The Washington herald., 1920-07-03

eficiency that minimized loss ana
resulted In many and marked re-
forms. The equipment taken over
was not only grossly inadequate,
but shamefully outworn. Unihcasion
practices overcame these initial nan
dicaps and provided additions, bet-
terments and improvements. Econo-
mics enabled operation without the
rate raises that private control
would have found necessary, and Ia
Dor was treated with an exact JUS
tice that secured the enthusiastic
cooperation that victory demanded.
The Fundamental purpose of Federal
control was achieved fully and
splendidly. and at far less cost to
the taxpayer than would have been
the case under private operation
Investments in railroad properties
were not only saved by government
operation. but government manage
ment returning these properties
vastly improved in every physical
and executive detail. A great task
was greatly discharged.
The Presidents recommendation
of return to private ownership gave
the Republican majority full year
in which to enact the necessary leg
islation. The House took six months
to formulate its ideas and another
six months was consumed by the
Republican Senate in equally vague
debate. As consequence, the Esch-
Gemmins bill went to the President
in the closing hours OF Congress.
and he was forced to a choice be-
tween the chaos of a veto and acqui-
escence in the measure submitted.
however grave may have been his
objections to IL.
There should be a fair and COM
plete test of the law until careful
and mature action by Congress may
cure its defects and insure a thor
oughly effective transportation sys-
tenn under private ownership with
out government subsidy at the ex-
pense of the taxpayers Of the coun-
try.
.. =, Improved Highways.
Improved roads are Of vital i'm
portance not only t. commerce and
industry. but also &c agriculture
and rural life. The Federal road
act OF 1916, epacted by a Democratic
Congress. represented the frst sys.
teratIc effort of the government t.
insure the building OF an adequate
system of roads in this country. The
act, as amended. has resulted in
placing the movement for Improved
highways on a progressive and
substantial bcsis in every State in
the Union and in bringing under
actual construction more Than $4,000
miles of roads suited to the tram ,
needs of the communities in which
tLev are located.
We favor a continuance of the
present Federal aid plan under ex-
tsting Federal and State agencies.
amended SO as to include as one of
the elements in determining the ra-
to in which the several States shall
he entitled to share in the fund,
the area of any public lands therein.
Inasmuch as the postal service
has been extended by the Demo-
cratic party to the door OF practic-
ally every producer and every con-
sumner in the country (rural free
delivery alone Paving been pro-
vided for, 6.000.6G0 additional pa
irons within the past eight years
without material added cost, We
declare that this fundamentally
can and will be used to the maxi
mum of its capacity to Improve the
efficiency of distribution and reduce
the cost of living to consumers
while Increasing the profitable
operations OF producers
We strongly favor the increased
use OF tire rotor vehicle in the
transportation of the mails. and
urge the removal Of the-restrictions
Imposed by the Republican Congress
L. 4
,ranspor tatior In rural territories.
Merchant Marine.
We desire to congratulate tho
American people on the rebirth Of
our merchant marine, which once
more maintains its former place In
the world. 1t was under a Demo-
cratic administration that this was
accomplished after seventy years of
indifference and neglect, 100000
tons having been constructed since
the act was passed in 1916. We
pledge the policy of our party to
the continued growth Of our mer-
chant marine under proper legisla-
ton. so that American products win
be carried to all ports of the world
by vessels built in American yards,
flying the American flag.
Port Facilities.
The urgent demands of the war
for adequate transportation of war
material, as well as for domestic
need, revealed the fact that our port
facilities and rate adjustment were
such as to seriously affect the whole
country in times of peace as well as
war.
We pledge our party to stand for
equality of rates, both import and
export. for the ports of the coun-
try. to the end that there might be
adequate and fair facilities and
rates for the mobilization of the
products of the country offered for
shipment.
Inland Waterways.
We call attention to the failure of
the Republican national convention
to recognize in any way the rapid
development of barge transporta-
tion on our inland waterways, which
development Is the result of the
constructive policies of the Demo-
cratic administration. And we pledge
ourselves to the further develop
ment Of adequate transportation IA
ctlities on our rivers and to the
further improvement of our inland
waterways, and we recognize the
Importance Of connecting the Great
Lakes with the sea by way of the
Mississippi River and its tributaries
as we'll as by the st. Lawrence Riv-
er. We favor an enterprising for
eign trade policy with all nations,
- +.