Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1912-08-29
NATURAL ADVANTAGES LOST
BECAUSE OF HIGH FREIGHT TAR
IFFs EASTERN STATES ARE
FAVORED
He RECOMMENDS LEGISLATION
WANTS RAILROADS TO DIscoN4
TlNUE OWNERSHIP or
COAST SHIPS

Salt Lake City, Aug. 29.-An at
tempt to pass a resolution looking to
the exclusion Of American railroad
companies from the coastwise ship
ping traffic was defeated in the trans
Mississippi Commercial congress by
very close vote today. There was
sharp debate on the resolution, pre-
sentend by Judge Helm Of Kansas.
The argument in opposition which
carried most weight was that the en-
actment Of such a law would give
the Canadian railways, which own
shipping lines, an unfair advantage
over American railroads. NJ. ..
Richards OF washington was the chief
speaker against the resolution. Two
other rate resolutions by Judge Hem
were adopted.
Among the new resolutions present
ed and referred this morning was one
recommending that the president or
the United States designate g -See
America First holiday. Another
urged the government to improve the
newer national parks with buildings
and accommodations for tourists. An
other asked the various states to pro-
vide for the supervision Of stock Of
fered to the public for sale. A law
guaranteeing the right Of appeal from
decisions of the secretary Of the in-
terror and the secretary Of agricul-
ture to the United States district
courts Of the states affected by me
decisions was called forth BY anoth-
er resolution.
Prefacing his remarks with the ex-
PLANTATION that he did not believe the
railroads, as whole. were collecting
more for the transportation Of freight
han they were entitled to, Judge A.
B. Helm Of Wichita, Kansas, told the
Mississippi Commercial con-
grass today that in his opinion the
people of the southwest we're reuuir-
ID to pay too much; that they were
robbed Of the natural advantages that
should go to them by reason Of their
to the deep water ports Of
Lhe Gulf of Mexico and were deprived
of the use OF the Galveston gateway.
"In Texas" he said" the railway
enforces reasonable rates
10 and from that port, but when you
pass the Texas border 1t would be just
is we'll for you if the port Of Calves
ION were blotted out. for it is abso-
uteIy Of no benefit.
He quoted the rates from Galveston
o Oklahoma and those from New York
o Oklahoma by rail to show that the
'ormer rate was prohibitive Of COM
petition with the latter.
This he said. is because the
'ailroad companies own the steauis
hip lines engaged IN coastwise traf-
ic between New York and Galveston
ind 1t is to their interest to maintain
Is high a level Of rates as possible.
What the steamships lose in business
s more than made good by the rates
hey are able to charge on the long
aaul from New York by rail-"
To remedy the condition Judge Helm
had offered a resolution recommends
ng an amendment to the interstate
commerce law which would make II
for any railroad company to
1wn, operate, lease control or have
any interest in any water carrier en-
Gagged in coastwise traffic. Two sup
Elementary resolutions, one to ex-
lend the jurisdiction over the rates
and practices Of the water carriers
and another to let the commerce COM
mission fix minimum as we'll as max Z
mum railroad rates, accompanied theA
first proposal.
Minimum rates were made neces.