The sun., 1919-02-08
ASKS U. S. CONTROL
OF WATER TRAFFIC
Rivers and HarbOrs Congress
Wants I. C.. C.'S Jurisdic-
ton Enlarged.
COORDINATION rs URGED
Improvement Only Of Navi-
gable Streams Endorsed by
Imperative Duty.

WAsHISGroE. Feb. Federal super
vision of water transportation, enlarged
jurisdiction of the Interstate Commerce
! COMMISSIONERS water and rail ways and
improvement OF all navigable streams
upon which commerce could be estab-
lished were recommended to Congress
to-day in a declaration of principles
bors Congress at the closing session OF
Its fourteenth annual meeting.
The convention declared that It was
the imperative duty of Congress TO
systematic and improve the waterways
In such a manner as to serve the public
interest. and that this duty could not he
escaped. II went on record. however.
as indorsing Improvement of only such
streams as could be utilized for COM
merce. and rebuked those who advocate
appropriations for "ulterior or secondary
results"
Appropriations of the public revenues
can only he justified upon evidence ar
fording a reasonable assurance that
channels SO improved will he used for
water transportation" the declaration
said. mo Interior or secondary result
constitutes a sufficient Justification. Those
navigation with the expectation only OF
reducing competitive rates by rail are
advocating public expenditures incon-
sistent with the public duty or wise
economics"
Rail. Highway and Air.
Coordination OF rail and water facili-
ties and abolition of destructive COM
pettive warfare between the two were
favored. and the congress expressed its
unity and sympathy with transportation
by rail, highway and air" The advent
of the airplane was hailed as an i'm
portant factor in transportation.
system OF waterways that would
most efYectually serve the largest areas
OF the country was advocated, with
preference given trunk or through
streams, particularly where they inter-
sect feeders or branch lines, thus ex
tending the length OF boa: movement
without "breaking bulk"
Free interchange of traffic to be car
ried between points origin ana des-
tination partly by rail and partly by
water was declared to be essential.
wherever this was not effected volun-
tarly II should be compelled by Law.
mandatory in its terms and under COM
petent supervision said the declara-
ton.
For Separate Department..
The congress recommended that Fed
era supervision be under a separate de-
partment OF transportation. or bureau
OF the Department Of Commerce and
that the extension of the jurisdiction OF
the Interstate Commerce Commission
embrace adjustment OF water ana rail
rates TO enable boat lines to run. at
fair profit on the same basis as COM
pctitiNe rail lines
While no mention was made in tNe
declaration Of the great lakesS to the
sea proposal made by the Great Lakes
-. Lawrence Tidewater Association.
representing the States contiguous to
the great lakes. 1t was understood that
the resolutions committee favored the
project 1t was explained that the pol
icv OF the congress would not permit a
specific Endorsement OF any particular
project against others.
After the adoption OF the declaration
Senator Ransdell dad was reelected
president OF the congress for his thir-
teenth term.