Evening star., 1919-03-13
Leaders Of Congress Send
Letters to Messrs. Hines
and Hurley.
CONFER AS TO PROGRAM

"
land and ceastwise shipping. was
agreed upon.
Discuss Amendments.
The meeting was called primarily to
consider how waterway transporta-
ton might be promoted through the
existing railroad administration
Those present discussed amend
ments to the interstate commerce law
to be included in the legislation pro-
vidiDg for the return of the railroads
to private ownership. which would
place water transportation on a more
substantial basis as part of the trans
portation system of the country. They
also discussed several amendments
which 1t was decided are necessary 40
existing law, tending to promote
water transportation.
Technical advice in starting the
members of Congress in their decision
was given by Col. John Stewart. an
engineer officer, who is connected
with the division of inland waterways
of the railroad administration.
AS result of the conference letters
drafted by Representative J. Hampton
Moore of Pennsylvania, president of
the Atlantic Intercoasta1 Waterways
Association, have been sent to Director
General Hines Of the railroad admin
istration and to Edward ". Hurley,
These letters. made public today, bore
the signatures of all the senators and
representatives who participated in
the conference yesterday.
Inquiry to Mr.. Hines.
The specific inquiries to Director
General Hines were as follows:
First-We respectfully request an
expression of your views and of the
railroad administration In the utiliza-
ton OF our interior waterways for
water transportati ton. In this connec-
ton we desire information as to your
policy in promoting Interchange of
traffic between the rail lines and the
water lines, your policy as to the di-
vision OF rates between the two in
Etrumentalities, the through rate and
the issue of through bills OF lading.
II We may assume that 1t is your poll
Icy to use the interior waterways in
connection with the railways TO the
fullest extent for the service of the
public the subject of rates upon the
water lines in joint traffic movement
is Of pressing Importance
Second--On some of the railroads
competitive with waterways it is un-
derstood that competitive rail rates
were reduced in the past. either with
purpose of injuring or destroying
water traffic or with the result that
water traffic has been impaired or re-
moved. We wish to have your policy
with reference to increasing such
competitive rates and the extent to
which they will be or should be in
creased in order to effect justice to
the water lines as well as to interior
points.
Third. The railroad administration
has authorized the construction OF
boats of various types upon the lower
Mississippi, the Warrior river system
and the New York state barge canal.
which either have been or are under
process OF construction. We respect
fully ask statement of your present
and future policy with regard to the
operation of these boat lines. cover
ing the rates to be established on the
boat lines. the joint rates between
such boat lines and connecting lines
OF railroads and the division thereof,
expressing an application of your
policy in definite terms.
Ask Regarding Boats.
Fourth. We desire information as
to the amount which has been allotted
by the railroad administration toward
the construction of boats upon the
several waterways, the type or kind
of boats which have been authorized,
the approximate amount which has
been expended. the approximate date
when such boats will be completed
and placed in operation, divided as to
such separate waterway systems. May
we further ask what steps have been
taken or are in contemplation for the
utilization of the waterways upon
which these boats heretofore author
nection with the railroads or sepa-
rately? May we ask some detail aris-
ing from your operation of the prI-
vately owned Delaware and .Raritan
canal and also of the Chesapeake and
Ohio canal?
Fifth Anticipating that Congress
in the future will enact legislation
providing for the return of the rail-
roads to their owners. and. possibly,
terminating the activities of the rail-
road administration, we desire your
views and recommendation as to the
future policy of the government re-
garding the disposition and operation
of the several fleets of boats which
you have authorized and which have
been constructed or are in process OF
construction upon the several systems
of waterways heretofore mentioned.
sixth. We assume that the rail-
road administration is desirous of af-
fording every facility of transporta-
tion to the country. The waterway
constitutes very important instru-
mentality in our System of transpor-
tation. In so far as the railroad ad
ninistration is authorized to act. we
believe the administration should
adopt every means essential for the
complete use of both the railroads and
the waterways, both separately and
for joint movement Of traffic.
The conference suggested that the
reply OF the railroad administration
should be sent to Senator Fletcher a nd
that copies should be sent to each
member of the conference
Letter to Mr.. Hurley.
In the letter sent to Chairman Hur-
ley OF the shipping board emphasis
was laid on the service that couId he
rendered by the upper Mississiupi
river between ST Louis and Minne-
apolis and st. Paul TT is our under-
standing" the letter says, shat the
President made an allotment of funds
for the construction of towboats and
barges for use on this section of the
Mississippi, and the construction of
the same was fntrusted to the CHIEF
of engineers, United States Army. We
further understand that the shipping
board is or will be authorized to su-
pervise the maintenance of those
boats when completed.
May we respectfully ask informa-
ton as to the progress which is nade
in the construction of these boats and
as to the policy which has or will be
adopted for their maintenance and
operation
Ak wardmnn Park Hotel.
Saturday. March 15. Special dinner