Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-03-14
WASHINGTON
DAY BY DAY

under advisement at the conclusion
of hearings on the rate questlons'
Every line Of activity relating 10
railway traffic, including operation
and financing, has been heard by the
kommtssion Railroad presidents
and other officials have presented
their cause, the railroad brother
hoods have had their day in court,
! and the shippers have submitted
their arguments.
The newest and what is regarded
as one OF the most vital OF al! the
many angles of the big industrial
problems, is the effort to conserve
the integrity Of the railroad securi-
ties of the country through the pre-
scribing of a rate that would be ad
couate to maintain the carriers on a
sound. wholesome basis. The rail
roads hold that per cent return on
the value of railroad property is not
70 be regarded as an adequate per-
manent basis. They claim that that
rate just escapes being confiscatory.
Nothing has developed within the
past "a hours to change the attitude
of the American Government that
the allies shall see to it that the
United States is reimbursed for the
maintenance of the army of occupa-
ton on the Rhine. 1t was declared
at the State Department today that
under the treaty of Versailles and
under the terms of the armistice it
was agreed specifically that the
United States should share in what
ever reparations were demanded
from Germany in order to defray the
cost for the maintenance of our
troops in German territory. 1t was
pointed out that this is a "frst
charge" which should be met before
any other obligations are settled,
and that the United States has just
as much light to share in any repa-
rations as Er"land. France or any
cf the allied governments. The
United States will not stand idly by
ana see England and France gobble
up everything collected from Ger
many, leaving US to collect the
money spent in maintaining our
troops on the Rhine in any way pos
sible. These troops, it was asserted
today, were sent to Germany at the
special request OF the allies, and
and have been maintained there, not
for any benefit Of our own, but: at
the explicit request of those Euro
pean nations now seeking TO repudi-
ate the debt owing to US.
The Republican members of the
Ways and Means Committee and
the Republican secretary Of the
Treasury are iast now in the midst
of bitter fight over the action OF
Secretary Mellon in his latest letter
to Chairman Fordney, in which he
points out almost insuperable obiec-
tions to the passage Of the bonus in
the form contemplated by Fordney's
committee. The end of this row is
not in sight, but it is likely to split
in twain the entire, Republican or
kanizaton and the administration
itself. Mellon will undoubtedly be
backed up by President Harding in
his contentious that the country can
not stand for any bonus at this time.
Fordney and other Republican lead
ers are insisting that some sort of
bonus must be passed. 1t is just
possible that such a proposition vii
not even get through the House, and
it is almost a certainty that the
bonus as framed now will meet a
quick death when it reaches the
Senate.
Action of the House Appropria-
tions Committee revealed in its re-
port on the army approximation bill
that Congress will take the initiative
in determining the disposition of
American troops on foreign soil.
The committee, taking unto itself
power that has always hitherto been
exercised by the President, provided
in the bill for the return of all troops
from Germany by July /. 1t pro-
vided for the reduction in the Ha
waiian force from $4,000 to 5000
men; reduction of the Panama force
from 5000 to 5000 men, and with
drawal of the regiment now sta
toned in China AS there are 5000
men in Germany the total cut in
forces in foreign fields is about 90
600.
Hitherto. Congress has always
respected the Presidents position as
commander in chief Of the army and
navy, and has permitted him to dis
pose Of the American army and navy
as he saw fit. assigning troops when
ever and wherever he chose. The
action of the Appropriation Com
mittee means the taking away from
the President the authority to place
troops where he chooses and if the
precedent is followed, Congress may
even dictate where troops can be as
signed within continental United
States.
Isaac Gregg.