Evening star., 1923-01-13

port a bill to rebuild the hotels else
where. in case that they have to be
torn down where they are now locat-
ed. in front Of Union station. Repre-
sentative Stafford OF Wisconsin de-
tends the idea of government-owned
homes Tor the employees by comparing
them TO the dormitories provided for
cadets at the naval and military
academies. Other Representatives, in
opposition, say that the cases are not
parallel: because the cadets are
housed In dormitories from the stand
point of military control as a unit.
rather than because of economical
reasons They argue that IL Is more
nearly parallel TO the Army treatment
Of officers. who are given "commuta-
room where they please. in many
cases. Officers greatly prefer such
liberty. The women employed at the
departments, they claim. are paid
full wages. with the understanding
tnar they are to support themselves
whatever may be the outcome OF
the discussion OF government "dor-
mitorfes." there is a great object Les
son In the profitableness Of these gov
srnment hotels. They are popular
serve respectability beyond question.
and they AFFORD better accommods-
tions for less cost than can be gotten
In private boarding houses or homes
A0X1r-
taRes. in both comforts and economy
they have produced a handsome net
profit for the landlord-TrcIe Sam
while caring for nearly 1000 tenants
IF that be the experience OF the
government. why should not private
enterprise take the cue and build
| similar "hotels." with similar prices
| and similar chaperonage" The ca
nacitv OF the present government
! "hotels" IS inadenuate 70 meet the
full demand. and if the Arts and Sci
ence Association project TO build q
great permanent exposition upon the
site now occupied by the hotels ma
lures: as II is likely TO do. all these
will be demolished.
Some unselfish benefactor may
lily find that his Investment viii pay
| handsome dividend IL he follows
| along the lines OF the government
profiteer. 1t is unlikely that the num-
her Sof such tenants will ever he
fewer in washington than they are
now. There is probably no other city
which has just such situation. To
turn an extra 1000 young women
upon the city now to find suitable
rooms in private homes would swami
the supply Of accommodations. where
home shortage is already acute.
In the course Of a speech recently by
Senator McCumber upon the severa'
farm credits measures pending. the
able senator from the agricultural
state of North Dakota deprecated the
socialistic tendencies of some of the
pending bills-especialIy the propose
that the government buy all farm pro
duce at guaranteed rates and sell upo'
market rates. the government under
taking TO corner the supply and SDec'
late on the demand. Then the senate
referred to a bill which. he said. ha
been lying for more than year in IL
archives of the committee on agricHl-
ture for the purpose of authorizing 2
the states to organize state farm 60
nnerative associations. which will b
linked into great national association
and which could corner and control III.
markets to the farmers advanta"c
He pointed to the familiar fact that the
farmers are the only class OF produc
ers who are not sufficiently organized t.
sell TO the best advantage.
= =
Senator Poindexter interrupted tn
senator from North Dakota to ask j.
there was any need of special legisla
tion TO enable the farmers TO go aheaC
under existing laws. which exemp'
farmer cooperative associations from
the restrictions of trusts. and Senator
McCumher conceded that no additional
laws were really necessary. but he
thought the law referred to would
courage farmers to so organize, even
though they could organize without il
K r * x
This little colloquy passed withou,
attracting the attention il deserved
Therein is the very heart of all thc
farmers market troubles. Instead OF
getting together, simply under permis-
sive laws, for the protection of their
mutual interests, they wait for Con
gress to tell them specifically what
TO do-organize They are waiting
said Senator McCumber for the as
surance that the government will
supervise their cooperative associa-
tion, just as it supervises the bank
ing institutions of the country"
II the farmers did so organize, ma
tionally, and come to Congress with
powerful association, appealing for
governmental inspection and super
vision. does anybody think there
would be any delay in giving them all
that they would ask? II is not pro-
posed that any socalistic vagarieS
would be included. such as have taken
hold in Senaor McCumber's own state
The government would not be asked
to capitalize the association. 1t would
do nothing but inspect the integrity
of officials appointed by the member
ship TO control and transact it's mar
keting. The bill sleeps in the com
mittee, hence its details are not yet
discussed.