Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-02
Administration
Now Facing One
whale of a Job
Public Fails to Realize "Mess''
In Conditions, Says Mem.
bers; World Difficulties
Confront Nation.
By HOLLAND.

This is one whale OF a job" was
the concise and colloquial form in
which a member of the administra-
ton at Washington set forth to a
friend in New York the difficulties
which the administration has been
and is compelled to face. He was
referring to the impatience which
has here and there found voice be-
cause the government and congress
do not seem to be acting in such
manner as would tend speedily to
relieve the situation. He said that
no one who had been brought face
to face with the difficulties which
confronted the new administration
would have failed to be almost ap-
palled by them.
Ibis member of the administration
IN informal conversation with his
friend said that the public does not
realize and never will understand
what dreadful mess we found
conditions to be when the new ad-
ministration assumed control" He
did not speak in this way in criticism
or the previous administration. In
fact he said that there never would
be good understanding of the almost
overwhelming difficulties which con-
fronted the administration whose
term expired on March 4. For they
were world difficulties. They were
occasioned by the war. If the new
administration found what is spoken
OF as dreadful mess this was chief
ly due to disturbances which pre-
vailed the world over. 1t is almost
wonder how the pase administra-
ton lived through these perplexities.
International Difficulties.
The State department is now confronted
with difficulties that prevail all over the
world. 1t must consider our relation with
Japan and also with Mexico. Panama
and Costa Rica furnished one of the i'm
to these difficulties The Russian situa-
tion is also included in the number of
them. Never before in the history of our
nation has the State department at any
one time been confronted with so many
world encompassing difficulties as is now
the case
Seward. when secretary of state, was
compelled to face what seemed likely to
be serious crisis due to our relation with |
Great Britain and France. One Of these
involved the hurting by diplomatic methods |
OF the French army from Mexico. But |
the desk OF Secretary Seward was not |
loaded with diplomatic matter affecting |
nations all over the world as is and has |
been the desk of Secretary Hughes. 1t was |
impossible, therefore, to move with rapid |
ity, II was the better part to mako haste |
slowly.
In Treasury Department.
Secretary Of the Treasury Mellon found, |
when he took office, bewldering problem l
made up or many factors. The nation |
looked to him for recommendation for tax |
relief. 1t was imperative that there be- |
early handling of the debt of nearly $11,- |
600. 100000 which our allies owe to the |
United States. There was the question of |
providing for the redemption of the Vic
tory notes. The needs of the farmers,
the stockmen the cotton growers and |
other industries were brought home to |
Secretary Mellon because it was evident |
that government aid of some sort must be |
secured IL relief were to be obtained. There |
were thousand and one minor questions |
for the secretary to answer. 1t was I'M |
possible. therefore. to act with the rapidity 1
which some critics have thought that the
new administration in its Treasury de-
partment could have acted
Mr., Hoover found mess in his depart
mena, due almost wholly to the exigen-
cies caused by the European war. Tho
board snag occasioned serious and
frequent study by the administration and
II Is only within few days that the first
steps have been taken to bring order per-
ping board chaos. There is also the para
mount railroad situation.
Converse Estate.
The late e. c. Converse who was
thought to be one of the wealthiest of
Americans, was a citizen of Connecticut.
Therefore in his home town of Green
wich the probate of his will was offered
In the probate court there day or two
ago. 1t appears that the inventory of the
estate left by Mr.. Converse was $4,000. 900
in round numbers. although the presump-
tion at the time of his death was that
the estate would inventory at approx
mately $4,000, 900. This is another Illus
traton Of the fact that guesses which are
made of the wealth measured in dollars
of very rich man are usually far out of
the way. Sometimes they are too small.
James Stillmans estate was found to be
some s1oO0o.0oo greater than he was sup
posed to have possessed. E. H. Harri-
mans estate was laraer than any but one
or two of his intimate friends believed to
be the fact
1t all depends upon the market value of
securities. Very likely Mr.. converse's
estate few years ago would have in
ventoried much larger than the report
made to the Connecticut judge of pro.
bate. He believed in the principle adopt
ed by Commodore Vanderbilt which re.
Elected the holding of as little real estate
as possible and the investing of the great
er part of a fortune in stocks and other
securities. For real estate did not furnish
ready market when there was need of
funds. But stocks and bonds could find
an instant market if there was necessity
ventoried in the Converse estate excepting
his great farm and country place, part
of which Is touched by the boundary line
of New York state.
Linseed OIL.
Duluth July 1.-Linseed on track and |