Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-28
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS

Though it is not being advertised, it
is common talk of attorneys in at
tendance upon the rate hearings before
the Interstate Commerce Commission
that the foundation is being laid by
some of the opponents OF the blanket
rate increase sought by the railroads
for an appeal to the courts in the
event the commission approves a rate
increase. Injunction proceedings, which
might hold up any increase for many
months, are within the possibilities OF
the situation Six of the Granger
States. in a petition TO dismiss the rail-
roads application, challenge the power
of the commission to authorize a rate
increase approved solely upon showing
of the financial exigencies OF the car
riers. Denial of this petition for dis
r1issal gives one avenue for recourse 10
the courts. Now comes the Southwest
ern Industrial Traffic League, an i'm
portant group, and attacks the validity
Of the present proceedings from oil
fererlt angle. The I. G. c. has already
ruled that the wage question shall have
no place in the present hearings. The
commission Sidesteps this sensitive sub
iect The Southwestern Trafiic League
asks the commission TO rescind this rul-
ing and to permit the Introduction OF
testimony relating to wages These OBJ
jectors point out that wages represent
SIS Iler cent or more of the total operat-
ing expenses of the carriers and argue
that the commission cannot make
valid determination Of rates and cannot
determine. as Ii must do, whether or
not the railroads are efficiently man
aged. if it reviews less than one-haH OF
the operating expenses. 1t is suggested
that railroad wages today are double
the pre-war wage scale and asks the
commission significantly why railroad
wages Go not follow wage scales received
by farm and industrial employees.
1t is a long lane which has no turn
ing. and the turn in the LONG lana
down which Bishop Cannon, jr., has
hobbled with his enemies in hot pur-
suit seams to have been reached at
last. Denunciat!ons and defiance, i'll
mess and absence, libel suits and petit
items for injunctions stalled but failed
10 finally head of a slow moving sena-
torial inquiry into what happened to
the 6o-odd thousand dollars in bank
bills which we're passed over TO the
bishop in 1923 by one Of the financial
angles of the Hoover campaign, E. c.
Jameson of New York. Only small
ra~t Of this cash ever found its way
into the Golfers of the Virginia Anti
The bishop has long detied all efforts
to obtain an explanation OF what he
did with the balance, Jameson has
testified he has no idea OF what Can
non did with the money BaScoln
Slernu. who persuaded Jameson to give
Cannon the money, has testlfled he mas
no idea OF what Cannon did with IL.
But now at last the light OF day Is
being turned on the personal oank ana
- re frF RhflTRhnNQn
Cannon, 5000 miles way In Europe,
beats his breast in virtuous indigna-
ton while the man who lighted the
fI1se which brought the explosion, Con-
gresham George Holden T1nkham ~
Boston. likewise on a European holi-
dsy. is quietly enjoying the last laugh.
-
Perhsns there is more than meets
the eve in the White House visit this
week of that very worthy Republican,
Mrs Worthington Scranton OF Scral-
ton pa, nee Marian Margery War
rem of Scranton, Republican National
committeeman from Pennsylvania.
Mrs Worthington Scranton brings her
personal compliments to the President
on his unemployment relief program
and offers her unstinted aid and as
s,lres Mr.. Hoover she and her loyal
followers In her State organization are
wholly out OF sympathy with Gov.
Finchot's demand for an extra ses-
sion of Congress. Mrs. Scranton from
time to time is prominently men
toned" as the successor to Mrs. Hert
as vice chairman OF the Republican
National Committee and aspires to that
post.
The Hon. Pat Harrison passes the half
.rfs
5Oth birthday anniversary at his home. ct
fSi,tfnrF4 AliSs fanred bv stiitrv hreezeS