Evening star., 1921-04-23
T0G|VE
PLUMS ON MONDAY
No Intimation of Men to Fill
|. C. c., Shipping Board
and Ambassadorships.

Appointment of two Interstate Com
mcrce commissioners to fill existing
vacancies and the seven men to COM
prise the new United States Shipping
Board and probably one or two am
bassadors to foreign posts will be an
nounced by President Harding next
Monday. Although this fact was
r ade known at the White House to-
day. no intimation was given as to
W hon these administration plumS will
go.
1t was made known. however. that
the President expects quick action in
the matter of program for the ad-
justment of rail rates and wages as d
means of bringing about the neces-
S,ry relief to agricultural and in
duStrial interests when the personnel
of the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion is completed.
This important government agency
will then be in a way to properly
function. While this body is busiiy
engaged with the rearrangemen Of
rates the United States Railroad La
Dor Board will be handling the task
of rearranging the railroad wage
scale.
Go Deep Into Problem.
The admin stration has gone thor
oughly into this problem and it is
hopeful that these two government
bodies will be the means of bringing
about the desired solution of the en-
tire transportation question. When
this is accomplished the adminiStra-
tion is. satisfied that the agricultural
and industrial situation, and, in fact.
the general economic situation of the
country. will be greatly improved and
the nation will then have advanced
just that far toward its actual return
to normalcy.
Discussed With Cabinet.
The railroad problem in it's relation
to agriculture and industry again was
the foremost subject of discussion
at yesterdays meeting of President
Harding with his cabinet.
Renewed indications of the serious
ness of the situation were surveyed
in detail, but there was no decision
either as to an administration policy
or as to a plan of action in dealing
with the various interests involved. 1t
was indicated that general con-
ference of railway managers, en-
bility, although no such meeting has
yet been determined upon.
From the first the administration
has been reluctant to go over the
head of the constituted government
agencies created to deal with wage
stood, officials here still hope for a
solution through those avenues.
Information gathered by the Senate
Interstate commerce committee in it's
forthcoming inquiry into the railroad
situation will be coupled with data
furnished by the Railroad Labor Board
and the Interstate Commerce Com
mission in considering any Legislation
or administrative step.
Reports of conditions laid before
the cabinet today indicated that the
transportation problem not only was
terests. but was greatly handicap
ping industry in general.
High freight rates on such basic
products as food and coal, it was said,
were cutting down production in al
most every business and manufacture
ing esta ablishment, and there were
suggestions that in any decisions on
rates this situation must be recog-
nized by differentials favoring ne
ccsSities.
Another feature of the general in
dustrial condition was brought to
President Harding's attention during
the day by d group Of senator's who
the farm loan board. They suggested
that in view of the transportation
and general business situation the
board make more liberal rediscount
rates on loans to farmers. The Pres
ident is understood to have indicated
a deep interest in the suggestion and
to have promised to consider it.
Those who were in the group pre-
senting the appeal to Mr.. Harding
included Senator's Gooding of Idaho.
Oddie of Nevada. republicans, and
Senators Smith -of South Carolina.
Simmons of North Carolina and Rams
dell of Louisiana, democrats.