The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-04-12

costa to the excAaAgo of iA60fmn-
tion by open pfice aeooctAttuns'' |,
which operates, evfdently within
the Law. 70 the very great a6vAn-
tAge Of their members and equal
disadvantage to the consuming
public. Without the spirit Of hos-
tiiity or haste in accusation 81 prof
iteeftne, some suitable inquiry BY
congress might spsed the pfics re-
adjustment to normal relAtionship,
with helpfulness OF botn producer
and consumer. A measuring rod
OF fair prices will satisfy the coun-
try and give ms b business revival
to end all depression and unen-
ployment.
The great interest Of both the
producer And conmmef-indeed,
all our Industrial and commercial
life, from agriculture to finance
In the problems Of transportation
cost into . helpful relationship
rather than continue 1t q q him
ORANGE to resumed activities.
Doubly Diiicslt
1t is little to be wondered that
ill-considered Legislation. the war
strain, government operation IN
of cost and the cob
fiicting programs, or the lack Of
them. for restoration have brought
about a most difiicult situation,
made doubly d1fiicult by the low
tide OF business. All are DO init
mately related that NO improve
ment will be permanent until the
are operated efficiently at
q cost within that which the traf-
&c can bear.
We can have it understood that
congress does not levy taxes On the
people to cover deficits in a serv-
Ice which should be self-sustain-
ing. there will be an avowed foun-
dation on which to rebuild.
Freight carrying charges have
higher and higher until
10 halted and production
discouraged. Railway rates and
costs of operation must be reduced.
Congress may well investigate
and let the public understand
wherein our system and the fed
eral regulations are lacking in
OF hindering in festric-
lions. The remaining obstacles,
which are the heritance OF capital
Ist exploitation must be removed
and labor must join management
in understanding that the public
which pays IS the public to be
served and simple justice is the
right and will continue to be the
right Of all the people.
Transportation over the highways
is little less important but the
problems relate to construction and
development and deserve your most
earnest attention, because we are
aging foundation for . long time
to come and creation is very dff-
cult to visualize in its great pos
;ibilities.
Highway Problem.
The highways are not only feed
ers to the railroads and afford re-
lief from their local burdens, they
are actually lines Of motor traffic
n Interstate commerce. They are
he smaller arteries of the larger
portion Of our commerce and the
motor car has become an indispens-
able instrument in our political,
social and industrial life.
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 enormous figures,
md the country is facing such an
outlay that it is vital that every
effort shall be directed against
wasted effort and unjustifable ex-
3enditure.
The federal government can
place no inhibition on the expendi-
.ure in several states; but since
congress has embarked upon q pol
cy of assisting the states in high
way improvement. wisely, believe
t can assert a wholly becoming in
luence in shaping policy.
With the principle Of federal
participation acceptably establish
I'd. probably never to be abandon
I'd. it is important to exert federal
influence in developing comprehen-
,ive plans looking to the promo
ion of commerce and apply our
in the surest way to
a public return for
money expended.
Large federal outlay demands q
'ederaI voice in the program of ex-
Congress cannot justi-
y a mere gift from the federal
purse to the several states, to be
,ro-rated among counties for road
,etterment. Such course will in
rite abuses which it were better to
yuard against in the beginning.
The laws governing federal aid
should be amended and strengthen
ID. The federal agency Of admins
ration should be elevated to the
and invested with au-
hority comparable to the work be-
ore it. Congress ought to pre-
.cribe conditions to federal appro-
,riations which will necessitate a
consistent program Of uniformity
which will justify the federal out
ay.
Waste Of Funds.
l know Of nothing more shock
ng than the millions Of public
'unds wasted in improved high
ways, wasted because there is NO
policy of maintenance. The neg
ect is not universal but it ia very
near it. There is nothing the con-
,ress can do more effectively to end
his shocking waste than condition
Ill federal aid on provisions for
Highways, no mat
.er how generous the outlay for
cannot be maintained
patrol and constant repair.
Such conditions insisted upon in
he grant Of federal aid will safe
guard the public which pays and
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