The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-31

-NCW OiISdllS, COl' ~ ilC
Presidents speech before the deep
waterways convention, which really
was the purpose Of his trip down
the Mississippi, was Disappointing
TO the waterway boosters. The
President gave them no def
nite promise. His speech was, in
fact, less enthusiastic than the one
that he delivered in St. Louis be-
fore starting down the river.
His entry into the city was de-
layed five hours, and the big pa
rade was cut from his programme.
Certainly the cruise had not con-
vinced him it is practicable to
dump S1OO.oOO,ooo into the Missis-
sippi. In starting his speech at the
waterways convention the President
said:
Il am delighted" He could get
no further; the crowd was roaring
with laughter, you see" said he,
I'VE adopt in our administration the
Roosevelt policies in full.
Dangers Of Trip.
1--WE have passed through all the
dangers OF the navigation Of the river.
the President continued "and they were
not confined to the shoals banks. and
the bends, aId we are here without the
loss Of a single man. There arc some
few Of as who have braved the entire
trip by water. and ] hesitate 20 speak
Of those who resortej TO the hunhIating
device of taking land 20 complete the
run. When Uncle joe Cannon ad-
dresses you do not ask him where he left
the river and when he got back 20 It."
The President was referring. Of course,
10 the experience Of the members Of
Congress and governors who were obliged
to leave their boats and charter a special
train IN order TO get into Vicksburg on
time.
Il do not think. said the President
I'VE are going 70 cover the bosom Of the
Mississippi with barges and ocean steam
ers tomorrow morning. The change
which is bound TO be effected with regard
90 that stream will come gradually It
viii come with the demand that It IS
ready for Improvement and the cheapen-
ing of the kind Of transportation affecting
bulky merchandise.
Solution Of Problem.
''This trip has been Illuminating TO
many Of us not so much in Offering a So
luton to the problem presented in trying
to develop the Mississippi but in showing
tho diniculues we have TO meet and over
come
We have seen human ingenuity turned
and developed to the highest degree in
the growth Of our railroad transportation
and the economy and conduct of railroads.
But the condition Of our rivers, the ap-
parently hopeless task OF making them
useful. has turned the public attention
from them.
we are bound 10 use them. In German
and foreign countries to which we are
pointed 20 show what can be done with
river navigation, the government exer-
clses control and says with respect to
the rates that cei tain Of them shall be
such on the river and that bulky mer-
chandise must go that way. What do we
do? Why. we say 20 the railroads. II
YOU will only arrange your rates so as
10 compete with the river, yge nil per-
nit you TO make them so as to drive the
river out Of business.
Now. that is what has been. and while
the river has served the purpose OF
regulating rates to a certain extent and
reducing them, It nevertheless has not
exercised that power and that influence
that It might If it were actually used
for the purpose.
DickinsOn's Suggestion Quoted.
THE Secretary of War yesterday sug-
gested-although he IS as far from a
government ownership man as possible
that perhaps it might be well to let
the government experiment a bit In risk
ing sol ? capital to put a few lines on
the river 10 try TO SEQ whether some
thing cannot be done with that busi-
ness.
IN Kansas city they are investing
money to-day 10 try II Oh the Missouri
River And the question whether we can
meet the point that you have got to
have some means OF gathering the busi-
ness and getting II on the rivers In order
10 compete with the railroad, will give
rise 10 the suggestion that the govern
ment might establish stations along the
river for the purpose OF housing the
merchandise 20 be sent by the river. AN
those are suggestions that will have to
be worked out before we reach salts
factory conclusion"
This is the first time Mr.. Taft has ever
mentioned a government experiment in
Continued on Page g, Column 4.