Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-04-15
Congress Goes After George Creel and
lIcflin Row Goes Merrily Oh in
the House Of Repre-.
sentatiyeS.
TOWN TANNED WITH EMPLOYEES
Secretary McAdOo Asks States to go
Slow in Increasing Railroad
Taxes.
Washington Bureau
FreenlAn.JOurnal.
BY ]. e. JONES.

BY J. e. JONES.
1t is rather difficult to say things to
please everybody these days. Even
George Creel, who has stood as the
administration authority as to what
should be said, and what should not
be said, is in trouble. He has been
denounced in the most severe manner
in congress because he remarked that
he would be proud till his dying day
that the United States was not prepar-
ed for war; intimating that this con-
viction was proof that the country had
lived up to, and been true to its ideals
In justice to Mr.. Creel it may be stat
ed that he followed this observation
with great deal of valuable informa-
ton regarding many phases of war
work that showed that the United
States had been able to get splendid
results in it's efforts to take its full
part in the war.
A half dozen senators and as many
denounced the Creel
uttcrances Quite peculiarly most OF
these critics of Creel have themselves
been roundly scored for things they
have said which someone thought
lacked in patriotism. One Of the
things that stands out at this time is
the fact that everyone seems to point
the accusing finger at someone else
and no 'one attempts any defense of
their friends; and they rarely even
defend, themselves.
A notable exception to this rule has
been the additional chapters in the
Hefin row in the house. Heflin is
perhaps the most heartily disliked man
in congress, and when he took new
fling at Congressman Mason the other
his own defense, and gave Hetiin one
of the worst tongue-lashings in the
history of the session. Perhaps it was
more owing to Heflin's ,unpOpularity
than anything else that he came out
second best. 1t was Helms first out
break since he was censured by the
house in tie closing hours of the last
session, for his unwarranted attacks
upon members of congress.
One. Of the phases of war seems to
be that everyone carries chip on his
shoulder.
Automatic Telephones.
Congress has taken up the sugges-
ton of providing automatic telephones
for Washington as means of reliev-
ing the congestion. There is a strong
movement in favor of taking over the
system by the government; and there
would likely be little opposition to this
except for the obvious reason that it
might prove the entering wedge" for
general government ownership of tele-
phones and telegraph lines.
Another one of Washington's big
troubles has to do with the Street car
lines, which are inadequate for the
present emergencies. Skip stops" have
been introducted-which means that
the cars do not stop to let passengers
on and off at every block. Special
platforms have been built in the mid
die of the streets, at important CEN
ters, to expedite loading and unload
ing.
The government is maintaining a
free room and HOUSEKEEPING bureau
for the benefit of it's employees, and
this institution is helping to relieve the
that exists. At the same
time congress is speeding up legisla-
ton to stop the raising of rents. Your
has heard of an ordi-
nary apartment of two rooms, bath and
kitchenettc, renting for $125 month,
whereas it formerly rented for less
Than $50 month unfinished. Anoth-
or apartment of one room and bath,
furnished, rents for Sos. Houses have
rented for as high as $500 month.
A Chicago millionaire rents house
near Rock Creek Park and pays $1,000
a month.
The city has simply been outgrow
ing itself; but there has been vigor-
BUS attempt to protect the new clerks
against being gOuged for room rent
and board, and in this the results have
been quite successful. Those who
suffer most are the people who want
10 live "just little better" than the
comm on-folk.
'''The Americans Creed"
The city of Baltimore offered prize
If one thousand dollars for the best
essay on "the American Creed" Will
am Tyler Page of Friendship Heights,
Maryland, won the contest with the
'ollowing:
THE Americans Greed: l believe