Evening star., 1920-01-18

The situation concerning the proDleInS Vi
those two major industries of the nation the
railroads and coal mines, moved forward to-
ward the final solution with the week
1t will be recalled that at the close of last
week there were Indications that the coal op-
orators, as represented here before President
Wilson's investigation committee, were about
to throw a monkey wrench into the machinery
of amicable adjustment 1t matters little what
it that, over the week end. persuaded them
of the of their ways. the fact that early
in the week the process of taking testimony be-
gan with every appearance of harmony IS SUI
ficient cause for qualification. The operators
have agreed to cooperate with the commission
and to obey it's findings with but one reserva-
ton. to the effect that they will be bound by
any prices the commission may fix only SO long
as the Lever law shall remain in effect The
miners have accepted the findings of the com
mission binding upon them in toto.
During the week, as Investigations developed,
the outstanding feature of the hearings became
the request of the miners for sweeping re-
arrangement of wage scales and working con-
ditions which would mean the ignoring of wage
precedent built up through twenty-five years
of collective bargaining. The operators. on the
other. hand. are opposed to such a procedure
on the basis that the matter of wages was ad-
judicated and placed on fair and acceptable
basis by the Washington wage agreement of
1913 They insist that the commission should
not go behind that finding in it's Investigations
The question is vital The changes wished
by, the miners revolutionary in character,
it is alleged. and open questions relating to
every phase of industrial relations One thing
is certain If the commission decides that its
functions properly along the lines urged by
the miners, the task before it is stupendous
and conclusion can be reached in the
sixty-day period suggested for it's hearings.
One wonders if the miners, ostensbly the
agreeable 1itigant not in fact seeking subty
to hinder practical adjustment.
The railroads Of the country have placed
their desires to government aid and regula-
tion before the House and Senate conferees on
the Esch-Cummins bills, in the form of
brief" outlining what the leading magnates
consider to be legislation essential to the re-
sumption of private ownership. The roads
eager for government regulation according to
this statement. But this eagerness is condi-
tonal upon the granting of binding provisions
assuring generous assistance from the govern
ment in the financing of the properties They
ask guarantee of income and loan of at
least $500.000,000 for the of the roads
private ownership is put into effect. There are.
besides these major considerations, large
number Of technical comments upon what the
bill. compromised by the conferees, should
contain. The deliberations of the committee
continued during the week.
International finance continues to present
itself for the study and consideration of Jim and
Jane. request, the precise origin of which
has not been disclosed addressed to the gov
ernments of Great Britain. France. Holland.
Switzerland. Denmark Norway. Sweden. the
United States and the reparation commission.
and signed by leading fnanciers OF the world,
asks that Representatives to an international
economic conference be appointed soon
possible Representatives Of the leading ma
tions, both belligerent and neutral. would take
part in the conference which would seek "the
supply of credit and the development Of trade
through normal channels"
The memorandum, of which the above out
lines the purpose, takes issue squarely with the
schemes Of Sir George Paish, who continued
during the past week to urge the extension of
American credit in Europe, under the threat of
goodbye to your foreign trade" if America
fails to act along the lines he suggests.
In this connection it is interesting to note
the bulletin issued Monday by the Secretary
of the Treasury which. while announcing that
that departments most sanguine expectations
have been realized in the current financial con-
dition of the government, urges emphatically
that no new fields of large expenditure be en-
barked upon. Such course, he points out,
would result inevitably in a call for another
liberty loan.
At sixty seconds after midnight of Friday
the 18th, the eighteenth amendment to the Con-
stitution of the United States. meaning national
prohibition, went into effect. From that second
on any caught buying drink. carrying
one on his hip, pays $500. Second offense.
doubled. Third, two years. The swan song of
John Barleycorn is believed to have been sung.
Whether this reflection brings a smile to your
lips or a tear to your eyes. the sweetness or
the bitterness of the loss needs enhancement
here Suficiente dictu 'Nuff said
nroCfic