The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-23
PROCESSION OF JERKS.
Is the Way Taft Describes Provision
for Internal Improvements.

Corpus Christi, Tex, Oct. 23.-In
an open address here before the in
terstate inland waterways league and
the citizens of Corpus Christi, Presi-
dent Taft announced himself as
strongly favoring a permanent and
practical system of inland waterways
as a means of controlling railroad
rates and said he favored the policy
of issuing bonds for carrying out a
practical system of Improvements.
Up to the present time Mr.. Taft de-
clared congress has provided for i'm
provements in piecemeal fashion and
the work on improvements has been
nothing more than a procession of
jerks Before any project is enter
ed upon the president declared, it
should be thoroughly considered. in
vestigated and reported upon by a
board of engineers as to its feasibility
and deSira bility.
Once the improvement is declared
desirable and the communities which
it is to serve can convince congress
that their growth has been such as to
justify the expenditure of a large sum
of money to take care of increasing
trade, bonds should be issued SO that
the improvements might be carried
into effect at once and benefits of it
be quickly secured.
The president said he could see no
difference between improving inland
waterways and digging the Panama
canal. Each project should be sepa-
rately considered to determine wheth-
er or not it is worth doing.
River Improvement.
Mr.. Taft referred to the fact that in
the Ohio river improvements were I'M
derway to secure nine foot stage
from Pittsburg to Cairo. An inter-
coastal nine foot canal he declared,
| would be of great service to the en-
tire country.
The president said he recognized
the danger Of issuing bonds indiscrim-
| inately and said the people must not
| lose sight of the fact that some day
the bonds must be paid. But he de-
clared his great faith in the conser-
vatisn of congress and the American
| people and he did not believe they
would go into the improvement of
waterways by means of a bond issue
! on a haphazard basis, but would con-
servatively calculate whether or not
the time had arrived to do the work.
He said that more than six hundred
millions of dollars have been spent
on the improvement of waterways in
the past Instead of working toward
a great avenue of commerce how
ever, the money had been spent in
piecemeal projects provided for by
congress in response to a clamor from
home or as matter: of party consid-
erations.
Criticism of the army engineers for
the policy of waterway Improvement,
the president declared to be unjust.
Square Deal for Railroads.
The committee of the senate and the
house are responsible for the policy
hich has been pursued AS long as
the limitation of the home clamor and
party considerations continue, the pres
ident said only piecemeal work can be
expected The matter should be look
ed upon from q business noint of view,
which after all he declared ta he a
patriotic point of view and the whole
subject of improvements should be
considered with reference to their ne
cessity, their practicability and the
common good to the country. When
approved from these points of view.
bonds should be issued and the work
carried through with a rush.
While improved waterways are the
best method of controlling railroad
rates, the president said, they were
not the only means. and the inter-
state commerce laws should be amend
ed so as to make these laws effective.
The president said he did not believe
in radical laws that would cripple rail-
roads and he thought all wise persons
should agree that the best policy was
square deal for the railroads, that
they should be allowed rates which
they ought to have and that popular
prejudice should not be permitted to
de prive them of a reasonable profit.
The president said that citizens of a
country would go to any extent to get
a railroad to come into the country,
but once there not friend of the rail-
road could be found anywhere except,
re rhaps, the local counsel. daughter).
The president urged a square DEAF
for the railroads that they might not
be deprived of reasonable profits
through popular prejudices. Charging