The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-07-29
Achievements of a
Republican Congress

1KN19xN N4AANkAOO Va -
Republican Congress
Especial Correspondence The Record)
WASHINGTON, July 21-Before
the war the United States possessed
the smallest merchant marine of any
flrst-class nation, states Representa-
tive Frank W. Mondell of Wyoming.
Having spent and assumed obligations
totaling $500. 100000. we came out of
the war with merchant fleet second
only to that of Great Britain. mo
more trying problem has ever been
presented to the present Congress in
making provisions for this great fleet,
for the protection of the public inter-
est in our enormous investment and
in the establishment of a permanent
shipping policy. In view of the wide
differences of opinion which have
heretofore prevailed among the peo.
pie we might well have ben skeptical
of the possibility of settling and ad-
justing differences for securing agree
ment on merchant marine legislation.
Yet it was accomplished in less than a
year from the time it was undertaken.
Thus the Greene-Jones merchant ma
rine and shipping bill, the first COM
prehensive, constructive legislative
program for a merchant fleet since
the Civil War. became one of the most
notable achievements of the session OF
Congress recently closed"
National Resources.
. g.g
many Western states opposed the
leasing of public lands for the purpose
of developing their resources. AS a
result since 1909 their resources have
been tied up by Withdrawal orders re-
moving from development great areas
in practically all of the Western
states, according to the statement of
Representative Guy U. Hardy of Colo
RADIO ITO gain relief from this sit
uation the representatives of public
land states in Congress advocated
a bill covering the coal, phos-
phate, oil, oil shale, gas and sodium
lands on the public domain" says
Representative Hardy. Democratic
Congresses struggled with the situa-
tion for six years without being able
to write upon the statute books any
law which would permit the develop
ment of such lands 1t is to the credit
of the present Congress that such a
law has bene enacted. Under its pro-
visions is afforded an opportunity 20
develop the resources of the West
which have been practically denied
for a number of years.
Railroad financinq.
Senator Albert R. Cummins of Iowa
declares that farmers and other ship
pers have suffered great loss due to
the inadequacy of railroad equipment
and that the railroads are without
funds to purchase cars and engines
He explained in recent address that
the new railroad law authorizes short
time loans of 5000, 900 but that ad
ditional funds will be necessary which
must be raised by other means. "To
accomplish this end" said Senator
Cummins, "the Interstate Commerce
Commission is directed to adjust rates
of transportation so that the railroads
will, as nearly as practicable yield in.
comes equal to 81 per cent of the
value of their property as determined
by the commission. In order to guard
against excessive incomes any rail
road earning in any year more than
6 per cent upon the value of its prop
erty must pay one-half of the excess
above 6 per cent to the government
creating fund from which the com.
mission may make loans to railroad
companies upon proper security for
the purpose of purchasing the equip
ment and facilities of which the coun
try is in such dire need. The act
specifically provides that the commits
sion must take into account honest
efficient and economical management
of existing transportation facilities
and, further, it gives the commission
authority to make rules controlling
expenditures for maintenance. The
Railroad Labor Board adjudicates dis
putes respecting wages. of the pub
lie is protected at every point"
nroborI Do,.11