The Washington times., 1918-04-02
By w. BYARS.

The most important business OF the
day in Congress was the adoption
by the Senate Of the conference re-
port on the war Finance Corpora
ton" or "Three-and-a-Half Billion
Dollar War Bank" as made by SEN
ator Simmons.
As chairman Of the Senate Finance
Committee, Senator Simmons had
been in charge Of the bill on its pass
age through the Senate. where he had
strongly supported 1t as a war meas.
ure. though saving his exceptions OF
opposition in principle to all the
'monstrous" things that are part OF
the logic of q war period
As the House will certainly adopt
the conference report, this remark
able measure may now be considered
as having achieved passage. AS II ls
an administration bill," there is no
question of the Presidents signature.
The brief explanations given by Sen
ator Simmons in closing related
chiefly to the relations OF the new
war bank" tn the Federal Reserve
Banking system. In that connection
II may be important to note that the
new bank is limited TO life Of ten
years, and that 1t Is to begin wind
ing ND its affairs as soon as the war
closes. There has been something
more than q suspicion which has
been kept below surface that the
finance corporation Of this very
modern type, with no stockholder but
the Government, might be used for
taking over" the whole business or
issuing paper money-on which oil
competent authorities make 'ulti-
mate sovereignty" depend. II our
bank paper money has been inflated
TO the extent stated repeatedly dur
ing the debate on the bill, then 1t
amounts to a use Of the taxing power
more effective than any exercised oy
Congress. Whoever has the power
to issue and adulterate the currency
IA King. But as the bill has finally
been agreed on, all pains have been
taken to prevent any interference
through the new war bank with the
Federal Reserve system OF paper
money control.
The Senate debated with prolong-
ed gravity the more or less mys-
terious measure under which Sena-
tor Smith Of Georgia, Secretary OF
the Interior Lane, the Commissioner
of Education, and others are ready
to begin the study of adult illiteracy
in its various relations-exceptin1
as it would appear, war and sec
tional politics: After Senator Smith
had spoken of the number Of for
eigners in the United States who
either cannot read or cannot read
English, Senator King of Utah de-
veloped apprehension Of interfer-
ence by Federal authorities with the
rights Of the States, or else with
their responsibilities. Senator Smith
had referred to illiteracy among the
colored people Of the South. After
this, the relation of "a pro-Ameri-
can" illiteracy to political results
south of the Ohio (1SSS-1912) was
treated with the most considerate
and respectful silence.
Senator John Sharp Williams OF
Mississippi. made an eloquent speech
on the English language, as embody-
ing the great "muniments" of liber-
ty, from Magma Charta to the Dec
laration of Independence. As the
English language thus contains what
is highest in political wisdom, so,
with the possible exception Of Greek
and Italian, he thought that no other
languages can offer sublimity ex-
pressed SO as to be comparable with
the language of Shakespeare and
Milton. So for English as the Ian
guage Of the highest triumphs OF
mind in science, philosophy, and gen.
orally. This was something no one
cared to dispute. Senator Williams
was at his best. His tribute to the
\ English language is a credit to Mis-
sissippi-if not to Heidelburg, where
he studied.
There are languages and Ian
guages, however, all with merits Of
their own-and most Of them fit to
tell the truth in. Little, black-eyed
handsome children playing on the
streets of American cities speak a
language which is we'll worth study
as a descendant of the Syrian" in
which the Sermon on the Mount was
delivered. And as the Decalogue was
originally written in Hebrew, that
language still survives in America
for comparison with English-at
least to such an extent that it may
become possible TO appreciate the
beauty and sublimity Of the art OF
the Book of Job. Perhaps nothing
in any modern language-even in
English-is comparable to the eli
max Of the lament Of job, denoune-
ing oppression, but looking forward
to his Long Hereafter, when liberty
is promised at last for the oppressed
where the servant is free from his
master"-regardless Of $3.50 wheat
and 30-cent cotton. Shakespeare has
not surpassed it.
As final action was postponed
this debate wps followed by a reso-
'ution from Senator Gallinger re-
questing the. President to appoirt !
day Of national humiliation, fasting
and prayer for the SUGGEST o.; our
arms and for "the speedy restora-
ton of an honorable AMI lasting
peace to the nations of the earth.
As these nations are now nearly all