The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-05-13
ASKS WOMEN TO
Lend INFLUENCE
Ransdell Urges Cooperation in
Securing Rivers and Harbors
Legislation
WOULD REDUCE LIVING COST
President Of Rivers and Harbors Con-
gress Addresses Delegates Attend
ing Convention of Woman's
Clubs Federation.

Cincinnati, o.. May 13.-Speaking
before several thousand women at the
General Federation OF Womens Clubs
here today, Representative ]. L. Rams
dell of Louisiana. president of the Ma
tional Rivers and Harbors congress.
urged every woman in her interest as
home maker TO work for develop
ment of the natural waterways of the
nation.
To reduce the cost of transportation
of the common necessaries of life,
Mr.. Ransdell argued. and to develop
the waterways would be to destroy all
monopolies of transportation. 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 the articles. Not
one of the necessaries of life. he de-
clared, was unaffected by the monop-
olies and cost OF transportation.
"We are struggling hard in congress
just now," said Mr.. Ransdell, Ito enact
bill to regulate and control railroads
in their multifario6s relations with
our people The object sought is. very
desirable and some of the means pro-
posed are excellent, but 1t is almost
impossible to prevent monopolies and
there is always uncertainty about the
enforcement Of human law.
IF we could improve and use the wa
terways-natural highways provided by
the Creator-and insure the public use
of terminals upon them. no man could
monopolize them. They are free road
beds for the use of all the people, Con-
ditions for competition are perfect and
no commission is needed to fix freight
rates on improved watercourses. Rail-
roads are monopolstic, corporations
owned, operated and controlled for
private gain; they are limited in ca
pacity and there is frequently fierce
congestion upon them. ~ 2" 1,isi
o@"we should watch water terminals
with eagle eyes. In many localities
they are owned and operated by rail-
roads in their selfish interests with
scant regard for the rights of their
rivals or the public. Terminals on
navlgable waters should be public
property. and all transportation agen-
cies bv land and water should use them
on equal terms. 1t Is certainly very
unjust for the government to improve
navigable waters unless they can be
used by all the people, and in my opin-
ion congress should require as con-
dition precedent to an Appropriation
for the Improvement of any river or
harbor that the state or community in
interest should acquire and hold for
common use sufficient waterfront and
provide thereon modern, convenient
terminals. In cases where the water
front has already been acquired by
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 superior
to the right of any private person or
corporation"
"The pending rivers and harbors bill
which has passed both houses OF con-
gress and will become law In the
near future is the best ever enacted. II
embodies the three great principles
for which the National Rivers ana
Harbors congress has fought since It's
organization, viz: 1t carries an ap-
preparation of s5o.OOO,0o0 is to be an
nual hereafter instead of triennial;
and adopts a fixed policy for the COM
pletion of the great projects within
definite period of time. But we are
still far from complete success, and
gladly welcome the cooperation OF the
good women OF the land.