The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-02

recommendations by cabinet officers
and other high officials.
They expect to complete their task
Monday and on Tuesday cabinet mem
bers and others who met with Attor-
ney General Palmer, will meet again
to hear the report and attempt to sift
out some plan 10 bring down prices.
A variety Of suggestions for federal
action have been advanced--redHc-
ton of money in circulation, eontrac-
ton of credit, cheaper wheat, licens-
ing of dealers and limitation Of
profits.
Palmer says an effort will be made
to curb pyofiteering with laws now
on the statute books and that a re-
quest for new powers from congress
may be made. Officials point out that
the United States is still in a techni-
cal state of war, and that laws passed
to control wartime prices and profits
might still be employed.
sWhile the various government en-
deavors to bring down high prices
have been brought to a focus by de-
mands of the railroad men, the presi-
dent has had wholesale complaints
from other sources.
Both the president and Hines have
shown they consider the railroad and
cost Of living problem as one question.
Congress Hauled Up Short.
Congress has been hauled up short
by unrest turnout the country over
the high cost of living.
Not only has the houses five weeks
recess been called off but the league
of nations fight in the senate may be
affected before long, senators said
today.
Leaders of both houses today were
concerned with devising some plan
whereby the insstent demand from
the whole country for an adjustment
of wages into proper relation to the
cost of living may be worked out. they
said.
House and senate leaders were to
confer in an effort to lay the founda-
ton for action which will meet not
only the railroad mems problem, but
the broader one which affects all
workers.
Country Going TO Smash"
Unless this is done. the country sis
going to smash" Senator Cummins.
Iowa, chairman of the senate inter
state commerce committee. said today.
I'VE must give assurances to the
workers." said Cummins today. that
an equitable relation will be estab-
lished between the cost of living wages.
We must do that Immediately. Unless
we do, the country is going to smash.
Il believe the time has come when
the government must fix the wages of
the railroad workers, whether it re-
tainS control OF the lines or not. L am
ready to vote for such action. But
the government should have the power
to raise wages to meet the living cost,
or to bring the living cost down to the
wage level
within a week I expect bill will
be introduced covering immediate re-
lief of the railroad workers who are,
as a class, not so well paid as they
were before the war"
Don't Like Wilson Plan.
President Wilson's suggestion on the
railroad problem does not particularly
appeal to congressional leaders. How
ever, unless they can develop come
thing better after talking with Direc-
tor General Hines and railroad broth
! erhood leaders, they are likely to ac-
cept it.
As regards the league of nations
| fight, administration senators pre-
| dicted the general unrest will increase
the pressure on league opponents, par
ticularly the milder reservationists to
cease opposition and permit early rati-
fication. By this means alone, ad-
! ministration leaders declare, will world
stability be restored. They intend to
stress this in speeches and limited to-
day President Wilson may openly. EN-
| phasize it.
In the senate today Senators Kirby,
Mcclellan and Myers expected to con-
tinue their demands for action. Myers
will insist. he said, on a vote on his
resolution for arbitrary government
reduction or prices, while Mcclellan
| hopes for a favorable vote on his plan
to create another investigating com
| mittee.