The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-02-17

son, replying, defended the three
year average as a base of compensa-
ton, but was willing to make excep-
tons where in his judgment it might
cause hardship to any railroad while
under Government control. He re-
viewed the British system of control
and compensation, based primarily
on net earnings of 1913. According
to his information, British govern
ment control since 1913 has been
! paying from 4.6s to 1858 per cent on
capital stock. The percentage in
1913 was given as SOC.
The present prospect in both
House and Senate, is that after
everybody has "gone on record"
the railroads will get what was rec
commended by the President, and ac-
Cept it. as all they have ever really
: expected.
The House continued the discussion
of the urgent deficiency bill Of bill
lion dollars. Nothing like obstruc-
/ ton developed. Mr.. Campbell, of
Kansas, took occasion. however, to
put the Republican side on record in
opposition to soldering" on Govern
ment work. His theory of the "cost
plus" contract is that it logically en-
Outraged soldering"
Messrs. Gillett, Republican, and
Ferris, Democrat. discussed a mis-
understanding of unanimous consent
for extending remarks" in the Rec
ord. After making remarks on lands
in the Northwest. Mr.. Ferris recently
received unanimous consent to extend
them in the Record. When the Clerk
of the House read the extension" it
proved to be a newspaper article, de-
nouncing as "odious and detestable"
the general political conduct of Col.
onel Roos welt and the Armageddon
Home Guard. The Republicans
showed their disapproval by loud and
sardonic laughter. Mr.. Ferris in
sisted that he was following the
usual presidents of extension" with
no idea that Republicans we're so
thin-skinned" as to have their feel
ings hurt.
The Indian appropriation bill. as
passed by the House, was reported
favorably with amendments from
the Senate Committee on Indian At
fairs by Senator Ashurst. It's most
important section relates to the leas-
ing OF oil and other mineral lands
still belonging to the Indians as ma
tional wards
Senator Johnson introduced in the
Senate bill closely following the
Nolan minimum wage bill" for
Government employees i'm the District
OF Columbia. The minimum annual
salary is fixed at $1,OSO. Under the
Sutherland bill. fourth class post
masters would be put on salary
fixed by the number of pieces of mail
they handle. with $1,000 a year as
the maximum.
Senator Gronna submitted resolu-
tons of the North Dakota legislature.
indOrsing woman suffrage and call
ing on the Senate to submit the
amendment
In the House Secretary of State
Lansing asked 100000 additional
for the diplomatic and consular
service with u request that il
might be used in emergencies by the
President in the United States not
withstanding the restrictions OF ex-
listing laws. He writes that the
responsibilities and activities of the
department are increasing at an
enormously rapid rate
Under a bill introduced in the
House. assessments would be collect
ed from POStOffice employees account
able for funds TO make good losses
resulting from the failure of any
officer or employee Of the postal
service properly to discharge his Of
fetal duty etc. The result might
he TO let no innocent man escape
even if the guilty did.