New-York tribune., 1920-06-11

IN rendering the service OF tranSporta-
ton; but in order to do justice to the
capital already invested in railway en-
terprlse, to restore railway credit, to
induce future inve estments at reason
able. rate and to furnish enlarged IA
cllltles to meet the requirements Of the
constantly increasing development and
distribution fair return upon actual
value of the railway property used in
transportation should be made reason
ably sure, and at the same time to
provide. constant employment to those
engaged in transportation service with
fair hours and favorable working condi-
tions at wages or compensation at least
equal to those prevailing in similar
lines of industry.
We indorse the transportation act of
1920 enacted by the Republican Con-
gress as most conservative legislative
achievement.
Waterways
We declare it to be our policy to en-
courage and develop water transporta-
tion service and facilities in connection
with the commerce Of the United States,
Public Roads and Highways
We favor liberal appropriations in
cooperation with the states for the
construction of highways, which will
bring about reduction in transporta-
tlon costs, better marketing of farm
products, improvement in rural postal
delivery, as we'll as meet the needs of
military defense.
In determining the proportion Of
Federal aid for road construction
among the states the sums lost in taxa
ton to the respective states by the
setting apart of large portions of their
area as forest reservations should be
considered as q controlling factor.
Conservation is a Republican policy.
1t began with the passage of the recla-
nation act signed by President Roose-
welt. The recent passage Of the coal,
oil and phosphate leasing bill by a
Republican Congress and the enact
ment of the water power bill, fashioned
in accordance with the same principle,
are consistent landmarks in the devel-
opment of the conservation Of our ma
tional resources. We denounce the re-
fusal Of the President to sign the water
power bill, passed after ten years of
controversy. The Republican party has
taken an especially honorable part in
saving our national forests and in the
effort to establish a national forest
policy. Our most pressing conserva-
tion question relates to our forests.
We are using our forest resources
faster than they are being renewed
The result is to raise unduly the cost
of forest products to consumers and
especially farmers, who use more than
half the lumber produced in America,
and in the end to create a timber
famine. The Federal government, the
states and private interests must unite
i'll dcvlsing means to meet the menace
Regulation of Industry and
Commerce
We approve in general the existing
Federal Legislation against monopoly
and combinations in restraint of trade,
but, since the known certainty of a
law is the safest of all, we advocate
such amendment as will provide Ameri-
can business men with better means of
determining in advance whether a pro-
posed combination is or is not unlaw-
full. The Federal Trade Commission
under q Democratic Administration
has rot accomplished the purpose for
which it was created. This commits
sion, properly organized, and its duties
efficiently administered, should afford
protection to the public and legitimate
business in this. There should be no
persecution Of honest business, bc. to
the extent that circumstances warrant
we pledge ourselves to strengthen the
law against unfair practices.
We pledge the party to an immediate
resumption of trade relations with
every nation with which we are at