New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-03-04

a. pt't' " aN'f'h
He worked for six months at his task
and the plan which he formulated
now is in the keeping of the interstate
commerce commission which will
make a long study of it before making
its details public. The commission
will make changes If necessary. and
after the complete plan is given to the
public, constructive criticism will be
invited.
Hope Is in New Congress.
1t has been known in Washington
for some time that there would be
difficulty in securing amendments to
the transportation act at the present
session of congress. A large body of
Democrats plus a considerable body
of Republicans is opposed to doing
much at the present time to lift the
railroads out of what their directors
claim is a slough of despOnd. When
the new congress comes together, 1t )
said by friends of the railroad cause,
things will be different. As II is, Re-
publican leaders in the present house
seemingly are In favor of relief for
the railroads, and as the present lead
ership will continue for the main part,
both chiefs and followers In the new
congress, it is expected, will put
through the legislation.
When the interstate commerce com
mission has agreed upon IA tentative
plan II is its duty under the transpOr-
tation act to give it publicity and to
notify the governors of each state that
1t is ready to hear all persons who
may file or present objections.
As sOon as the commission has ap-
proved a definite consolidation plan
based upon the report of Professor
Ripley. 1t will present its proposal to
the railroads and to the shippers and
to all other interests affected by the
project, as a definite program of ac-
tiOn by the commission but n which
a be changed upon argumentive
proof that changes are necessary for
the good of all the interests con
cerned.
The Republican leaders Of congress
seem 10 think today that under a lib
eral-conservative operating group con-
solidation plan the railroads will pros
per, that employees will be satisfied,
and that stockholders, bondholders
and the public will have their time Of
rejoicing. No knows definitely, of
course, how things will work out, but
the fact that the new congress will at
tempt to make them work out through
the |. c. C.'s plan Is a foregone con
clusiOn.
Mrs. Harding Not Overlooked.
A woman as well as a man is TO
enter the White House on March 4.
II Is not likely that the contributors
TO the woman's pages of the news
papers and magazines for n mo
ment will allow this fact to remain
unknown. but In the days Of hectic
ments and things Of high Legislation
the interest seems chiefly TO ENTER
about the man who is To take up his
abode In the house with the big pill
lars.
Mrs. Harding has not been forgotten
by the writer's Of her sex. Some OF
the staider ones In this Washington
community have wished that those
who have written. or are writing,
would pay o attention TO Mrs.
Harding's qualities AS a woman than
to Mrs. H%arding's shopping trips to
New York with main attention given,
as far as the writer's are concerned,
to the texture and the color Of this
gown or that gown, and TO the number
o; rosettes, or whatever they call them,
or feathers there are on this hat or
that hat.
The women Of the White House ever
since the government began have
made their influence felt with the peo-
pie In many, many ways. They have
not ruled the country through their
husbands, nor have they I'm any in
stance meddled with legislation, nor
attempted In any way whatsoever, so
far as is known. directly to guide the
Presidents hand In any matter Of pol
icy. Nevertheless. legislation, inter
national relations, and all other things
of high moment, more or less have
been Influenced by the III in the
White House.
Ii Is an intangible sort Of thing. this
influence Of the Mistress of the
Manse." bur. as everybody knows, II X
lists In every house I'm the land, and as
long as humankind is humankind II
will exist in the White House.
Doesn't Relish the Publicity.
Almost invariably the women Of the
White House have shrunk from pub
licity. Nobody believes that Mrs.
Harding rejoices because of the daily
exploitation Of the marvellous cooking
Of which 1t is said that she is capa-
Bile. nor * il supposed that she is
o~ver-pleased because IL has been an
nOunced in big headlines that henna,
or some other color, is 10 be the rage
Of the season because she owns a dress
shows forth that hue to the
eye.
In the past there has been much
impairment intrudlng into the domes-
tic arrangements Of the White House
and into the daily affairs of its mis-
and It's master. IL these homely
old English expressions can he used.
the public is being told Of
the ~favorite breakfast. luncheon and
dinner dishes Of the Pr~esident-elect
and his good wife. The chances are
forty 10 one that neither one of them
tasted some Of the delectables Of
il is said solemnly and with ev-
cry circumstance of veraclty that they
extremely fond. and even cant
get along without"