The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-07-03

Amerisan days like these who wants
Colombia to keep on nursing crouch
against Uncle Sam? Since Colonel
Roosevelt has passed away the main
obstruction to the Colombia settle
ment is removed-and SO the Senate
has grown sweet and tractable and
indulgent with innocent Colombia
1t remains to be seen whether Con-
gress will get on top of the big in.
dustrial problems that confront It, or
whether, as in the case Of the last
Congress, final adjournment will re-
veal another legislative wreck, with
hope deferred in the manner that
maketh the heart sick"
The last campaign books revealed
how Congress made many, and Won
derful laws for the people. Both great
political parties claimed the credit in
their guide to spell-binders. 1t is ia
tuous to say that Congress doesn't pro-
dTce results, for when it steams UP
as was particularly the case in enact
ing war measures-things go by with
hum But the Congressional loco
motive is most awfully shy Of col
lisions with public sentiment, and the
old steam horse has for long time
been eyeing askance the WATERPROOF
ers, the public utilities and the rail
roads; and the realization has been
| percolating mighty slow that there
is clear right of way in sight for
the settlement of these problems.
However, though the leavening pro-
cesses have been tedious, there has,
nevertheless, resulted a dfnteness of
purpose that is encouraging. Out of
the present arrangement there may be
evolved an early solutions for many
of these Al problems.
1t is recalled that the task of re-
forming the banking system of the
country was taken up in Congress six
years ago. The method of national
bank control was as vascillating and
wobbly as that which has been applied
to the railroads for quarter of
century. But in the case of the bank
ing system Congress made steam;
partisanship was thrown aside, and in
single session the Federal Reserve
Act had been passed and had the sig
nature of the President. Our banking
system has since weathered a world
war. and on it's sure foundation our
country has established itself as a
world banking power. Will Congress
do as we'll with the railroads, which
are now the first number on the pro-
gram. presenting the biggest indus
trial problems of the day? Everyone
knows that there is something radl-
| cally wrong, and nearly everyone has
plan of reform. The plans for new
railway legislation are as varied as
were the proposals for banking legis-
latation in 1913. But now, as then,
there is a pretty general understand
| ing and agreement all over the coun-
try as to the fundamental principles
that must be incorporated in sound
railroad law that will insure for the
future the growth Of our transporta-
! ton facilities. The country is beblnd
the basic principles of private owner
| ship, management and operation, safe
guarded by national regulation-all
along a manner that will provide
return to the owners commensurate
with that earned in other industries;
while at the same time preserving the
! high status Of railroad employees that
has been arrived at in the evolution
of the railroad industry. These things
seem certain-and they all spell
square deal for everybody. Punitive
measures in our industrial plan have
become archaic; and a basis that VIII
leave railroads without huge deficits,
that will provide proper competitive
features for the benefit of the public,
and which will turn private initiative
loose again under government control
seem to loom in the immediate perspec-
five. It does not matter so much that
there are all kinds of plans being Of
fered, for these can be speedily sifted
down and the ancthratic ingredients
saved from each. But 1t is important
to have Congress make steam, and
that, apparently is what is being done.
&