The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-12-18
MATSON'S WEEKLY
 MARKET LETTER

The report of business from interior points which come to us point to gradual decline, even the Christmas buyers are not so numerous now or 30 liberal in their purchases. People are beginning to economize, to realize that this great and terrible war is bringing home to them the necessity for reduced expenses of living and contribution to the greatest cause they ever experienced in their lives the cause of supporting their govern ment in this trying period to the full extent of their means moral physical and financial.
 Investigations by the United States Senate into the methods of conduct Of the different War Departments has begun, and it is we'll that a watchful care should be exercised, for with the enormous expenditures now being made by the government inefficiency in Administration. with leakages and graft, are among the possibilities Unfortunately the government cannot find all men honest. and there, are those whose desire to accumulate IS slbove patriotism and loyalty to their country. There must be watch dogs, and there should be the most com petent men in the country at the head of every department of the govern xnent. men who have been specially educated along the lines involved. It l 5s most earnestly to be hoped that man win be chosen to direct the 1m- naeuse railroad interests of the coun- 4ry who by experience and education ia competent to handle the greatest s pf our industries, which enctrcles the whole of these United States-no Ju- rist. no leading grocer, no prominent g1ry roods man-for it is not in thelr line. A sound, hard sense. practical railroad man is what is needed for a directing head to conserve the best fh- terests of the country. Let us hope that politics will not enter into ms position.
 Was there ever a time in the his tory of this world, in the history our country. when the best brains, the highest judgment, the most uncom-. promising loyalty and the greatest honesty was needed more in admins tration?
 Was there ever more oppor- Eun0 El1Q6 LOE l11C clbAC
 Washington to appoint a Coalition Cabinet, irrespective of political a1til- iatfons. to do as England and France have done at times in the past-csli into the closest councils of the cabinet table the greatest men of the country, thereby inspiring confidence that Will make for liberal purchases of the gov srnment's obligations and create a pe- lief that the guiding hand of the President will be ably assisted ana advised by men qualified so to do As 1t is today, many there are wno have not this belief or faith. We should all unite in the most loyal su- port of the Administration and show our faith in our government by every means in our power. aiding in the raising of men and money, firm be- llevers in the cause of Liberty and Justice under which we are living
 In a late dispatch from Paris stAtement was made by Premier Cle- manceau in reply to representations by the American Publicity League that much greater knowledge of war conditions was needed in America. He saide ssI believe that self-governing peoples fight better when they have fun knowledge of the actual situa- fton.n The quotation is apropos in view of agitation for modification of nc newspaper censorship in Wash snHt0n.
 War developments present aN com n7ioated aspect at this time. "A state rent of the Allied war aims is expect a to be made soon by Lloyd George. N would do much to clarify the at zssorrhere. Considerable uneasiness has been exhibited over reports of Bofsheyild soldiers getting control oVer the great stores of war supplies ak yIadivostok, but as a majority of fhen represents Japanese products which 1t is said have not been paid for if would Seem that soldiers from that country may be expected to prevent them from reaching pro-German in- 4areets. Talk of a revolution in Spain fs becoming more insistent. The peo- pie are declared to be much dtssatis- fled over the alleged pro-German neu- fraIlty of the government. It is re- ported that the Secretary of the Treasury at Washington is opposed to a higher rate of interest on new is- sues of Liberty Bonds. A higher rate would undoubtedly have an adverse effect on many investments. 1t is re- Assuring to have a Washington off clai now quoted in this connection: we cannot but regard with concern the serious declines in the genera value of fixed investments" It is hop ed that proper action will follow. The proclamation of the President, indica- ting that for the present no undue re- strictions will be imposed on Austrian aliens, is well received because of the assurance it gives that the large vol ufne of Austro- Hungarian labor vii not be seriously disturbed in thi' country
 Congress is not expected to take any drastic action in regard to rail road legislation at this time, and vii probably postpone action until after the war. President Req of the Penn sylvania Railroad in a statement this week before the Association of Lift Insurance Presidents, said: "On the Pennsylvania system our traffic dou bles every twelve years. and we ough to expand our plant more rapidly thar we have been doing to meet the re quirements properly" Bi-metallism fl t,~f, Trr Y