The Paducah evening sun., 1910-05-14
WOMEN TO AID
WORK ON RIVERS
RANSDELL SPEAKS TO Fedora
TION OF CLUBS.
Lower Cost of Living Would be Re-
suit Of Cheaper Transporta-
tion--Water Terminals.
FIFTY MILLION APPROPRIATION

Cincinnati, o., May il.-Speal0ing
before several thousand women at
the General Federation of Women's
clubs here Representative j. S. Rams
dell. of Louisiana. president of the
National Rivers and Harbor congress
urged every woman in her interest
lss home maker to work for a de-
velopment OF the natural waterways
of the nation.
To reduce the cost OF transporta-
ton OF the common neceSsaries OF
life. would be to reduce the cost OF
living. Mr.. RansdeM argued. and to
jdevelop the waterways would be TO
destroy all monopolies of transporta-
tion. In the cases of many common
commodities. he illustrated. the cost
of carrying them from the point OF
origin to the ultimate consumer was
nearly equal to the original cost OF
1.-THE article. No one of the necessar-
les of life, he declared, was unaffect-
ed by the monopolies and cost OF
transportation.
VIC dIt CtIuA klAHk Ntiih Ah 'th7
gress just now" said Mr.. Ransdell,
Ito enact a bill to regulate and con-
tnol railroads in their multifarious re
i1ations with our people. The object
sought Is very desirable and some oi
the means proposed are excellent
but II ~ almost impossible 10 prevent
,monopoiies and there Is always un-
certainty about the enforcement OF
human law.
III we could improve and Use the
waterways-National highways pro.
vided by the Creator-and insur,
the public use of terminals upon
them. no man could monopolizs
them. They are free roadbeds fol
the use OF all the people. Condition,
for competition are perfect and nS
commission ~ needed TO fix freight
rates on improved water courses
Railroads are monopolistic corpora
tions owned. operated and controlled
for private gain. they are limited II
capacity and there is frequently icrc'
lcngestion upon them.
/ wafer Terminals.
I'VE should watch water terni
nas with eagle eyes. In many local
tiles they are owned and operateC
by railroads in their selfish INTEREST,"
with scant regard for the right o
their rivals o the public. Terminals
on navigable waters should be pub
lie property, and all transportation
ageDcies by land and water shoulS
use them on equal terms. 1t Is cen
tainly very unjust for the govern
ment to improve navigabie waters
unless they can be used by all ths
people, and in my opinion congress
should require as a condition prece
dent to an Appropriation for the i'm
provement Of any river or harbo'
that the state or community In inter
est should acquire and hold for com
mon use sufficient waterfront and
provide thereon modern. convenicn'
Terminals. In cases where the watel
front has already been acquired b.
private parties, would suggest that
the public resume ownership through
condemnation proceedings under the
power of eminent domain. for surely
the good OF the community IS super.
Tor to the right OF any private person
or corporation.
The Appropriation.
"The pending Rivers and Harbors
bill which has passed both houses oi
congress and will become a law IN
the near future Is the best ever en-
acted. II embodies the three great
principles for which the National
Rivers and Harbors congress has
fought since its organization. viz: II
carries an appropriation OF $50 900. =
900; IS TO be annual hereafter in
stead of triennial; and adopts a fix
ed policy for the completion of the
great projects within a definite peri
cd of time. But We are still far
from complete success. and gladly
welcome the cooperation OF the good
women of the land.
1