The Washington times., 1908-02-26

ences with the production ana Commerce
or tLs country, whereby prosperity Is
o1Ttaiied and PROCESS impeded.
While such mOnopOlistiC tendencies
nave been conspicuous in connection
with the agencies OF transportation
taey are now in many cases opposing
the best utilization OF streams by divert
ing their control from State and Fed
eral jurisdiction in the public interests
10 personal and corporate means OF ex-
cessiVe and burdens0me profit. Since
transportation is a primary factor in
the existence and DEVELOPMENT CT any
people, and Is increasingly Important with
the growth OF population, IL IS essential
that its means should be regulated IN
the public interests, and any plans FOR
relieving congestion of TRANSPORTATION
In the United States should be so framed
as TO employ al proper State, Federal.
ard municipal agencies IN protecting
from monopolistic control not only the
agencies and avenues, but also the ma
terials Of interstate commerce,
Recommendation Of Commissioners.
We recommend that hereafter plans
for the improvement OF navigation in
inland waterways. or for any use OF
these Waterways IN connection with
Interstate commerce. shall take account
Of the publication OF the waters. the
development OF power. the control Of
floods. the reclamation OF lands By ir-
rigation and drainage, and All other
uses OF the waters or benefits TO be
derived from their control
Hereafter both local and general ben
eflts TO the people should be fully con-
sldered In any such plans for the Inn
provement OF navigation in inland
waterways, or for any use Of these
waterways in connection with inter
state commerce.; and wherever prac1-
cable Federal agencies snail cooperate
With States municipalities, communi-
ties. corporations, and individuals with
view 70 an equitable distribution OF
costs and benefits.
Any plans for the navigation or other
use Of inland waterways IN connection
with interstate commerce should take
fun account Of transfer facilities ana
sites, and OF the location OF tracks.
other works on navigahle and source
streams with a view 10 equitable CO
operation between waterway ana rail-
way facilities for the promotion OF
commerce and the benefit Of the
people
Plans for improving the inland water
ways should take account OF the pres
ent and prospective relation or Tail lines
20 such waterways, and snail ascertain
so far as may be whether sucn water
ways when improved viii be effectively
used in the face of railway competition:
and that the relations between railways
and waterways D. i tgTtaeF means gSa9sne
rendering the two systems compile
mentary and harmonious and MAKING
such fair division OF traftic t.saI rates
and management may De co-oFu
economically and with benefit 70 the
Means for ascertaining regularly. al
facts related 20 traffic on the lnland
waterways, and for p1ellsh,ies ',J hLl,, II
Ia DFOVtdeQ.
Any plans FOR the use Of inland water
WAYS in connection with Interstate com
merce should regard the streams OF m
country as an asset Of the people. saa4I
take full account Of the conservation
OF all resources connected with running
waters and shall look TO the protectloii
OF these resources from monopoly a.
TO their adminisu alton IN the interests |
OF the people.
What Congress Should Do.
Congress should be asked 70 make
suitable provision for improving the In
land waterways Of the United states
AT 2 rate commensurate with the needs
Of the people as determined by com
Detent authority; and we suggest that
such provision meet these requisites.
viz. expert framing Of a definite policy;
certainty Of continuity and cO-ordina-
tioY, 81 plan and work; expert initiative
IN the choice Of projects and the SUI
eession OF works; freedom in selectiSn
o. projects IN ACCORDANCE with terms OF (
e. -operation; ana the widest opportuh-
~ for applying modern business
Congress should be asked to authorize
the coordination ana proper develop
ment Of existing public services coh-
nected with waterway; w . sussie
Tho President OK the United states De
authorized, with the advice ana consent
OF the Senate, TO appoint ana organize
a national waterways commission anu
that Re be authorized 70 MAKE such
details and require such duties from
these branches OF the public service IN
RiIl- navigable and source
streams as are not inconsistent with law
The commission should continue the IN
o. ali q Jestions relating 10
me development AID Improvement ana
utilization II the inland waterways OF
the country am the conservation or -
natural resources Teidted thereto, arg
TO consider and coordinate tnefeWlta
all matters OF irrigation. swamp ana
overflow land reclamation, clarih1atlOn
and publication OF streams, prevention
Of scil-waste, utilization Of WateIpoWeF'
ton and extension Of forests,
regrIlatiOu of low and control Of hOOda
transfer facilities and sites and the reg
uiation and control thereof, ana tlle re-
latious between waterways ana ran
uovered TO frame and recommend plans
FOR developing the water ways ana Utillz-
inp the waters. and as authorized py
Congress to carry out the same.
Inquiries in Progress.
Those clauses in the instrument Great
inc the commission advising that "our
should be considered and cor
gerved as great natural resources and
thar the commission should consider
the relations OF the streams to the use
Of all the great permanent nattral re-
sources and their Conservative" have
received attention and have resulted IN
action thus far incomplete.
In his Memphis address o. October 4
the President announced the intention
or Gazing such a conference and on
November Is he issued invitations to
the governors Of the States and Terri
fories to meet at the White House May
1918. 1905: the conferees to comprise also
tire 3 assistants or advisors to be select /
ed by each governor; the Senators and
REPRESENTATIVES, in the SiXtieth Con-
Eress; the members Of 4he Inland Water
WAYS Com mission; and representatives
of certain national organizations dealing
with natural re sources. The commission
anticipates frtsm the deliberations OF
this conference results Of the utmost
rIr hot conditions