The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-06
HIS JOB is LARGE
Senator Harding Must Solve
One Hundred Problems.
Real or Technical Peace Is His
First Task.
HIS CABINET ALMOST PICKED
Balance of War Cost $4,000
100000 Must Be Met.
Many International and Eco
monte Tangles UnsOlved.
HIS CABINET ALMOST PICKED

Washington, Nov. Gone hundred
problems of major Importance will
confront the cabinet to be appointed
by President-elect Harding. The
number of minor problems is legion.
Altho President-elect Harding has
so far given no indication as to who
will be asked to form a cabinet, politi-
cal observers here have made up
partial slate of secretaries like this:
State. Elihu Root of New York. Treas
ury, Governor Frank O. Lowden IN
nois. Justice. ex-senator George
Sutherland of Utah. Navy, ex-senator
John Weeks of Massachusetts. Agri-
culture, Henry c. Wallace. Des Moines'
editor Postoffice, Henry NJ. DauSh-
erty of Ohio, or VIII Hays Labor,
John Nolan of California. Herbert
Hoover, General Pershing and MAI
Gen. Leonard Wood also regarded as
possibilities.
Peace Is First Problem.
Bringing a technical as well as
practical state of peace and paying the
remainder of the cost of the war, Will
be a big job for the new administra-
ton.
In addition to writing the peace
terms with Germany and Austria
Root, if appointed secretary OF state
must frame a Russian and probably
Mexican policy and propose to the
other powers President-e Harding S
plan for an association of nations;
Governor Lowden. If appointed 10
the treasury, will have 10 get me
United States started on the task OF
paying the rest of cost of the war
about 100000
Must Find Funds.
Cash must be found to pay about
S4.5OO,OOO.0O0 worth of victory notes
in May, 1928. Between now ana tneh
the total amount of government opn-
cations of all kinds maturing VIII total
nearly $7,500,000,0OO.
This means the governments annual
tax bill must continue to total at least
S4.OOO,OOO,OOO a year. Most OF TINS
now comes from the excess protlts
law which business men are demand
ing be repealed. 49,.
70 complete the problem of cutting
down fixed charges of the government,
about IS per cent of the S4,0O0,0OO,OO 600
now collected annually is already
pledged to pay war charges. These
charges include annually about $9OO'-
O0O, 600 for the maintenance OF the
army and navy, $3.50, 100000 for the
war risk bureau and war insurance.
hospitals and assistance for former
soldiers, $25O.00O.0 900 for Civil War
pensions and $1,000, 100000 year for
interest and sinking fund charges on
the cost of the great war.
Industrial Problem Big.
Some problems that will face heads
of other government departments fol-
low
Agriculture: Farmers now threat
en4ng a national strike because of the
low prices paid for their product, must
be assisted and encouraged to increase
production. The drift of farmers
from the land to the cities must be
halted.
Shipping Board: Hog Island, which
cost the government nearly $4,000,
900, must be sold as we'll as 100000
tons of shipping now being operated
by the government.
Labor: The new secretary of labor
will take over his duties at a time
when employers are believed to be
planning a national concerted move
ment to reduce wages. President
Gompers, of the American Federation
of Labor, challenged employers to at
tempt this, declaring that labor will
fight.
Interior: Concessions in oil and po-
tential waterpower sites worth billions
must be allotted by the new head of
the interior department under the new
waterpower and oil land leasing bills.
War: The new secretary of war
must undertake the reorganization of
the army and the national guard.
Money for this will not be readily
available because of the tremendous
outlay that must be made to pay for
the war just ended. In addition. re-
serve army must be recruited sufficient
to throw 1000, 900 men into the field
in case of an invasion of the United
States by foreign power.
Navy: The secretary of the navy
must carry thru the present three
year building program which will give
the United States one of the worlds
biggest navies.