The Republican journal., 1919-02-20
NOT NEEDED YET.

The United States government is now
operating the Cape Cod Canal as a war
measure and Congress has authorized the
Secretary of War to purchase it for per-
manent control The canal costs about
200O 600 and MIR. Baker offered the
owners So, 250, 600 for it, and his offer was
not accepted. Thereupon the Attorney
General of the United States was direct
ed TO institute condemnatory proceedings
A committee of appraisal will be appoint
ed and this committee will determine the
price to be paid, and when the forced
price, whatever it may be, is paid, the
canal will become the property of the
United States. Mr. Baker has taken the
proper course to acquire it, if it is to be
course, If the situation in this country
were what it was five years ago when
business was booming, when money in
plenty was to be had at low rate of in
terest vnen no omen of a business de-
preston was to be seen and when no war
cloud threatened storm, the proposition
to purchase the canal would have seemed
to be a wise one. A direct and combined
canal and coastal waterway through the
capes and across the bays of the central
Atlantic States, as far south at least as
Norfolk, would shorten the distance of
transportation and enhance the safety of
vessels, cargo and passengers, going to
and from terminals and intermediate
points Such waterway is needed and
doubtless will some time be provided. 1t
will probably be government enterprise.
1t is entirely proper it should be, and that
the United States should own the Cape
Cod Canal as part of the system We
say that this should be a government en-
terprise because the major part, or at
least large part of the route will be
through coastal waters, the control of
which does not belong to the adjacent
States, but to the United States As
matters stand now we do not believe the !
United States should, at present, either
control or purchase the Cape Cod Canal |
II has now no real use for it and it can be
obtained by condemnatory proceedings
whenever it becomes necessary to make |
1t part of the suggested waterway. We
have loaned England about ST. 600 OO0 900 /
and very large sums to France and Italy. !
We have spent billion after billion for
otb acni,
ments for war which is now dead IN
vestment. We are planning to spend
another billion or more to increase the
power of our navy. We are soon going
down into cur pockets for Sc, 900. 600, 600,
or more. as a Victory Loan We are pay
ing petty taxes every day of our lives
when we travel on the cars, when we go
TO see moving pictures, when we borrow
money to pay our exalted living expenses, |
and everybody who is not obliged to use |
today's salary to pay yesterdays ex-
penses, has to pay still income tax. |
We spent an enormous sum of money in
helping to conquer Germany, but that I,
il something we were compelled to do III
order to maintain our national honor and
to safeguard our future. Victory was
worth the price and most of us are will
ing to do our share IN paying the bills.
But our loans and expenses have some
what depleted our supply of ready cash,
and the business common sense of the
people of the United States will not APP
prove the putting OF their money into the
purchase of the Cape Cod Canal until
there is some better reason for so doing
than now appears They want needless
expenditures stopped in every instance
They want the administration of their
business affairs to be conducted wisely,
sanely and economically. They not only
desire this but they insist that ii shall be
done.