The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-01-30

the\e hearings. His opinion on the
question of rates is that those who
have complaints may bring them to
the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion as usual, and that its decisions
will stand unless the Director Gem
eral overrules them. AS for the
question of higher or lower rates,
Government operation is to create
surplus instead of deficits.
Railroad experts are understood
to interpret the Governmental pol
icy of creating surplus instead of
deficits as in general agreement
with their theory that rates ought
to be put up as soon as possible. To
that extent the -"specter of Govern
ment ownership" is not frightening
the railroads.
The issue between the Senate
Military Affairs Committee and
Secretary of War Baker was post
poned yesterday by the session of
the committee behind closed doors.
1t opened them briefly to receive
Provost Marshal General Crowder.
The committee has bills before il
providing for drafting young men
who have reached the age of twenty
one since the first draft. The Pro,
vost Marshal General estimated
that this will give 100000 men in
the first class.
No date has been announced for
the recall of Secretary Baker. The
routine business before the Commit
tee on Military Affairs in the mean
time is inquiry into the. aviation
service and further investigation of
the quartermaster's department.
Business outside of routine in all
committees now belongs almost as
much to the next Congress as to this.
As the new chairman of the Repub-
lican Congressional campaign COM
mittee, Congressman Frank p.
Woods Of Iowa is reported ready to
coordinate and unity" his work
with that Of Republican Senators.
Some Of these are now ready to speed
up for Arnageddon by ousting Bak-
er or any other Democrat, who. is not
in open opposition to Bunker Hill
monument.
Before the Senate Commerce
Committee, Mr. Carl Stern appear
ed as attorney for the shipping
board to explain its benevolent at
titude toward the Sloane Shipyards
corporations, as "Know How" COM
panies, financed by the Government.
The Government forced a mortgage
in its own behalf Of S750.000 to pro-
tect its investment. Then it put in
a manager who, it seems, hurt Presi-
dent Sloane's feeling by overriding
him completely. 1t was explained
that this is for the good Of all con-
cerned. Though he is not manak
except outside the works, President
Sloane is drawing $4,000 a year
salary from the Sloane companies,
which, with an enforced vacation,
mighty satisfy some.
The House continued to debate the
agricultural appropriation bill. The
annual attempt to strike out the ap-
preparation for Congressional gar
den and flower seeds, resulted in in
creasing the total from $242, 900 to
1868 900.
Three assistant secretaries of war
are provided for in the Dent bill, at
salaries of $1,000 each.
The Children's Bureau Of the La
Dor Department favored the Capitol
with the announcement of a nation
wide drive" for child welfare, with
a week beginning April 6, to be known
as "Baby '7eek." Babies are to be
weighed and otherwise scientifically
tested. But why "drive?" The Rus
sci Sage School of Professional Phil
anthropy might do well to cultivate
Dleasanter words in improving other
peoples babies.