The evening world., 1911-12-07
HIGHWAYS
sW|lL CUT PRICES,
SAYS GAYN0R
Mayor Cites High Cost of Liv-
ing as One Argument for
Extending System.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 7.-Mayor Gay
n0r Of New York, addressing the Ma
t30nai Rivers and IIarbors Congress TO-
nv, referred 90 the present high cost
OF living as All argument favoring the
greater development of water highways
He added that the development OF these
waterways would tend TO lessen the evil
Of savoritism in freight rates on the
UfltBade. The Mayor said in part:
your purpose is to have the National
Government improve n enlarge our
nav1gabie river and our harbors. Every
oae. hero as elsewhere in the world.
knsw the Importance OF the natural
wna%r highways from the beginning.
TAee sAso knew the necessity OF build
NJ drtlncial water highways like those
I'll ossr Europe and the Erie canal here.
They then had no other highways ex-
cs0t'th DIRT roads.
''Hpt the coming Of the railroad high
way In the last century changed this
view. Most people came TO look to them
a. sufhcient for the future. Others said
they would not ~sufice. especially in a
country as large as ours, They also
sadd sthe water highways would prove 10
be an economic factor in the cost OF
prodtction-in which freight rates are a
~coatrolllng element-wh!ch could not be
dispensed with. Time has made us all
80 how farseeing n right they were.
HIGH COST OF LIVING TELLS
ITS oWN STORY.
''The railroads have lone wonders, but
" now know they do not. and. es-
peclaly In the future. can not. sufice.
The high cost OF living tells It's own
story In this respect. Apples, for In
stan(s. will continue 70 rot under the
trees unless they can be produced to
Y doors at a price We can pay.
"Ths National Government should
not shrink from the cost OF opening
nj 6aterwsys n keeping them in
erder. Heretofore II has confined It,
eli to money raised by taxation and
appropriated to that purpose. But 1t
may be wise to resort to bonds. the
sane a. In the building OF the Panama
Cana& AL capital thus spent viii
come back to the people Of the country
manx fold. Let future generations
pay vheir share Of the cost Of high
ways which are to last forever. That
- soond finance"
Tue Mayor said that the develop
Dsnte Of our waterways would tend
10 lessen the great evil Of favoritism
- freight rates on the railroads. Among
> ether things. he said:
"Frem the beginning Of civilized gov
eminent everywhere In this world. this
public highways. whether dirt roads or
water roads. were owned and controlled
N government. This continued to be so
.'up q the coming Of steam railroads In
~ lest century. Then. for the first
tine h the history Of the world. public
highWays were turned over to the man
agsment Of individuals. Instead OF
0uiid.ng and controlling the railroads
iAsslf. government granted franchise
mouts TO individuals to build and run
1. them.. But let II not be forgotten tha'
thGy were nevertheless allowed 10 be
built only ~ public highways.
(. no PAvoRiTlsM ON A PUBLIC
HIGHWAY.
"A public highway 10 for every one
onhe. No discrimination or favoritisn
cen b given to any n on a public
Midway. Every one has to be treated
auke IN fares. rates or tolls. No IA
vcrttism to any one Is the law OF theii
existence. This was always the law a
che railroads. Temporary disregar'
{ forgstfuiness Of It drew upon III
evils Which some are now railing at. IA
though that would remove them.
EVERY monopoly In this country wa
started and built upon favoritism II
fxNight rates on our public highways
ON railroads. Those In control OF on
railroads treated them for more than
Uneration as private roads with whdca
they could DC as they pleased.
THE bringing of our waterways Int
uoo will lessen this evil. Some seem I
think that favoritism in freight rate
no joreer ex.ats. Not so. lnvestiga
tions sven now going on reveal Its ex
to1ence on q large scale. You canno ru
0ommerce. you clnnot vary the natura
lowu Of commerce. by statutes an
court decisions. That a proved
What IL needed Is TO make commerc
fire. and equal to all. with favoritisr
20 oone. and then leave II alone, TIL
natural laws Of can not b
tuterfered with by laws or favoritisI
without injury to n to 81
ciety. The suggestion of turning ever
large commercial business over 10 I'll
supervision of government officials II a
tmpracticable o as former genera
tons found II to be. 1t would lead
worse evils. including official e~xtortio
and blackmail. The history OF the pa,
fully informs us on his subject II "
Would only read it."