The Washington herald., 1908-02-27
URGES WATERWAYS
President in Message to Con-
gPeSS Urges Action.
WOULD CHECK THE RAILROADS
Chief Executive Expresses Strong
Confidence in Report of Inland
Waterways COmmissiOn-Declar
Unregulaaed Competition Has Al
most Killed River Traffic.

President Roosevelt. in transmitting TO
Congress yesterday a preliminary report
Of the Inland Waterways Commission,
caused considerable interest by discussing
at some length the findings Of the com
mission, and by giving his individual
views on the decadence Of inland water
traffic
The President in his most emphatic
way supported the statements and sug-
gestions of the commission. He told Con-
gress that the report represented the ma
ture judgment OF a body OF men excep-
tionally quanned by personal experience
and knowledge OF conditions throughout
the United States 10 understand and dis
cuss the great problem OF how best 10
use our waterways in the interest Of all
the people
Railroads and River Traffic.
The President then turned his atten-
ton to the part the railroads have played
IN the destruction OF river traffic. The
commission" he says. finds that Il was
unreSulated railroad competition which
prevented or destroyed the development
Of commerce on our inland waterways.
The Mississippi our greatest natural
highway. Is a ease IN point. At one time
the traf!ic upon il was without rival in
any country.
"The report shows that commerce was
driven from the Mississippi by the rail-
roads. While production was limited, the
railways, with their convenient terminals
gave quicker and more satisfactory serv-
f.,,
vented the restoration OF river traffic by
keeping down their rates along the riv-
ers. recOuping themselves by higher
charges elsewhere. They also acquired
waterfronts and terminals 10 an extent
which made water competition impossible.
Throughout the country the railways
have secured such control OF canals and
steamboat lines that to-day inland water
way transportation IS largely in their
hands This was natural and doubtless
inevitable under the circumstances. but
II should not be allowed to continue
unless under careful government regu-
lation
After stating that the various uses o.
waterways are now dealt with by bureaus
scattered through four Federal depart
ments. and that Il IS not, therefore posi-
BILE 10 deal with a river system rs a single
problem. he takes up the suggestion OF
the commission that Congress should pro-
vide some administrative machinery for
co-ordinating the work OF the various
departments so far as il relates To water
ways.
Urges United Effort.
The President said further. 'The com
mission recognizes that the cost Of I'm
r,-o,-i-- c-,- s,f-,a ,--t,,-,-~--- I'm !.
large. but far less than would be required
70 relieve the congestion Of traffic by raj
way extension. The benefits Of such i'm
provenent VIII be large also. and they
VIII touch the daily life OF our people al
every point. uniting the interests OF al
the States and sections OF our country
The cost and the benefits should be equit-
ably distributed. By cooperation with
the States and the communities. corpora
tions, and individuals benedclally affected
Il heartily concur in the commission s
recommendation TO this end. Such CO.
operation should result ia united efior,
in CARY out the great duty OF imprOv-
ing our inland waterways While we de
lay, our rivers remain unused. our traffic
is periodically cOpgested. and the material
wealth and natural resources Of the coun-
try related 10 waterways are being
steadily absorbed by great nOnopolies.''
Referring 10 the consolidation of water
power companies. The President says
Among these monopoles, as the report
~ the commission points out. there IS no
other which threatens: or has ever
threatened, such intOlerable interference
with the daily life Of the people as the
consolidation of companies controlling
water power.
Il call your special attention 70 the At
tempt OF the power corporations. through
bills introduced at the present session, 10
escape from the possibility Of government
regulation in the interest OF the people
These bills are intended 20 enable the cor
poratons 10 take possession in perpetuity
of national forest lands for the purpose
or their business whore and as they
please. wholly without compensation tc
the public. YET the effect OF granting such
privileges. taken together with rights al
ready acquired under State laws. would
be 20 give away properties OF enormous
-