The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-04-05

Mr.. Chairman, I have not covered
all the provisions Of this bill and the
limited time at my disposal Will not
permit we to do so, but I wish to ask
the indulgence of the House a little
longer.
| This is one of the most important
mea sures that has been brought or
will be introduced into the House dur
ing the present session. This the peo-
pie understand, and there is through
out the country today a greater in
terest manifested in favor of river and
harbor Improvement than ever before
| in our history. They have found that
| the railroads are unable to do all the
carrying business of the country; they
! have seen that, although the develop
ment of these transportation agencies
has gone until their trackage
reaches 100000 miles, with the very
best equipment In the world, with all
/ that trackage and this superior equip
ment they are unable to do the bust
ness required of them, except in fav-
ored localities. tApplause).
i The people, accustomed for nearly
hree-quarters Of a century to rely
upon the railroads, have found them
falling below the demands made upon
y
try, and that if the development of
cur resources is to go on and our sur
plus products distributed to the con-
sunring populations Of this and other
countries, our harbors must be deep
ened, our rivers further improved, and
canals constructed wherever such may
be made to serve a useful purpose;
and there are several such places
throughout the country-local1ties
where comparatively narrow stretches
of land may be traversed and naviga-
BILE waters, either Of lake and river or
ocean and gulf connected. The neces-
sity of this class of Improvement was
never so great as now, because the de-
velopment of our resources was never
so pronounced as at this time. There
is scarcely locality, north. south, east
or west, that is not feeling the touch
of this spirit of development and pro-
gress Lands hotherto lying idle To-
ca1ities heretofore neglected, resources
up to this time disregarded, are now
Il being developed, so that all our trans
fportation facilities-wagon and rail-
road, river and harbor. supplemented
by artificial waterways-will soon be
REQUIRED. indeed, are now demanded.
Mr.. Chairman, we hear much of tariff
and other forms of taxation, and they
are necessity-else government, ma
tiona1, state, county and municipal
cannot go on. The tax burdens for
these purposes are heavy. but not
nearly SO great as the trans portation
, tax by wagon, rail and water in the
United States. These. it is estimated,
are more than two and one-half times
, greater than the former. The people
Eare taxed, so it is said. $4,000 200 a
: fyear to support the various govern
mental agencies-federal, state, county
, and municipal-and more than $4,000
100000 for transportation by the three
methods just Northumberland rail
and water-so that there is no great
err problem confronting the American
people today than that of porta-
ton, and into the settling of this prob
: lem two things at least enter-effcien-
cy and cost. The people are interested
in both Efficiency, because on that
t depends safety and dispatch in the
: transportation Of person and property.
{ Cost, because the transportation
5 charges depend largely the profits of
: him who uses the transportation facil-
: tiles. Improved waterways not only
: add materially to these facilities, but
: they are great regulators Of freight
1 and passenger rates. of which all the
e
{ than others, perhaps, but each and all
5 reap to a certain degree, directly or
indirectly. benefit from the lowering
2 of rates by the increase of water
t transportation facilities. Hence, I re-
5 peat: There is not a more important
: measure claiming the attention of this
body than the rivers and harbors bill.
Having for its purpose the develop
: ment Of our numerous harbors and the
e improvement of the $4,000 miles of
( navigable waterways now being used
: together with the $4,000 more miles
I of rivers that may be easily made nav
|iga BILE. and all to the end that ample
Transportation facilities may be fur
D lnished to the people in so far these
: can be furnished by this class of de-
e ve1opment, its Importance cannot be
e loverestimated.
e. Mr.. Chairman. I said this is a most
1 important measure. and it is. But ii
: is more. 1t is also the most popular
: of any introduced or that will be in
: ltroduced into this House. The people
i of course, recognize that the great
D isupply bills for the carrying on of the
: government must be passed. They
4 tolerate the naval appropriation bill
, which provides for the battleships-
, those powerful engines of destruction
4 and the military appropriation bill
: which keeps up the army to stand
e ard of efficiency, because, forsooth
. some time in the future they may be
: needed for purposes of defense War
I may come, an enemy may menace. yet
: these are happily uncertain and, we
e hope, remote possibilities. But we
n know that the development OF our re-
Y sources is going on that our commerce
: I is increasing, and that the necessity
: is ever present for transportation IA
: 1cilities to accommodate its growth and
4 development Wars we would prevent
: but commercial growth we would en-
courage. The one brings prosperity
t and happiness, the other sorrow and
e adversely. All this the people under
= Istand: hence the popularity OF this
Y class of legislation, and they will
o brook no delay nor tolerate any back
l ward step along that line. And. let me
f say no one will reflect the wishes oil
h his constituents by opposition TO a
n measure fraught with the possibilities
t for good with which these measures
4 are laden. And. Mr.. Chairman. we are
t making commendab1e Roadway. Only