The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-08-11
NAY. NAY. PAuLINEI

Herbert s. Phillips of Tampa is GO
ing TO run against Steve Sparkman
for congress. Uncle Steve, as he is
called down there around Tampa. IS
chairman of the rivers and ha-Dors
committee OF the new congress 10
more need be said.-Ocala Banne-.
The above item, which appeared in
the Jacksonville Metropolis Of We'd
nesday, was wrongly credited 10 the
Ocala Banner. The item appeared in
the ST. Augustine Record, and that
paper should have due credit therefor.
The Ocala Banner is personally
friendly TO Mr. Sparkman and is
friendly TO his aspirations, but it does
not believe that enough has been said
10 insure his reelection merely 10
mention the fact that he IS the chair
man Of the rivers and harbors COM
mittee.
The OcaIa Banner believes that the
improvement of our rivers and the
deepening OF our harbors 10 the ex-
clusion o. the non-appropriation OF a
single dollar for the construction and
maintenance Of our national highways
is q subversion Of that good old dem
ocratic doctrine OF equal rights 10
all. special privileges 10 none
The growth of towns and cities de-
ponds upon trade and il the secure
ment of which freight rates govern
and is the great arbiter. The deep
ening OF our harbors and the i'm
proyement of our rivers has been
done entirely al the expense Of the
general government, and relieved Of
this burden the steamship companies
are enabled TO give the seaport cities
low freight rate, and because they
enjoy a low water rate the railway
commissioners allow the railroads TO
give them a lower rate than they gre
to interior points. thus discriminating
agaist these interior points and max
ing competition impossible.
This is wrong. 1t is a violation OF
the democracy already quoted.
If the railroads can carry freights
from one seaport city to another in
competition with the steamships and
steamboats,, and make money, then
they can carry merchandise for the
same rate 10 interior points-the dis
tances being the same-and make
money; and not being forced TO do SO
is an inequality and discrimination
which should not be tolerated.
If the general government viii con-
struct and maintain national nigh.
ways leading from interior points TO
seaport points so that interior poinls
can establish competition with the
railroads by automobile trucks or
otherwise, then we can hope to Go
away with these determinations AID
let every tub stand on its own bottom
and grow according to the merits arr
individual efforts OF it's business men.
Why. on what theory, does the gov
eminent appropriate large sums OF
money for the benefit OF rivers ard
harbors rather than highways?
We spend a million or a half mil
lion for the deepening of a harbor
Does it lower freight rates to the in
terror? Not a penny. So why should
any part Of this money come out Of a
general fund that has been levied
upon whole people?
Now. We want il distinctly under
stood that We do not object TO tie
appropriations for our rivers and
harbors, although they build up our
seaport cities al the expense and TO
the detriment OF our interior cities.
but We do want the same amount
and more appropriated for good roads
as is appropriated for rivers and
har5ors. and We want these amounts
10 date from the beginning of the
government
Orr members of congress must be
taught that there IS something else
besides rivers and harbors that need
looking after, and If they do not get
busy along other lines the interior
will come together and send repre-
sentatives there that viii be apprized
OF the fact that the demand Of the
interior IS for a system of national
highways, and that the demand mus
and viii be needed
The Orlando Star-Reporter con-
firms what this paper said about the
rna6s frorn al-c cc.,,rr-. 1oodfrnr ir4o