The National tribune., 1909-07-29
INTERNAL WATERWAYS.
Visit Of The Congressional Commission 10
Study the Waterways Of Europe.


Study the Waterways Of Europe.
The Waterways Commission of 10
whose members sail soon for two
months trip in Europe, has to bear the
brunt of vast deal of chatting around the
Capitol. Like most Senators and Repre-
sentatives about to depart on a commits
sion junket. all are going rather relucr.
antly, wish The trip was done WITH and
that sort of thing. The wits jest with
them about ascertaining the direction in
which flows the River Rhone and investi-
eating the shade of the moonlight on the
Rhine, and SO on ad infnitum.
Whether the Government will ever get
a quid pro quo for the money it disburses
as expenses for these five Senators and
five Representatives, or for as many Of
them as take the luxurious journey over
Britain and the Continent. may be open to
question, and yet there Is no doubt that
some of the Commissioners are earnestly
studying important subjects in connection
with waterways. Senator Burton. OF
Ohio, for instance, is too serieus-minded 4
man to go gallivanting to London. Berlin.
Vienna. and from the gates of the Dan
ube TO the mouth of the Rhine on a Gov
ernment junket for the love Of travelling
at Government expense. As much can be
said of Representative ID. $. Alexander. of
Buffalo, who is to be Chairman of House
Rivers and Harbors, now that Mr.. Burton
has been promoted TO the Senate.
One inquiry committee of the Commits.
sion intends to probe is the reason for the
decline of river transportation of freight
between points where there is railroad
competition. That is very vital matter
in connection with the great proposition
for the improvement of waterways. eS-
lu in yia of n fnta nnrt
a big traffic man at Pittsburg that if the
Ohio River were improved at a cost of
about $40, 100000 to make a nine-foot
channel to the Mississippi. the improve
ment could not be utilized because OF the
excessive wharf charges imposed npor
steamers. both by private and municipal
owners.
Similar conditions are found on other
large American rivers. so that wharfage
facilities become quite as essential as deep
channels. Congress. if it is to legisiate on
recommendations made by this Commits
sion. cannot ignore the probability of the
Governments proposed Investment being
nullified by such obnoxious local cond-
tons The dolefnl story of railroad rates
lower than water rates. wherever tnere T.
serious competition. has REQUIRED again
and again thruout the United States. as
well as the story of railroad-owned
steamers driving old and established
freight boats out ot business.
England has had Commission study
ing these very problems for some time.
Its members are now in session at Lon
don If the Commission can sail by tn"
very end of July. its members expect t.
encounter the Englshmen in London am
ascertain whether thev have acquired any
views about the situation. which they did
not feel like putting upon paper in their
exhaustive reports. The transportation his
Il. Irn
that of American rivers. Competition has
been thrOttlel on every hand by the rail-
roads. The rivers have been allowed to
fill with silt and sand distractions, the
canal system has gone 10 decay.
Quite the contrary has been true of
Germany. where the railroads are owned
by the state. The Kaiser's country is said
10 have the best ana commercially most
efficient canals of any nation of the world,
and the rivers are utilized more extensive
ly than elsewhere for carrying eargos. The
water routes in France. where the rail-
roads are controlled by the state. are also
valuable adjuncts of a very large interior
commerce. These known facts raise the
inquiry whether the investlga tons of the
Commission are likely to incline its Sena-
tors and Representatives to recommend to
Congress stricter regulation of American
railroads: also whether their investiga-
tions may not give impetus to the issue
of Government ownership.
The Congressional travellers have a
comprehensive itinerary. which will take
them to most of the big rivers of Europe
and to the best of the canal systems. They
will explore the Rhine. the RhOne, the
Danube, the Weser. and possibly the
Loire. They will take cool voyages by
water and hot rides bv rail in traversing
expanses between Berlin, Vienna. Buda-
nest. UsOvo, Belgrade, Strasburg, and
Rotterdam.
The Senate'S Commissioners are Burton
of Ohio: Gallinger. of New HamnShire
Smith, of Michigan; LOrimer. of Illinois
Piles, of Washington; Simmons. of North
Carolina. and Clarke, of Arkansas. Those
from the House are Alexander. of New
York; Stevens. of Minnesota: Wanger. of
Pennsylvania Sparkman. of Florida. and
Moon, of Tennessee. Lorimer was original
ly named as n commissioner of the House.
where he was then serving. He will not
accompany his colleagues. but NAV join
them in about month. Clarke, of Arkan-
sas. will not go at all. That leaves party
of ten.
They are not charged with formulating
legislation. and except as individual mem
bers of their respective branches of Con
press have no authority to propose bills
for the Improvement of waterways in
compliance with ideas they gather while
abroad. But it is expected that Congress
in making ND river and harhnr aopropria-
tions hereafter will be guided their rec
concentrations.