The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-29
WARRIOR NEEDS TT NOW

Plans are going forward for the complete linking of the Mississippi barge service with all private barge lines operating on tributa- ries of the Mississippi and carrying tonnage destined for export. Secretary Weeks says that similar concern regarding the develop ment of the Warrior barge service must await the adjustment of rate divisions be- tween the Warrior service and the railways in joint hauls The secretary places the re- sponsibility for fixing such divisions upon the Interstate Commerce Commission. The people of Alabama have seen, however, how the federal commission contented itself with stating proposition, which has not essentially altered the situation. It is re- membered also that waterway officials ex- pressed themselves as satisfied with the con1- missions ruling, and in spite of the fact that at the time Secretary Weeks declared that nothing could be done for the Warrior until the question of rate divisions was set tied, there has been no public intimation of such conference either planned or in pros pect. Meanwhile, the public interest is suf fering and the Warrior is unable to make financial showing entitling it to additional barge appropriation.
 The question at once arises, who are the friends of the Warrior barge service? Who are the friends and defenders of the public welfare of Alabama in this commercially vital affair? There is needed no public ap- propriation, no consent of the people, no official authority to demand of the railroads that they enter into conference on this question. The waterway officials have the requisite consent and authority. Yet, in the face of the losses suffered by the War rior barge service because of these unfair rate divisions, in the face of the government refusal to add more equipment to the War rior until this matter is settled, in face of the great public benefit to be served by such settlement, there is official inaction. It is time for the commercial and industrial interests of this state to take an active course in urging prompt conference, and, failing that, to demand of the Interstate Commerce Commission such ruling as will remove the major discrminations and per init the Warrior to enter into its own.
 The federal commission, it is remembered, waited eighteen months, without any appa- rent justification, before rendering a state- ment that could just as well have been matter of eighteen hours. That statement,
 
 instead of carrying the relief sought, merely prepared the way for still further delay, such as we are now enduring at a real sac rifice to the public welfare of Alabama and other territory served, or which otherwise would be served, by the Warrior barge lines.
 The friends and beneficiaries of the War rior, and they are sufficiently numerous, owe it to themselves not to suffer longer delay of railway waterway confer ence, but to make searching inquiry, and, if prompt action on the part of water way officials is not likely, then again to demand most earnestly of the Interstate Commerce Commission that it make imme- diate study of the rate divisions and order such rulings as the public interest calls for. Secretary Weeks says that the Warrior needs more barges and that he is ready to supply them as soon as the rate divisions are prop erly adjusted. Why should those interested in Alabama's welfare permit official inaction to block Alabama's progress?