The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-01-28
CONFERENCE URGES
ACCEPTANCE FORD'S
MUSCLE SHOALS BID
National. Agricultural. Confer
ence Goes Into Night Session
to Complete Work.
RECOMMEND OPENING UP
OF MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Farmers Support Proposal That
Railroads and Employees
Share in Readjustment.
(sy The ssociatsd 7ress)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27.-The ma
tional agricultural conference went on
record today in adopting it's transpor-
tation committees report as favoring
participation by railroad labor and
railroad corporations in the general
price "deflation" after 1t had stricken
from another committees report
recommendation for repeal of the
Adamson eight-hour law and the
bringing down" of wages Of railroad
labor and other industrial labor to a
parity with the return received by the
farmer.
The conference. which began its
flve-day session here Monday, did not
complete it's consideration OF reports
and went into a night session with the
prospect OF taking a final adjournment
before midnight.
The debate on the question of wage
"dehation' today was long and at
times vehement. The proposal was
streunously fought by Samuel Com
pers, president OF the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor, who is a delegate to-
the conference. Several farmers who
opposed reductions in wages and
helped to defeat the first recommenda-
ton supported the proposal finally
adopted that both railroads and their
employees share in the readjustment.
The conference also endorsed a pro-
posal that the st. LAWRENCE Great
Lakes waterway project be completed
after one committees recommendation
to this efieft had baes lost. action
for repeal of the per cent guarantee
Ill 0f na +af Eor, 80
feated during the labor debate, also
received favorable action on a later
report.
The conference recommended COM
pletion of the projects at Muscle
Shoals, Ala, and urged that the gov
ernment accept the offer of Henry
Ford to lease them. Reduction of
freight rates on farm products, live
stock and products Of allied industries
to the basis prior TO the increase of
August, 1920, also was urged as well
as the restoration Of certain rate
making powers to state railroad COM
missions. Readjustmnet of rates af-
fecting other commodities should fol-
low as quickly as possible, it was
added. Legislation to prevent the rail
roads from including the '9and null
tiple" in making up their revaluation
was further recommended.
Development of the Mississippi
river as an artery of commerce was
advocated with the adoption of a re-
port which declared that during and
since the war there has been d great
increase in navigation in the lower
Mississippi river and on the Ohio
river"
''Barges are operating from ST
Louis to New Orleans" il was added,
'in competition with railroad lines and
have demonstrated not only their eff
ficiency but also their economy as
carriers of freight"
The conference went on record as
opposing repeal of the Panama canal
tolls. saying ''the people of the United
States have invested large sum OF
money in the Panama canal"
Other recommendations include:
Development of hydro electric power |
projects to make current available to |
the small consumer on the farm and
in the village.
: Closer coordination Of railway, wat |
erway and highway transportation
Appointment of a commission toi
work cut a national land policy in |
Guiding reclamation. irrigation. grazing
and colonization problems IN coopera- |
tion with similar bodies in the various |
states.
Opposition TO the opening OF any
more land for farming purposes pend |
ing readjustment OF conditions in agri- |
culture. |
Stoppage OF forest devastation, de- |
veIopment OF effective methods of fire
prevention, increase In reserves and |
extension of research.