The Washington times., 1922-12-04

WILLIAM HARD. ures to correct
our present woes
and Ills OF all sorts. and that only
the obstinacy OF the other side pre-
vents the enactment OF these meas.
ures and necessitates an extra ses.
sion.
Three-The problem OF the farmer
will get the benefit Of all the imme-
diate brain power of all factions,
but the problem Of the RAILROADS. will
lag behind in Congressional ~consid.
Grafton, and will remain unsolved,
and will. accordingly. run a strong
problem of the autumn Of 1928 and
Of the winter and spring and sum.
mer of the Presidential year 1924.
On the subject Of favors for
farmers the Administration Is in
the position Of a young man who
has made up his mind that II would
be good thing for him to marry
certain girl whom previously he
had been quite willing to surrender
to his rivals. He accordingly In
now engaged in trying TO find out
by indirect inquiries just what kind
Of chocolates she eats and just
what is her favorite flower. and
whether she likes to go to movies
or prefers prayer meetings. He
will take he rto either IL he only
can discover which she wants.
Meanwhile his rivals have the ad.
vantage Of having diligently studied
the girl for a long time and of ac-
tually knowing that she loves car.
nations and hates violets.
The danger lying ahead Of the
Administration in the matter OF ag-
ricultural legislation In that II may
accumulate beautiful bouquet OF
violets which would be very good
for the girl but which the girl will
throw out Of the window. The Ad-
ministration wants now to improve
the facilities through which private
money can be loaned readily to
farmers In the marketing OF their
crops. The radical farmer move.
ment meanwhile. however. 10 going
rapidly toward the ideas Of Senator
Norris and In demanding q certain
amount OF direct public Govern.
mental assistance In the marketing
Of crops and 10 also demanding pub
lie legislative encouragement for CO.
operative banks owned by the farm
ers themselves.
The danger is that while the Ad.
ministration II catching up with
where the farmers were two years
ago It may not succeed In catching
up with where they are now. Its
scouts nevertheless are now making
great progress Is studying the
farmers present tastes; ana this
new session Of Congress which be.
gins today VIII have for It's dis.
|tinguishing mark mass OF rural
credits legislation more radical than
other previous agricultural legisla'
ton put together. II this legisla-
ton In some form gets through the
debating stage and arrives at enact
ment, there will perhaps be no
special session OF Congress next
spring and summer.
Both sides will then have made
their rival bids for the farmers
affections and will want to 80 home
to think over a problem which
is much more puzzling. This prob.
lem Is the condition OF the coun.
try's railroads. 1t is no exaggera.
ton to say that the physical state
Of the equipment Of the country's
railroads is rapidly approaching the
proportions of q national economic
menace.
This fact regarding railroad equip.
ment Is keenly realized by the In.
lterstate Commerce Commission.
Xhere is an enormous shortage OF
freight cars caused by the fact that
for many years the railroads have
not been building enough new
freight cars to keep pace with the
country's development, and there 10
an enormous shortage of locomotive
power due to the failure of many
railroads to come to a settlement
with their most skilled mechanics
who are still on strike. One Of the
greatest and finest railroad com.
panies of the United States was
obliged the other day to admit that
its present condition of locomotive
efficiency was not more than SO
per cent Of normal.
This condition cannot continue
without irreparable injury to Amer
lean business; but neither the Ad-
ministration nor Its opponents have
at this time any clear legislative
ideas on how to end II. The rail.
road problem therefore seems likely
to grow and get worse. II seems
likely to be very bad indeed at
Just about the time when the next
Presidential struggle will be begin.
ming. The prediction 10 rather safe
therefore that while the immediate
financial problem OF farm credits
may get a certain amount of sue
cessful attention from this Con-
gress the broader problem Of rail.
road transportation will remain
over TO be the chief bone of con.
tention between conservatives and
radicals IN 1894,