Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-08-15

despite the friendship of the director general
OF railroads, who says the rivers are to be
given thorough test, there are as many ways
OF killing the waterways there are Of killing
cats, every one of which is being sedulously
employed some place between the top OF the
railroad organization and that profound depth
at which the boats are operated on the river?
Do any Of these men at Washington, all of
whom ought to be in this fight with every
ounce of the great influence they can WELD for
representing more than half the people OF the
United States, know how the matter Of rate
adjustment between the boats and the rail-
roads stands at this minute. when only the as
surance Of Mr.. Hines prevents everyone inter-
ested in the river from being panic stricken
by the short time in which the rivers are to
get most of what they require il they really
are to be revived?
Do any OF these men know that since last
March there have been applications before the
railroad administration for joint water and
rail rates in the hinterland upon both sides
of the lower Mississippi, not one of which has
been acted upon and not one of which there is
any promise of getting until transfer termi-
mails upon the river are built?
Why should all these rate adjustments wait
director generals assurance that the railroad
administration will build them sufficient as
surance to those who make rates that the
terminals will be there when they are needed?
1t is estimated that the transfer terminals
at East st. Louis, Memphis. Vicksburg and New
Orleans will cost $S,OO00OO Presumably they
cannot be built within less than six months.
Will Mr.. Hines, the first friend of the riv-s
ers, the man to whom they look for everything
they must have to revive, be there in six
months?
Will Mr.. Chambers, who says the rivers are
to have all the rates for which they have ap-
piled when the terminals are built, be there in
six months?
Congressman Esch, chairman Of the rail-
road committee in the house, says his commit
tee is not contemplating government control of
the railroads after the first of next January,
when the president has said they will be re-
turned to their owners
In what condition would that leave the riv-
ers? Would they be able to secure rate adj
justments beyond that time by appealing to
the interstate commerce commission under leg
islation to be enacted by congress? The best
possible authority for the statement that this
will be difficult, if not impossible. is the direc
tor general of railroads, Mr.. Hines. He told
the interstate commerce committee of the SEN
ate that all these rate adjustments should be
made in the period of government control of
when the government has arbitrary
power to make them. He said he did not be-
lieve cooperation forced upon the railroads by
law would be satisfactory to the rivers.
This is the situation which from day to day
drifts, with the first of January now rushing
upon US.
Are we to lose everything we have gained
because of our own apathy and the carelessness
Of our representatives at Washington?
Why doesn't the valley go to Mr.. Hines anu
demand that all these rate adjustments be made
while they can be nader Mr.. Hines himself
says that is the time to get them. so not much
will have to be wasted on him.
1t seems that the great objective in this
matter has largely been lost sight of, both here
in peccadilloes than in things that count We
have plenty of people, even congressman. in
CURING about salaries on the river and quar-
reIing over personnel in organization, but no. |
body fighting for the rate adjustments without |
which the river movement must perish as sure |
~ as a tree dies without nourishing roots.
We have plenty of people trying to work up |
a fight between St Louis and New Orleans. |
whose interests are in no wise antipathetic, |
but nobody paying the least attention to what
the traditional enemies of the river, the rail-
roads, are doing, though we may be sure they
are both resourceful and vigilant.
This is not the way to revive the inland
waterways.
1t can never be done by a lot of sleeping
senator's and congressman in Washington, any
one of whom could, by throwing himself into
he fight, not only force the rate adjustments
he rivers ask, but unmask all the conspirators
whose system Of interference against the boat
service would shame football coach
This is the critical time for the rivers
Are we to lose this great fight by default?