The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1923-12-07

land operation under conditions which
would secure two results: First. and
l0f prime Importance. adequate means
for national defense second. adequate
service TO American commerce. Until
shipping conditions ARE such that our
heet can be disposed OF advanta.
geously under these conditions. Il Will
be operated as economically as pos
sible under such plans as may be ad-
vised from time to time by the ship
ping board. We must have merchant
marine which meets these require
ments. and we shall have to pay the
cost Of Its service.
Public lmprovealsnts-
The time has come TO resume Ia a
moderate way the opening OF our In
tracoastal waterways; the control Of
food waters OF the Mississippi and
OF the Colorado rivers: the impuve-
ment Of the waterways from the
Great Lakes toward the Gulf Of Mex
leo; and the development OF the
great power and navigation project OF
the st. Lawrence river. for which eff
forts are now being made TO secure
the necessary treaty with Canada.
These projects cannot all he under
taken at once, but all should hmve Che
immediate consideration Of the con-
gress and be adopted as fast as plans
can be matured and the necessary
funds become available. This Is not
incompatible with economy, for their
nature does not require so much a
public expenditure as a caplfnl invest
ment which will be reproductive. as
evidenced by tho marked Increase In
revenue from the Panama canal. Upon
these projects depend much future In
dustrial and agricultural progress.
They represent the protection OF large
areas from food and the addition Of a
great amount Of cheap power and
cheap freight by use Of navigation,
chief OF which is the bringing of ocean
going ships to the Grent Lakes.
Another problem OF allied character
Is the superpower development of the
northeastern states. consideration OF
which is proceeding under the direc-
tlon of the Department OF Commerce
by Joint conference with the local au-
thoritIes.
Railroads.
Criticism OF the railroad law has
been directed. first. to the section lay
ing down the rule by which rates are
fixed, and providing for payment to
the government and use OF excess
earnings; second. to the method Tor
the adjustment of wage scales, and
third. to the authority permitting con
solicitations.
II has ben enormously assumed
that the act undertakes to guarantee
railroad earnings. The law requires
that rates should be Just and reason
able. That has always been the rule
under which rates have been nxed'
To make a rate that does not yield a
fair return results In confiscation. and
conflscatory rates are Of course uncon-
stltutIonal. Unless the government
adheres TO the rule of making rate
that will yield fair return. II must
abandon rate making altogether. Inc
new and important feature OF that
mart of the law is the recapture ana
redistribution of excess rates. Inc
constltutlonality Of this method Is now
before the Supreme court for adJudi-
cation. Their decision should De
awaited before attempting further leg
,slation on this subject. Furthermore
the importance of this feature VIII not
he great II consolidation goes INTO
effect.
The settlement Of railroad labor dis
nutes IL a matter of grave public con
corn The labor board was estaD
l,shed to protect the public In the en-
,ovment OF continuous service by at
temptIng to insure justice between the
companies and their employees IL MAJ
been great help. but Is not aito
getber satisfactory to the public, th'
emnlovees. or the companies. IL
substantial agreement can be reached
amonp the groups interested, there
should be no hesitation In enactin'
such agreement into law. II II is no
reached, the labor board may very
we'll be left for the present to protec
the public welfare. m
The law for consultations is not sum
GENTLY effective to be expeditious. Au
dlt,onal legislation is needed giVihi
authority for voluntary CONSIDERATIONS
both regional and route, and pro'iu
inc government machinery to ala AM
stimulate such action. always suo1ec
TO the approval of the interstate CON
n,erce commission. This should au
thorlze the commission to appoint CON
mIttees for each proposed group, rer
resentlng the public and the compo
nent roads, with power to negotiat
with individual security holders 10
an exchange Of their securities 10
those of the consolidation on sue
terms and conditions as the commits
sion may prescribe for avoiding an
confiscation and preserving fair va
mes should this permissive consoiia'
ton prove Ineffective after Unite
nerlod. the authority OF the govesi
cant will have to be directly invoked
; ,ta..tor onnearS TO be the 0nl