Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-10-28
For Water Transportation.

Practical plans for the development of in
ternaI waterways Of the country are taking
form at the hands of the National Rivers and
Harbors congress. Copies Of amendments to
the Cummlns railroad bill recently presented
to the senate are being circulated all over the
country in order to get helpful suggestions
and the entire project will be revised at the
coming annual meeting IN Washington, Dec
8 to II. Then in its hnal form 1T will be
placed before congress and the fight for its
enactment will begin.
Tentative amendments have been in the
making since the last annual meeting Then
d special committee on transportation legts-
lation was authorized and finally was organ
lied with 10 members, representing SO states
Last month a subcommittee OF II met and
framed the provisions which we're placed be-
fore the senate proposed changes in the
Cummins bill.
The first Of these transfers to the shipping
board all the rights in reference TO canals now
exercised by the director general Of railroads
under the federal control act. but authorizes
the REIMBURSEMENT OF control over the canals
of New York upon request of the governor.
1t also directs the shipping board to carry out
all contracts made by the railroad administra-
ton for the building of boats and barges and
10 COuLluu9 LOt Hf6 years tu6 ORCi dtlOh VI
the government transportation lines now es-
tablished upon inland waterways and such
additional lines as It may find desirable to
establish
The second section prevents railways from
reducing rates to meet water competition ex-
cept by permission Of the Interstate commerce
commission, and when rates are so reduced,
prohibits the maintenance Of any higher rates
to intermediate points.
Existing law gives the commission author
ity to order connection made between the
tracks of a rail carrier and the docks OF a
water carrier and to establish through routes
and joint, or proportion, rates between and
such rail and water lines Section 8
specifically directs the commission to do these
things and also authorizes the establishment
OF maximum, or minimum, or maximum and
minimum Joint rates.
Section 4 authorizes the commission, upon
application, to establish through routes and
joint, or proportional, rates between connect
ing lines of water carriers. Section pro-
yides that the absorption by water carrier
of the switching, terminal or other charge OF
rail carrier, shall not subject the water car
rier to the provisions of the interstate COM
mercs act Section 6 provides that the COM
mission shall have no jurisdiction over port
to-port rates by water, except insofar as may
be necessary in efecting interchange of
traffic.
Section gives to the department OF com
merce q long list Of duties with the object of
promoting encouraging and developing water
transportation facilities in connection with the
commerce of the United States" Among these
the investigation Of boats and terminals;
cooperation with communities in the prepara-
ton of plans for terminals and in securing
Joint and proportional rates by water and rail;
and compiling and publishing of statistics and
information concerning water transportation.
This comprises the most carefully thought
out program yet placed before the country for
legislation to restore water transportation to
the place most people believe it is rightly en-
titled to. That it is not vet complete and
changes are contemplated is admitted
Rock Island. and every other city on a navi-
gable stream is interested and ought to be rep
resented in the meeting at Washington when
the amendments take final form.