Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-04-14

Thursday, April IA, 1921
OUR Legislature seems ~ have NOR
business than II can handle, notwi,h
Saniing The fact that no new bill
have been introduced at the deferret
session. We also need a master mind
in the Legislature.
THE West Virginia Legislature has
passed a bill for the development OF
water power in the State. We do not
know its provisions, but on general
principles il is doubtless very good
thing. If it shall save l6,000,0OO
TOPS OF coal a year, as its friends as
sett. it ought to at least bring down the
price of fuel for ordinary folks.
THE new Congress assembled in
extra session on Monday. II is al
most soldly Republican in both branch
es, and with a Republican President
in the White House there is absolute
" no restraint upon legislation so far
as. an opposition party is concerned
with clear sailing and chart made up
Of campaign promises approved by the
pebble at the election, there should
be speedy progress. But time viii tell
AFTER all the talk of extravagance
and mismanagement on the part of the
Democratic administration, we notice
thy no fragrant offenses are being re-
veqed by the Republicans now on
guard. On the contrary. a considerable
nuhber of Democrats have been asked
to- femain in Office so that the new ad-
mipistration may have the benefit of
their wisdom and experience. And
it Is to be noted that none Of those
useless Office holders are being fred.
BY the statement issued a few days
aeQ by the Association OF Railway
EXECUTIVES it is noted that the railroads
of The country suffered deficit OF
S.2O5,OO0 for February, as compared
to>a deficit Of 81 ,167,SOO in January.
lH other words, they are falling farther
and farther behind. LOG of the 200
roaus that made reports having failed
to earn expenses and taxes.
Government management of the roads
mag have been failure. but who will
say that private ownership-at least
unrer the present management-is a
success?
IHE United States Steel Corpo-
ration announces reductions in the
prices OF its steel and iron products.
ING cut is very good as far as it goes,
on! II doesn't go far enough. Before
. mere can be real lively demand for
iron and steel and a general resum,.
tion OF activities in the use of thes,
prcoucts prices will have to come dowr
aIpther peg or two. The heads of N,
mig corporations can hardly brin,
themselves to the point of properly re
uccing prices, Just as the empIovee
hte to think of a reduction in wages
out both are simply inevitable and =,
hands may as we'll grit their teeth an
suVinit to the necessary operation.
IN his message TO Congress on ruc,
u'9 PRESIDENT Harding gave The raj,
roads rap, when he said:
Freight carrying charges have noun,
ed higher and higher until commerce
IS matted and production Discourage
Railrosd rates and cost of operatjo
must be reduced
The President hits the nail on tn
mead. He knows and everybody els
except the railroad managers. know
mat the railroads have seriously il
lured themselves by putting into efe
unreasonable freight and passeng,
rates. "Productior is discouraged
but more than that, shippers and ira
eiers are using trucks and automobile
il. successful effort to evade c
oCpitant rates, and the railroads q
losing the cream Of the business b
cause Of the stupidity of the manage:
1T is said that President Hard,
WILL soon issue new regulations mos
Tying the civil service rules, the O
ject of which will Re to remove
Stfictions in the way of replacing Del
otratic pcstmasters with Republican
This is of course gratifying to (
faithful ones who have been on the OF
size looking in for :he past eig
Years, but the President is going
little too far, they say. The new rul
Will not allow anyone over IS years
aTe to take the examinations, and tt
SHUTS out some o. the most deservi,
IT the old war horses. Indeed