Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-03-06
EVENTS OF A WEEK.

EVENTS OF n WEAlIA-
1he week began with the restora-
zion OF the railroads Of the United
states ~ private management after a
,,criod of more than two years OF
government control. Just in time to
have The law take effect at he same
time. the president had on Saturday
signed the new railroad bill wnicn
had been pending in congress for
some time. This bill provides ma
chinery intended to enable the gov
crnncnt to supervise the work of the
railroads more effectively than in the
past. Without the enactment of some
such legislation the railroad business
would nave been left in sad confusion.
as past railroad legislation had come
to be regarded as generally unsatis-
factory, and new needs had devel-
oped during the period OF government
control.
The effect Of the change was nee
essarily felt first and most percepti-
DlN III lllc all Il ShsSSS. ~
cral working personnel Of the roads
remained unchanged during govern
ment control, and it still remains
about as it was. The details Of the
work which are most apt to come to
the attention Of the public are also
largely matters of routine. and the
average citizen has no means OF
Knowing. from, observation unde-
what system the road which serves
him is being operated. In the gen.
cral Offices there are questions of Of
fetal management. and Of policy Of
all kinds, and whatever othe. changes
there are to be must filter down from
these sources.
: In connection with the condition in
which the roads are returned there
Us a lack of agreement between rep-
resentatives of the government n
of the railroads. In a statement is
sued recently Director Hines said
tina the roads were being returned
in as good condition as that i'll which,
aIllpN ldu DeeH IeCeINeu, anu lHdI tlCS
were being operated as economically,
il not more economically. The Rail-
way Age takes issue with this state
ment. This publication declares that
in two years the government has not
bought a single passenger car: that
in W. Years it has bought only-as
many freight cars and locomotives
as were ordinarily retired in n year;
and that fewer new rails and ties were
laid than under private control. In
regard to the matter OF expense it is
pointed out that under government
operation railway expenses nave in
creased sl.6no,000 ,0oe a year.
A suit which has long been pending
in ,heSfederal courts in which the dis
solution Of the steel trust AS a COM
bination in restraint Of trade was de-
Inanded by the government has been
decided by the supreme court in IA
yor of the corporation. The deci-
sion was a divided one. the vote be-
ing 4 10 3. two Of the judges being
.uiS4udiillcu. Int SupSldIte pl lilS
decision is that the size u the cor
poration is not Sufficient cause for is
dissolution, and that il has not been
established that its size is due 10 I'M
lawful practices or thar these prac-
tees characterize its operations. The
decision in SO far as similar issues are
involved follows the reasoning in
the famous rule OF reason decision
rendered several years ago.
The peace treaty debate in the sem
ate continues, with an occasional vote
TO vary the monotony. Some days
ago it appeared certain that there
had been reached a deadlock which
would not be broken. and thai what
ever the remaining proceedings in
The senate might be they would be
merely preparatory to laying the
treaty aside until time to drag 4
forth for use in the summer cam.
epaign. That Sill seems probable
although Of, late redoubled effort.
have beer put forth by moderate
~ NAAu " Tx ~ C1bs W save. IL lIOlI
That fate. Several Democrats hav.
broken away from their party line.
and have Joined with the majority; il
adopting reservations, and there /:
Just a bare chance that this process
will continue until all the senator;
who really wish the treaty adopted
IN some form get together and act
It they dn so they have the matte;
III their own hands.
At TIL. outset OF the treaty debat,
Y PAS beloved By some that tn,
South American republics would TAX,
their cue from tho United States an,
decline 10 join the League Of Nation
except on terms similar to those in
sisied Upon by the United state,
This belief has proven nnfonnded
several OF the South American ma
ftons accepted the treaty quite earl,
aASld during the week similar act(oa
hAs been taken by Argentina, Para
Faaay and Spain, III without reserya
tlonps md ~ nile, which rsssrye
tie srtzht y ~ = mAy $500
Utthrxferease tosMersa1ksas -
1880 nAtisn 5oialaEahtex.
Adrsasc ssnss,vnsyY $3.50.
sS 3ekprtt where n Nza,except that
1Swnthath 1t
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