The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-19

much as possible OF the United states
overflow. and although the winter was
unusually severe and railroading cor
respondlngly more difflcult the freight
hauled TO st. John, Halifax and Port
land showed an increase Of 60 per cent.
oy err the best previous records This,
aided to his regular duties. meant for
| Sir Henry practically night and day
work, and II is even on record that he
went days at a time without leaving his
office for his home
Not Hampered by Red Tape.
Unlike many public officials, Sir
Henry does not permit his activities to
be impeded by red tape. Although a
lawyer. Blackstone does not sit heavily
upon his chest. and when the laws are
found inadequate to meet pressing needs
his motto is change the laws" All
railways are Jealous Of their right to
handle for the greatest possible distance
business originating on their lines. In
1918 a bumper wheat crop on the Goose
Lake branch of the Canadian Northern
Railroad promised exceedingly good bust
ness for that railway. but lacking suf-
ficient rolling stock to handle 1t ade-
quately, the result was that farmers
stood to lose heavily through delay. Sir
Henry met the situation by having bill
rushed through Parliament giving to the
Railway Commission power to compel
railway companies to hand over grain
to competing lines when unable to
handle It expeditiously themselves. The
moment the bill was sanctioned the nee
essary order was issued and the wheat
moved out over the Grand Trunk Pacific.
Not the least Of Sir Henry's services
to Canada was his performance in avert
ing a coal famine during the war. The
carrying capacity OF American roads
was taxed to the limit in transporting
American soldiers. munitions and food
supplies to Atlantic ports, with the re-
suit that rolling stock was not available
to bring from Pennsylvania the fuel
required in the Dominion. The situation
had reached q critical point. but just
when all efforts seemed unavailing Sir
Henry entered the breach and succeeded
in making arrangements to have suf-
ficient coal rushed from the mouth of
the mines to tie various distributing
points in Canada, avertins a grave sit
uation.
Like his predecessor. Sir Thomas
White. Sir Henry Is great admirer
and friend Of the United States. and
as president of the Ottawa Canadian
Club he has more than once expressed
the opinion that all of Canada's
energies and efforts should be directed
toward solidifying the Impeachment be-
tween the motherland and America One
of his close personal friends IL Newton
Baker, United States Secretary of War.
Sir Henry enters upon his career as
Finance Minister at time when the
financial position OF the Dominion
challenges both brains and courage.
With a net debt of almost 100000
900 (which Is above 5000 for every man.
woman and child in the country. and
with a gap Of nearly $500. 100000 to
be bridged between estimated expendi-
ture and visible revenue this coming
year. the task Of bringing the Dominion
safely through Is not without great diff
fculty. Whether Sir Henry Drayton Is
equal to the task. remains to be seen.
but those who best know his career are
confident that his capacity and courage
will prevail