Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-01-24
WATERWAYS COM
MISSION REPORT
lconiInuod from Paga one.l

rates by rail even II the waterways
are not used, the commission says:
/ The commission, while fully rec
ognizing this fact, can not endorse
It as a desirable policy. 1t rests
in the first place on the transparent
fallacy that the railways constitute
an intrenched and uncomfortable mo-
nopoly which can not be reached by
legislation or other orderly and le-
gal methods"
As remedy for this condition, the
commission recommends that when
railroad rate is once reduced to
meet water competition, 1t can not
be raised unless, after hearing by
the interstate commerce commission,
It should be found SAat the proposed
new rate rests on changed condi-
tons other than the elimination OF
water competition The proposition
to give the Interstate commerce com
mission the power to fix minimum
rates below which the railroad can
1
not so was condemned by the com
mission but the majority Of the com
mission recommended that the power
be given when the rate cutting is for
the purpose OF destroying water COM
petition.
The lack of reliable statistics on
water transportation and q condi-
ton Of government reports termed
chaotic are condemned, and it is rec
commended that uniform system OF
collecting statistics be enforced
The construction OF a canal Is not
encouraged because Of the expense
Of acquiring land and the immense
cost OF construction and the commits
sion RECOMMENDS that natural water
ways be used wherever available.
The commission condemns the con-
struction OF any projects not author
lied by the army engineers and de-
tends the army corps as the best
available force for the work.
1.-THE commission would recon-
mend, says the report, "that here
after the general policy be adopted
OF proyidisg for the early completion
Of any and all projects which are un-
dertaken and that only such number
OF projects should be commenced
as win be appropriated for and COM
pleted within a reasonable time"
The continuing contract system,
which is declared to have been aban-
doned by the house rivers and har-
bors committee this year. Is recon-
mended highly by the commission.
Where private interests are serv-
cd by the improvement OF streams
through the reclamation OF adjacent
lands and where the improvements
are wholly interstate 1t Is recon-
mended that the state and the prl-
vate interests served pay a part Of
the expense of the work. To this
end the commission wants a uniform
rule established for the division OF
the cost Of such work.
"The commission is unwilling to
recommend the policy of government
construction OF docks and wharves,"
says the report, and adds. ''if Inn
/ proyements should be considered de-
sirable where the number of water
front owners is small. 1t is advisable
that a condition be carefully imposed
to the effect that Wharfage facilities
shall be made available to the pub
lie generally and that charges for
the same shall be submitted to the
secretary Of war for his approval.
"rhe commission strongly recon-
mends the greatest care in the con-
seryation OF water power for the use
Of the people" says the report, and
1t takes the ground that federal SUI
peryision over water power is evil
dntly legal In most cases. Where
land adjacent to streams, even en-
tirely within a state, Is owned by
the federal government. II Is de-
clared that the government has the
right to impose conditions for the
use Of the power sites. The gov
eminent has no right to interfere
with water powers where the land
and water In non-navigable streams
Is owned by pri cate persons or
states, says the report. except in so
far as Is necessary to protect navi-
cation in all streams. The question
OF water power developed from nav
igahle streams which was brought
up in the famous James river dam
veto message of President Roosevelt.
Is gone into at length and it is
declared that there is ample eonsti-
tutional authority for the sale OF the
water power developed on navigahle
streams, the toll to go into the river
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