, 1920-02-26
the Roumanians engendered by their
loOting of Hungary.


loOting of Hungary.
Somewhat d~isheartened by the inter-
national complications, the treaty COM
promisers In Washington ATTEMPTED
little last week and made less prog
ress. But congress entered on another
struggle that promised to be lively.
This was brought on by the submits
sion to both houses of the conference
report of the railway reorganization
bill. 1t zane up in the house Satur-
day and n long and heated debate en-
sued. The measure was scheduled for
consideration in the senate on Tuesday
If the house should o reject 1t.
Opposition TO the bill was led by the
officials of the Federation of Labor and
of the railway brotherhoods. They
were against the whole measure In the
first place because they favor govern
ment ownership and operation: and
specifically they object to the section
providing for compulsory investigation
of wage disputes and decisions by a Ia
Dor tribunal, which, while not bind.
ing, are likely to have the support of
public opinion and to that extent will
deprive strikes of public sympathy.
They also object to the financial pro-
visions which labor views as a valida-
ton of water stock and guarantee of
abnormal profits. Representatives of
railway investors said they were salts
fed with the financial provisions.
Something of a jolt was admins
tered to the war department by the re-
port of the subcommittee of the house
which had been investigating aircraft
production and expenditures; but the
department has had so many such
jolts that it probably has become cal
lous. The report finds hat there was
"woeful extravaganza, total incompe-
tency, utter failure and a wild riot of
waste" Secretary Baker, Colonel
Disque, who supervised spruce produc-
ton. and Director Ryan are severely
criticized. The subcommittee strongly
recommends the creation of a separate
air service. Virtually all of the facts
of the collapse of aircraft production
during the war have been known to
the public for a long time. They do
not make pleasant reading and the
American people would like to forget
them, since it seems impossible to pun
ish those to blame; but they make fine
campaign ammunition.
D%isregarding the many and loud pro-
tests, the United States shipping board
tried to pull off its proposed auction
solo nf On forrnar Carpnan povcapUar
liners. Bids we're received for single
vessels and for groups, but all of them
were so low that they were rejected.
Then a temporary injunction against
the sale was granted by Associate JUS
tice Bailey of the district supreme
court in Washington. He said the
statutes did not show an intention on
the part of congress to place in the
president or the shipping board the
power to sell the ships. The board
has asked congress for authority to
offer the vessels for sale again. Vice
Chairman Stevens is the only member
of the board opposed to the sale. He
says their true valuation has never
been worked out and that they are
worth 100000. whereas less than
half that amount was bid. Chairman
Payne and the other members thought
the ships should be sold to relieve the
government of the expense Of recondi-
tioning them and also because the flu.
ture market for ships is uncertain.
Senator Pomerene of Ohio has with.
drawn from the race for the Democrat.
ic nomination for president, alleging
important business In the mate and
the impossibility of his obtaining q
solid Ohio delegation. He never had
much chance, anyhow. Mr.. McAdoo
has declared that he is not a candi.
date, but admits that II nominated he
would be proud to accept. In many
Indiana cities petitions are in circula-
ton to have the name of Vice Presl-
dent Marshall placed on the Democrat.
ic presidential preference ballot. This
is done without the knowledge and
consent of Mr.. Marshall who said he
would not seek the nomination. On
the Republican side about the only i'm.
portant development was the decision
of the Lowden managers to keep out
of the North Dakota primaries. This
rs at the request Of the Republicans OF
the state. who fear hat a party con.
test would help their enemies of the
Nonpartisan League. Senator johnson
probably will follow Lowden's exam,
pie. and General Wood may do the
same.