
name another, and these two select a
third highly qualified but impartial
man. This commission was appointed
and reported that Mr.. Harkness' yacht
was worth fully s3J0,OO0. The same pen
Gil which scratched out the figures
ramed for Mr.. Morgan's yacht, also
obliterated the sum named by its own
commission and substituted for the
figures another sum, about 800, 900 less.
Nevertheless while these Incidents
and there are many of them Of SINH
lar tcnor-are irritating to business
men, they have not weakened their
sense Of duty or their patriotism.
HOLLAND.