Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-09
GREATER USE OF
NATIONS PORTS
What Is Likely to Follow Con-
centration of Power Over Trans
portation in Washington
spocto, Correspondence rccnt"o Public Acdocr

Special Correspondence ErcniH0 Public Lcd2cr
WASIIINGTON, Feb. 8.
CONCENTRATION of authority in WASH
~ inEton is giving much concern to mcm-
bers of the House and Senate The Prcsi-
dent seems intent upon the grouping of au-
thorty during the progress of the war, and
he is most ably assisted by the Secretary of
the Treasury, Mr.. McAdoo who is gradually
coming TO be the head center of much Of the
practical part of the Administration pro-
gram. Congress seems not to differ with the
President so much about his having author
ity as commander-in-Chcf of the army and
navy as it does about the possible abuse of
that authority where the President cannot
personally be on guard. as for instance. in
the matter Of contracts and expenditures
1t il the contention Of many members of
the national legislature that the failure of
those placed suddenly in power under au-
thority granted to the President to observe
the usual laws and regulations regarding
advertisements, specifications ana proposals
prior to the award of contracts, is leading
To business dissatisfaction ana unrest that
must ultimately result in scandal, on the
other hand. the excuse for most laws re-
Gently enacted and for several new laws
proposed such as the railway control bill
and the McAdoo bill for "war finance
corporation," is to hasten the war by cut
ting the red tape and putting business men
In control, regardless of precedent. The fight
In the Senate to obtain II war cabinet sub
ject to legal conditions and the Presidents
firm opposition to it, anticipated by the APP
pointment of Mr., Stettinius as surveyor geN-
eral of purchases. emphasizes the situation
now confronting official Washington.
Eggs in One Basket
The recent report of the Bureau of Elf
cheney fayorng the abolition of the Federal
subtreasuries at Philadelphia, Baltimore and
Cincinnati illustrates phase of the CEN
tralizing tendency. Years ago Andrew Jack
son beat down the Bank of the United States
because, owing to the direction of Nicholas
Biddle of Philadelphia, it threatened to be-
come a central bank SO powerful as to be
able to dictate to the Government itself
Now we have the Federal Reserve Bank
which differs from central bank not so
materially, except that the Secretary of the
Treasury has influence over its affairs and
is certainly as powerful as Nicholas Biddle
was in his day.
The subtrcasurles have been abiding places
for the coin and bullion OF the nation and
for certain functions of government which
have been of great convenience to the busi-
ness world. 1t is now proposed to abandon
them with the probability that all coin and
bullion will be relegated to the Treasury
vaults in Washington, or to the SubtreaslIry
| in New York, which presumably is to be
preserved, or to the vaults of the Federal
| Reserve banks, which Secretary McAdoo has
heretofore indicated are private institutions
| to which the actual property of the Govern
ment should not be intrusted. There may bs
| a change of view on this point but the Sec
| retary of the Treasury as late as June,
| 1916 held that the Federal Reserve banks
| should not he substituted for the subtreas-
uries. lie did not say so IN so many words
| but what he did say might be taken to mean
| that the Governments financial possessions
| had better he safely distributed than held
IN in one lump at one place.
Port Distribution Also
There is great deal in the question OF
| Capitalization arising from the existing
| problem of railroad congestion New York
| by common consent-although danger sig.
| nails have frequently been thrown IN h,
| other ports of the country-has come to h,
| the greatest of all our ports, as IL is con
| ceded TO be the American financial center
| IL was not always so, for in the beginninl
| Philadelphia held the lead both as to shin
| ping and finance.
Now comes the nations embarrassment
due to the lack of transportation facilities
and the shortageso of coal. Why? Becaus,
of the physical condition surrounding th
port of New York. 1t is overdone. IL 4
clogged to the guards. What is there o,
the railroad tracks awaiting shipment mus
be moved before any other OF the country
| products can come forward. Philadelphia 4
| only ninety miles away. 1t has ample har
| Dor facilities to relieve much of the conges
| ton at New York. 1t does relieve much O
the pressure. apart from its own norma