Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1920-07-21

ole, nnu az rates OF compensation 70
be fixed by the postmaster general and
the board.
To Operate Under New Law.
A thoroughly American merchant
marine viii be built up under
the terms OF the new merchant
marine law which congress put
through Just before II took recent ad-
journment. according 10 Admiral w.
$. Benson. Chairman OF the United
States shipping board.
The outstanding feature Of the new
law Is that preferential treatment II
provided FOR vessels documenied IN
der the Ia = % the United States
Such provisions. according 20 Admiral
Bens0n and Senator Wesley Jones OF
Washington. chairman OF the senate
commerce committee. are absolutely
essential II American vessels are TO
hold their own against foreign COM
petition.
Congress declared IN the law that
st Is necessary Tor the national de-
Tense and for the proper growth OF
its foreign and domestic commerce
that the United States shall have n
merchant marine u the best 90 dipped
and most suitable types Of vessels suf-
icient 10 carry the greater portion Of
its commerce and serve as a naval or
military auxiliary in time OF war or
national emergency. ultimately to he
owned and operated privately BY citl-
zcns Of the United States: and il Is
hereby declared 10 be the policy Of
the United States to do whatever may
he necessary 10 develop and encour-
age the maintenance OF such n mer-
chant marine. and. IN so far as may
not be inconsistent with the express
provisions of this act. the United
States shipping board shall. In the dis
position 81 vessels and shipping prop
erty as hereinafter provided. in the
making ~ rules and regulations and
IN the administration Of the shipping
laws keep always in view this purpose
and object as the primary end TO be
attained"
About Same Shipping Time.
Is that authorizing aud directing the
shipping board. the membership Of
which Is increased from Eve 10 seven.
90 determine what steamship lines
should be established from the Uni
ted Siaiei 10 foreign ports or In the
coastv-ise trade and 20 establish such
routes through private individuals or
companies n possible and otherwise 20
operate such lines itself until private
operation thereof becomes feasible.
On the Warrior river In Alabama the
army Is maintaining an important
service between the coal fields OF Ala
hama and Mobile and New Orleans.
The principal movement over the New
York state barge canal Is the trans
portntion OF grain between the Great
Lakes and the. port Of New York.
In an of these services the war de-
pnrtment has announced that Il will
have a total Of i85 barges and tow
boats IN operation during the summer
81 1870 aggregnting cargo capacity
~ Ia. 4J0 tons. This equipment Is all
new and has been designed and con-
structed particularly 10 meet naviga-
tionnl aud traffic requirements Of The
locations In which II viii operate.
The equipment includes self-propell-
ed barges which are capable OF carry
Ing upwards OF 800 tons OF cargo. ut
the same time towing loaded barges.
The war department believes that
development 81 the use Of those inland
waterways which are suitable for nav
igation will be an important factor
in reducing the cost OF living.
Study Combined Terminals.
~The major part Of the actual de-
velopmcnt Of the nnvlgabie rivers and
harbors has for the last century
largely been carried out by the war de-
partment. 50 that IL has been more
intimately connected with waterways
n general than any other single gov
ernment bureau" snys the department.
an thus entering field which Is In a
sense 50 far removed froIn actual mill
Itary operations. the war department
= giving to the government and 20 the
nation concrete evideace OF the desire
Of the new army 10 become a potent
factor IN commercial as well rs mill
tary achievement"
The position Of the war department
with respect % the operations on the
New York state barge canal IS That
the government should be pc mitted
20 operate its equipment for the pres
cnt season 20 demonstrate the practi-
Il has made IL clear that 70 does not
wish % maintain the service on the
canal permanently and that further
more anyone may operate bants on the
canal which is free. being .laintained
BY the state. Unless the president
calls congress into special session.
however. the war department viii not
be disturbed during the present sea-
son of navigation On the canal and
v,rfH have the desired onnnrfunity 10