The Washington times., 1918-01-26

could have been overcome by any
government in the woriG-beset as
this Government was by live wire
magnates and high financial experts
who were insisting on being compell-
ed or drafted or Communicated or
taken over into a good thing" That
is the case for the People OF the
United States VS.. the Compulsory
Profteers." And also against the
Compulsory Armageddon contin-
gent.
Before the Senate Commerce Com
mittee yesterday, Mr.. Philip d.
Sloane. president OF the Sloane Ship
yards Corporations, continued the re-
markable history of Live Wire" and
Know How" activities. as first de.
veloped by the testimony Of Ad-
miral Bowles. Mr.. Sloane. however,
insisted that he has been given un-
due credit as a live wire," for
knowing how" He spent the after
noon in objecting to the assumption
that he had put over a good thing.
He insisted that it had been put
over on him by the Clinchfeld Pro-
noting Company, or by the Govern
ment, or by both. According to his
present view. he has his neck in
halter, with the rope thrown over
a limb" by himself under misap-
prehension, as result Of which the
other end of the rope NAV be pulled
by the Government, perhaps assist
ed by the Clinchfield company. If
this view is tenable, the "Know How"
Of the Clinchfield company consisted
of securing contracts, among others,
for twelve ships from the Govern
ment, securing payment Of under
$3.50, 900. but over $500, 900 "all to
the good" for the options, and then
leaving Mr.. Sloane and the Govern
ment to build the ships between
them, with Mr.. Sloane responsible
for failure. Mr.. Sloane also under
stands that Mr.. Ferris, lately Of the
Government service, takes no risk
under this arrangement, but is also
included among those who Know
How when percentages, honorariums
or other forms of financial recog1i-
ton are available to stimulate in
telligence.
Interstate Commerce Commissioner
Anderson spent the day with the
Senate Interstate Commerce Commit
tee, ir the study OF the railroad re-
lief bill as now amended by he Sen
ate Committee Under one Of these
amendments. all war taxes for 1918
are to be paid "by the carrier out OF
its own funds. or shall be charged
against or deducted from the stan
dard return" as fixed by the three
year average. Boards Of referees, to
be appointed by the Interstate Com
merce Commission, are provided for.
All suits brought for restraint OF
trade and now pending are to pro-
ceed 10 final judgment. Means OF
satisfaction for short lines" and
other outsiders" are provided. Rail-
way employees are assured of their
legal status. On the whole, the bill
as the Senate committee has amend
ed II, leans as far as circumstances
admit, toward the theory Of popular
control, and the "old competitive
basis"
The amendment to the all-impor-
tant thirteenth section declares that
the proposed legislation is for an
emergency, and is not to be con-
strued as expressing or prejudicing
future policy, etc. This makes no.
change whatever in the legal effect
of the section. 1t is the expression
of an opinion that something ought
to be said to satisfy somebody.
Under the Carter House bill. all
Indians born in the United States
will be made citizens, and all who are
of more than half white blood VIII
be entitled to squander their prop
erty as if they were entirely white.
It includes coal and oil lands, which
make Indians interesting as far East
as New York.
Mr.. johnson of Kentucky has pro-
vided modern methods for shipping
out and selling fresh District OF Co.
lumbia garbage in close metal con-
tainers for sale as pig and chicken
feed. He has another bill that all
who are interested in District of Co
lumbia war profits on real estate IN
any form, including apartment
houses, may do well to study CLOSELY.
It is intended to induce them to help
win the war bv parting with at east
100 per cent of their war profits.