Evening star., 1916-12-06
FORL.C. c. CONTROL.
OVER ALL TRAFFIC
Vice President Marshall Ad-
vises Rail and Water Busi-
ness Be Co-0rdinated.
SPEAKS AT CONVENTION

| Vice President Marshall today ad-
vised the National Rivers and Harbors
| Congress, in voncention at the New
Willard Hotel. to insist that the Con-
gress of the United States coordinate
| the control of the rail and water traffic
of the country under the interstate
commerce commission, first enlarging
the personnel of the commission so
that it may have enough men to do
all the work that will be necessary.
1T is not my business to start any
thing in the United States" the Vice
President said. Il discharge my full
duty when I listen to the utmost. in
all humility. or go to sleep. when these
questions are discussed before me. But
permit me to suggest, not as one who
knows, but as one who has listened.
that it would be to the interest of the
men who stand for improved water
ways in this country to have the in
terState commerce commission enlarged
and to commit to its care the control
or both rail and water rates and the
manner in which they affect each
other.'~
Criticises Waterway Improvements.
is an absolute necessity for completely
overturning the United States govern
ment on the question of interstate
commerce. The people of the country,
he said. will never be satisfied with
the present slipshod methods of river
and harbor improvement" He said he
had looked at river and harbor bills
himself, Something's with yellow and
jaundiced eye" and he thought some
of them had contained projects which
ought never have been approved by
Congress. He advocated such i'm
2rovements by legislative action "in a
scientific way
You will not dispute the fact" Mr.
Marshall said, that the more money
you expend the less traffic you have.
Traffic does not arise as a result of
improving rivers. The railroads have
the right to meet river traffic rates.
They do meet them, and the result is
that notwithstanding the fact that riv-
ers have been improved. traffic on riv-
ers ends when the railroads meet the
river rates" This, Mr.. Marshall said,
is a condition which will be improved
If the control of water as well as rail
rates is committed to the care of the
interstate commerce commission.
In Session Three Days.
The convention. which opened at 10
o'clock this morning, will be in ses-
sion three days Rev. Charles Wood.
pastor Of the Church of the Convenant.
delivered an Invocation. W. G. Ross.
president of the board of harbor COM
missioners of Montreal. Canada, de-
scribed that port. The naval value of
inland waterways was described by
Admiral William s. Benson, U. S. N,
chief of naval operations. and the mill
tary value of improved waterways was
described by Lieut.. Col. Henry Jervey,
United tates Engineer Corps. num-
ber of other addresses will be delivered
this afternoon.
Mrs. Mary NJ. North of Herndon. Va.
corresponding secretary of the Wom-
ans National Rivers and Harbors Con-
gress, will deliver a word Of greeting,
and the conservation department of the
District of Columbia Federation Of
Women's Clubs will present special
program. to which the public is invited,
tonight. Stephen T. Mather of the De-
partment of the Interior, will speak on
national parks; Arthur p Davis. chief
engineer of the reclamation service.
will tell Of homemaking on the public
domain. and Mrs. Lydia Adams Will
lia.ms, chairman of the conservation de-
partment. will also speak. Moving pic
lures will feature tonights session.