New-York tribune., 1918-03-05
Plans and Intentions of the Powerful
Mr.. McAdoo

Mr.. McAdoo
We do not know TO what extent Mr..
Henry James Forman is authorized to
speak for the Secretary of the Treasury.
But Mr.. Forman is a writer of distinc-
ton and a person Of standing, and his
article in the current issue of "Colier's"
is so extremely interesting that we re-
print most of it in column to the right.
1t will be observed that Mr. Forman
came away with, as he says, ''tarce very
definite impressions"
First-That Mr.. McAdoo has no inten-
ton of letting the railways go out of the
governments control into the hands of
their former owners.
Second-That he will be greatly pleased
to accept the Democratic nomination in
1920.
Third-That Mr.. McAdoo is in a posi-
ton TO get nearly everything he wants.
Concerning these three matters there is
one which has, as it were, Il certain obvi~
business. That is the last
First-Mr McAdoo is director of the
railways and therefore has directly under
his control, without any kind of let or
hindrance, an organization of nearly
100000 employees.
Second--As Director Of Railways Mr.
McAdoo holds in his hands the destinies
of hundreds of thousands of shippers all
over the United States and has an enor-
nous influence over the industries of the
country.
Third-Mr. McAdoo is sole director of
all the machinery Of the Liberty Loan
campaigns, involving the cooperation Of
some thirty thousand banks and bankers
and innumerable loan committees.
Fourth--The same is true of the splen-
did organization of the war savings
stamps committees and drectorates.
F'ifth--Mr McAdoo is directly respon-
sible for the determination OF the sums
levied upon corporations in the excess
profits tax. He has appointed an able and
nonpartisan committee to lay down broad
rulings for the operation of this extraor-
dinary law. The revenue department.
will collect from billion to two billion
dollars under this law, and for it's
proper Interpretation and for this colec-
ton there has been necessarily large
increase in the force of revenue en-
poycs.
And there is yet TO be mentioned his
further activities in the Farm Loan Bank,
his el of1icio position as one of the gov
ernors Of the Federal Reserve Bank sys-
tenn and the new activities which appar-
entity are to be conferred upon him by
the passage of the war finance corporation
bill
We can at the moment think of no
other man in q governmental position who
has ever possessed such an extent anc
variety of power. 1t is, therefore, of very
deep interest to the American people tc
find Mr.. McAdoo very definitely bent upon
the retention Of the railroads under GOV
crnmental control.
Possibly this explains the extremely
tenacious character OF the nsistencc, from
the Administration, that no term should
be set in the railroad bill for the return
Of the railroads to their owners
It would be difficult to present a more
vivid example Of exactly what is implied
in and cntailed by the prodigious increase
Of governmental functions more or less
forced or fostcred by the exigcnces of
war
But for immediate concern there is al
most equal interest in certain further
remarks Of the Secretary, especially those
in connection with his denial that nd was
really responsible for the Garfield coai
shutdown.
'To be coloquial," he is quoted as say
ing, II never pass the buck. | am per
fectly willing TO receive any bucks passed
to me, no matter how hot they come"
We infer that this was written and
said before Mr.. McAdoo had, to employ
his picturesque phrascology, received !,
certain "buck" from the Hon. Herbert
Hoover, Commissioner Of Food If we re.
call Alright, the Hon. Secretary did not
present the other cheek for another
"buck"
We infer from this that Mr.. McAdoo's
remarks upon this especial subject were
Of Il general nature, as 1t we're, and not
intended to apply to any "bucks" whicl,
might jeopardizc the kindly intention
toward Mr. McAdoo Of the farmers or
food consumers Of America.