The Washington times., 1918-01-12

The general drift Of his argument
was that while a very short time
ago, any one who had made a Meyer
London argument in Kalamazoo or
any other equally famous center Of
American determination to win the
war, might have risked his neck, now
the President and Meyer London
we're so nearly in agreement that
there was no reason whatever for
any patriotic American to doubt that
the President had used the soundest
judgment, and that Meyer had been
right all the time.
OF course, this is not literal quo
tation. When literal quotations are
made from Mr.. London, we may
have such gems Of thought as this:
This is a great, big country and
we all have great deal to learn
in It,
The last person in the world from
whom | would expect any sense
would be an official Of the city Of
New York.
When you have a newspaper which
takes a brilliant mind and enslaves
1t, you have the worst form OF pros
titution.
The sinking of the Lusitania was
an act Of barbarism, never to be for
given as long as mankind lives.
Mr.. Rainey OF Illinois followed,
correcting Socialistic errors of Mr..
London's speech, but refusing to in
tervene on behalf Of American news
papers when 1t had been openly as
serted that they evade the truth
through voluntary censorship when
1t is inconvenient.
The House will have its new Com
mittee on Waterpower. It was so
decided yesterday. 1t will consider a
new Administration bill for a Ma
ional Power Commission, composed
of the Secretaries Of War, OF the In
terror, and OF Agriculture, who will
choose a Hydro-electric administra-
tor to be nominated by the President
to the Senate. The fee simple of all
water power opportunities will be
retained and leased for fifty years
under strict control. The bill pro-
vides for everything except produc-
ton Of power for the public from
the public's own works. Mr.. Ferris
introduced II and urged it on behalf
OF the President, who interviewed to
prevent the possibility of public loss
under bills already pending.
Interstate Commerce Commission
er Anderson appeared before. the
Senate Interstate Commerce Conf
mittee and began an explanation Of
the railroad control bill. Its au-
thorship had been attributed chiefly
to him in Capitol gossip. When
questioned on that point before the
committee lie spoke OF Three or
four of us who have taken the main
responsibility" He included Sec
rotary McAdoo among the three or
four. He explained sections OF the
bill under which the market for
railroad stocks and bonds will be
stabilized. AIessrs. Thorn and Krutts-
nit. who have already defined the
positions Of the railroads before the
Senate Committee, appeared before |
the House Committee yesterday. Rail- |
road complaints relate almost wholly |
to suffering from existing control. II
they are greatly frightened by the
hill. they are too courageous to |
show ii.
The Kentucky legislature is ready |
IN end the war by democratic"
peace on the Presidents terms, and
has so informed the Senate. Through
Senator S herman of Illinois. the I
Lithuanians Of Chicago ask to have
an independent republic arranged for |
their kindred in Europe. There are
about Twenty-Five other varieties OF /
good Americans who may want in
dependent republics in Europe ar
ranged to suit them by some one or
other in Washington. They may
think the President is the right one
TO attend to it, but their Senator or
CONGRESSMAN will do as well, il he !
has it done before he asks for votes
this November. This is one Of ,Ir
new responsibilities In rearranging !
the map Of the world.
Andrew Furuseth was among the
witnesses before the Senate Comrlit-
tee on Commerce yesterday. He is
president Of the international Sea-
mems Union. He came from San
Francisco to help the committee use
its best judgment in selecting the
right men for the new merchant
feet. He has the recitation Of be-
ing as nearly "boss of the Pacific
ocean" as any other potentate,
crowned or uncrowned. He is very |
modest and unassuming.
CONGRESSMAN Fuller Of Massachu-
sets would like TO see the maximum
prices of all the neccssaries OF life
established and regulated by 4
common commodities commission"
He introduced a bill to that effect
yesterday.
The pole OF the earth is not quite
steady. Il is well known that it |
makes an irregular circle around the
Pole star. If it were only stabilized
BY a commission. perhaps everything
else would stabilize itself.