The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1921-04-15

producer and consumer A measuring
rod of fair prices will satisfy the coun-
try and give us a business revival to
end all depression and unemployment.
The great interest of both producer
and consumer-indeed, all our indus
trial and commercial life, from agricul-
ture to finance-in the problems OF
transportation will find its reflex in
your concern to aid re-establishment
to restore efficiency, and bring trans
portation cost into a helpful relation
ship rather than continue 1t as a him
drance to resumed activities.
Must Cut Rail Rates.
1t is little to be wondered what ill
considered legislation the war strain,
government operation in heedlessness
of cost, and the conflicting programs,
or the lack of them, for restoration
have brought about most difficult
situation, made doubly difficult by the
low tide of business. All are so init
mately related that no improvement
will be permanent until the railways
| are operated efficiently at cost with
in that which the traffic can bear.
j If we can have 1t understood that
congress has no sanction for govern
ment ownership, that congress does
not levy taxes upon the people to
cover deficits in service which should
| be selfsustaining, there will be an
avowed foundation on which to re-
build.
Freight carrying charges have
mounted higher and higher until COM
merce is halted and production dis
couraged. Railway rates and cost OF
| operation must be reduced.
Labor Must Aid Employer.
| Congress may well Investigate and
let the public understand wherein our
system and the federal regulations are
lacking in helpfulness or hindering in
restrictions. The remaining obstacles
which are the heritage of capitalistic
! exploitation, must be removed and la
Dor must Join management in under
standing that the public which pays
| is the public to be served, and simple
| justice is the right and will continue
for the right of all the people
Transportation over the highways is
little less important, but the problems
relate to construction and develop
ment. and deserve your earnest atten-
| ton, because we are laying founda-
tion for long time to come, and the
creation is very difficult to visualize
| in it's great possibilities.
/ The highways are not only feeders to
the railroads and afford relief from
their local burdens, they are actually
/ lines of motor traffic in interstate COM
merce. They are the smaller arteries
of the larger portion of our commerce,
and the motorcar has become an in
dispensable instrument in our political,
social and Industrial life.
Warns of Wasted Efforts.
There is begun new era in high
way construction, the outlay for which
runs far into hundreds of millions of
dollars. Bond issues by road districts,
counties, and states mount to enor-
nous figures, and the country is fac
| ing such an outlay that it is vital that
| every effort shall be directed against
wasted effort and unjustifiable expen-
diture
Federal Aid Curb Asked.
The laws governing federal aid
| should be amended and strengthened.
The federal agency of administration
should be elevated to the Importance
and vested with authority comparable
to the work before it, and congress
ought to prescribe conditions to fed
eral appropriations which will necessi-
tate a consistent program of uniform
ity which will justify the federal out
! lay
| Tonnage Development Urged.
l. Linked with rail and highway is the
problem of water transportation
land, coastwise and transoceanic, it is
not possible on this occasion to suggest
| to congress the additional legislation
needful to meet the aspirations of our
| people for merchant marine. In the
emergency of war we have construct
/ ed a tonnage equaling our largest ex-
| pectatlons. It's war cost must be dis
counted to the actual values of peace,
and the large difference charged to the
war emergency, and the pressing task
is to turn our assets in tonnage to an
agency of commerce.
Big Merchant Marine Promised.
1t is not necessary to say to con-
gress, but have thought this to be a
BETTING occasion to give notice that
the United States means to establish
and maintain great merchant marine
Our differences of opinion as to a
pohcy of uphnilding have been remoy-
ed by the outstanding fact of our hav-
| ing builded. If the intelligent and eff
ficient administration under the exist
ing laws makes established service inn
possible, the executive will promptly
report to you. Manifestly if our laws
governing American activities on the
seas are such as to give advantage to
those who compete with us for the
carrying OF our own cargoes and those
which ought naturally come in Amer
lean bottoms through trade exchanges,
then the spirit of American fair play
will assert itself to give American car
rfers their equality of opportunity.
This republic can never realize its
righteous aspirations In commerce, can
never be worthy the traditions of the
early days of the expanding republic
until the millions of tons of shipping
which we now possess are co-ordinated
with our inland transportation and our
shipping has government encourage
ment, not government operation in
carrying our cargoes under our flag,
over regularly operated routes, to
every market in the world, agreeable
to American exchanges. It will
strengthen American genius and man
agement to have it understood that
ours is an abiding determination, be-
cause carrying is second only@to pro-
duction in establishing and maintain
ing the flow of commerce to which we
rightfully aspire
Aviation Bureau Favored.
+ 1t has become a pressing duty of
| the federal goYarnmant To nrnvida FOR