Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-10-06
BILL IN CONGRESS SEEKS TO
BENEFIT IOWA AND RIVER
CITIES IN OTHER STATES.
PROVIDES FOR SUITABLE
TERMINALS AND WHARFS
River Commerce Would Thus Com
pete With Railroads and Foree
Cheaper Ratss-Unfair Tactics by
Railroads Would Be Prevented
Commission Would Control.
IRy E G. DoughertY.l


Washington, Oct. 6.-Development OF
traffic on the upper Mississippi river,
in order that Iowa and other states
, bordering on those waters may have
the benefit CT cheaper transportation
| charges. is contemplated in bill just
presented TO congress by Senator
, Ransdell, OF Louisiana. The measure
would put the United States shipping
board in charge Of developing water
traffic on Inland waterways for mini
n. I'm period of Ave years.
The bill! likewise provides that the
department OF commerce. thru its
proper bureaus, be authorized to study
the whole question Of inland water
way problems. including terminals, rail
connections and the ike. It Is direct
ed 10 cooperate with cities in such
matters as building suitable terminals,
as means OF building up commerce.
The measure represents the views Of
various organizations which have been
trying for a number Of years to devel-
op inland water transportation. includ-
line to the ocean from st. Paul and
Iowa Mississippi river towns via New
Orleans. Railroad congestion due to
the war emphasized the need for using
the big inland waterways. such as the
Father of Waters. Private capital has
been backward in undertaking the de-
velopment work, and the government
is to be urged. thru the Ransdell legis-
lation, to take the initiative.
Under the Ransdell bill all the bars-
es and boats being built for use on the
upper Mississippi will be transferred
to the shipping board. The United
States railroad administration Is re-
lieTed of the operation OF all Inland
and coastwise water lines now under
its control. including canals. The war
department, which last spring was
given charge of building some Of the
tow boats for river traffic. will relin-
qulsh ell its holdings, under the bill.
The purpose of the measure is to con-
centrate all inland water traffic IN the
shipping board and make that body re-
sponsible for development as we'll as
operation of lines now under federal
control
Rate Wars Prevented.
Stringent provisions are contained
in the bill to prevent the railroads
Gripping water traffic by rate wars.
Before a railroad can meet differences
between it's own and water rates or
equalize rail rates with water rates be-
tween competitive points it must OBJ
tain the sanction of the interstate COM
nerce commission. The bill declares
that the commission shall consider
tine rates charged by water lines as
presumably reasonable" It further
provides that the commission SHALL
not permit any railroad to reduce its
existing rates as between points COM
petitive with the water line or lines
unless such railroad maintain such re-
duced rates as the mexinum at all in
! te-nediate points on its lines between
the points Of origin and destination"
The interstate commerce commission
is vested with power under the bill, to
force tine rail carrier to make suitable
connection between its line and the
dock Of the water carrier" The COM
lHlSSloll also 10 10 prescribe me ruleS
and regulations for operating these
connecting facilities.
The section Of the Ranste1l bin d.
recting the department of commerce to
study the water transportation prob
lem directs that the gubtect Of types Of
boats suitable for the various water
ways, together with dock facilities,
warehouses and communicating facili-
ties, shall be thoroughly investigated.
The department also Is directed to ad-
vise with communities, cities ana
towns regarding the appropriate loca-
ton Of terminals and to cooperate
with them in the preparation Of plans
for suitable terminal facilities.
1T shall also be the province and
duty Of the department Of commerce."
the bill provides. ito compile. publish
and supply from time to time useful
statistics, data and information con-
corning transportation by water as
may be Of value to the commercial in
terests Of the country.