The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1910-01-25
IMPROVEMENT
OF WATERWAYS
NATIONAL COMMISSION TELLS
CONGRESS WHAT OUGHT
TO BE DONE.
MAIN STREAMS FIRST
And Tributaries Later--Prevent Rail.
road Rate Cutting to River
Points--Rivcr Terml.
nails Needed.

'
lsection Of the country will find sub
iects Of local as well as general In
lterest In the preliminary report OF the
National Waterways commission. suit
United to congress today. The report
lis based upon comprehensive inves
litigation in this country and abroad
land will be followed by subsequent
report with further recommendations
This preliminary report recommends
among other things, a general plan
of conservation Of water power, with
the shaping Of projects in the light
OF future needs Of streams: resort
to federal and state legislation rather
than to unnecessary channel improve
ment merely to enforce reduction Of
railroad freight rates, with inhibition
on the other hand of manipulation OK
such rates to freeze out water com
petition; uniform system OF dis
ltribution of cost OF waterway improve
ment between federal, state and local
governments; avoidance OF multiplica
ltion of ports; restriction of dan1-eop
struction permits inauguration q
such waterway projects only as can
ibe completed within reasonable
time; federal tax on power fur
lnished to consumers, reservation BY
the government Of power to alter q
lrepeal power rights.
| To Control Power Rates.
The commission holds that the fed
eral government has no proprietary
fright or interest in navigable waters
which would authorize the collection
of tolls. 1t believes that each con-
lsent to construct dam should pro-
vide that the grantee whenever neces.
sary to subserve navigation interests
Imust construct and furnish power for
a lock suited to the locality and to
lprobable traffic development. Such
requirements are claimed to be free
from legal objections which might ha
maintained against a system OF tolls.
Power developed at government dams
for navigation or irrigation purposes
should be utilized and adequately
charged for. The commission recon-
mends that before the granting OF
rights to construct dams In any
Inavigable stream, the whole stream.
or at least such part as will be af
fected by the proposed construction
should be carefully surveyed; that, II
constitutional authority therefor eS
lists, these grants should authorize tns
secretary of war or other official to
regulate the charge for the power
Furnished consumers, and should ex
Ipressly reserve to congress the right
to alter. amend or repeal.
/ To Regulate Freight Charges.
| While not denying the tendency q
river Improvement to lower railroad
rates, the commission holds it uIh
desirable to expend money upon
river channels solely for this effect
upon such rates The fundamental
crterian, it says should be whether a
railway or waterway, when con
structed or improved, will be a profit
able investment. Pointing ont tht
the railways have temporarily re
duced rates and continued them upon
a lower basis until competing water
lines have been driven out of bust
ness the commission recommends
that when a rate Is once thus re
+. luced by a railroad Il should not h
permitted to raise It again unles~
after hearing by the Interstate Com
merce commission or other competent
body. it should be found that such
proposed increase rests upon changed
conditions. other than the elimination
, or decrease of water competition.
Would Establish Harmony.
The most essential requirement fos
the rehabilitation of water traffic II
t, asserted to be the establishment ~
harmonious relations between raj
ways and water lines. In practica's
every case of water routes the boas
Iare operated the report says, in con
Injection. and in harmony with rail-
Iway lines. The commission believes
transportation facilities will be stie
further promoted by compelling john
Irates and pro-rating agreements
Through bills Of lading and physicA
connection between rail and water
agencies, separate warehouse and tes
minal systems for railroads akF
waterways being often a waste q
capital. Terminal and wharfage
charges should be reasonable regard-
less of the ownership of these facili-
ties.
Prevent Rate Cutting.
4 The commission cannot see Its way
clear to recommend q general power
Ito fix minimum rates, but majority
iof the commission would recommend
4