The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-04-27
New birle
Officials
MAY sE2PRoVl DED sBY$c oNGREss
81 3s..7=Bl LLst IN TRoDucED5BYsMR. s.
" "a RAhsDELL.5l .s,S

WASHINGTON. April s27:-Th leg
;islative stork may bring another adj
dillon to President Rooseyelt.s ON.
cfnl family. In the: person OF a Secre-
tarya OF Transportation and Public
Works. A bill providing for the Gre
alton OF such department OF the gov.
eminent has been submitted to Con.
gress by Representative Joseph F.
Ransdell. OF Louisiana. tits now in
the hands OF committee.
The proposed innovation is one that
long has been recognized as being OF
great Importance to the government
OF the United States. AT the present
time there is complete lack OF log
ic in the pursuit OF the policy OF In
ternal improvements. T he forces OF
the government are scattered. anil
thus are weakened. F,in,ls are ex.
pended with no reference to the ex.
penditure OF other funds, and in this
manner there is extraverance where
economy should rule. There Is clash
of authority. also. by reaso Of the
fact that SO many officials have juris.
ilictfon.
It is the .purrnse Of the Rnrsdeil
bill to harrnorize ell these conflicting
agencies. By bringing them under tho
supervision and control of one ot1icla1
who would hold a portfolio in the cab
met. the work OF internal develop
ment could be pressed systematically
and without friction or unnecessary
expenditure OF public money.
air. Rrnshrll is well equipped to
draft snrh n measure. In hts capacity
as president of the National Rivers
and Hurbors Congress kc mas made 4
study ut first.hanl OF conditions in
the United States. especially with re.
gard to waterways. For years Ills
organization has worked to have Con-
gress adopt n policy that would ar-
propriate for development work on
rivers and harbors sum not less than
$50.000.000 n year.
The absolute inability OF the rail.
roads to care for the commerce OF
the country Is chief reason for the
drafting OF such a measure at this
time. During the pause given to com.
merce by reason OF recent panic. tho
railroads caught up In some degree
with business. but the return OF pros.
porous times will find them in every
way as unnrepared rs before.
The logical solution of the trans.
norta ton troubles OF the country lies
In the waterways. The nation, ,lur.
ing the era In which Il devoted all its
attention to railroad construction.
neglected the natural avenues over
which commerce might flow. The re-
| suit now is that the United States Is
far behind other civilized countries
In the matter Of water transportation
and is forced to pay high tribute to
move its products while its competi.
i tors transport their goods by water
at nominal cost.
This last-named feature Is begin.
ming to be seen in its effect on the for.
eign trade of the country. While the
United States is breaking records
steadily in its dealings with foreign
countries. 1t is not selling as much as
1t would were exporters able to get
their goods cheap1y from the interior
to the seaboard for shipment. This
Is recognized by leading economists.
Thus Mr.. Ransdell believes n new
department Is necessary. both to adj
vance the trade Of the country and to
provide for steady expenditure OF
money In the development OF natural
resources. He would hav the water.
ways. railways. and highways taken
under the jurisdiction OF the Secre-
tary Of Transportation and Public