Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-12-07


IN revenue from the Panama Canal.
j Upon these projects depend much
future Industrial and agricultural
progress They represent the protec-
ton OF large areas from flood and the
ADDITION OF a great amount of cheap
power end cheap freight by use OF
navigation. chief of which is the
oripging of ecean-going ships to the
Great Lakes.
Another problem of allied charac-
ter is the superpower development of
J the Northeastern States, considera-
| ZION or which is proceeding under the
direction of the Department. Com
merce by joint conference with the
local authorities.
Railroads
/. Criticism of the railroad law has
been directed. first to the section
laying down the rule by which rates
are fixed, and providing for payment
to the government and use of excess
earnings. second, to the method for
the adjustment of wage scales; and
third. to the authority permitting
consultations.
1t has been enormously assumed
that the act undertakes to guaran-
tee railroad earnings. The law re-
quires that rates should be just and
reasonable. That has always been
the rule under which rates have been
fixed. To make a rate that does not
yieId fair return results in c0nfisca-
ton and confiscatory rates are of
course unconstitutional. Unless the
government adheres to the rule of
making a rate that will yield q fair
return. it must abandon rate making
altogether The new and important
feature of that part of the law is the
recapture and redistribution of ex-
cess rates. The constitutionality Of
this method is now before the SUI
| preme court for adjudication. Their
decision should be awaited before at
tempting further legislation on this
subject Furthermore. the import
ance of this feature will not be great
if consolidation goes into effect.
] The settlement of railroad labor
disputes is q matter of grave public
concern. The Labor Board was es-
tablished to protect the public in the
enjoyment of continuous service by
attempting to insure justice between
the companies and their employees.
1t has been a great help, but is not
altogether satisfactory to the public.
the employees. or the companies II
la substantial agreement can be
reached among the groups interested.
there should be no hesitation in en-
acting such agreement into law. II
it is not reached, the Labor Board
may very we'll be left for the pres
ent to protect the public welfare.
The law for consultations is not
sufficiently effective to be expeditions.
Additional legi Otion is needed giving
authority for voluntary consolda-
tions. both regional and route. and
providing Government machinery to
aid and stimulate such action. always
subject to the approval of the Inter-
state Commerce Commission. This
should authorize the commission to
appoint committees for each proposed
group. representing the public and the
component roads, with power to nego-
tiate with individual security holders
for an exchange of their securities for
| those of the consolidation on such
terms and conditions as the commits
sion may prescribe for avoiding any
confiscation and preserving fair values.
Should this pcrmissive consolidation
prove ineffective after a limited pc
Rod, the authority of the Government
will have to be directly invoked.
Consolidation appears to be the only
feasible method for the maintenance
of an adequate system of transporta-
ton with an opportunity so to adjust
freight rates as to meet such tempo
rary conditions as now prevail in some
agricultural sections. Competent au-
thorities agree that an entire reor-
sanitation of the rate structure
for freight is necessary. This should
be ordered at once by the Congress.
| Department of Justice
AS no revision of the laws of the
United States has been made since
1873. a commission or committee
should be created to undertake this
/ work. The Judicial Council reports
that two more district judges arc
needed in the southern district of New
! York. one in the northern district of
Georgia. and two more circuit judges
in the Circuit Court of Appeals of the
Eighth Circuit. Legislation should be
considered for this purpose.
! 1t is desirable to expedite the hear
ing and disposal of cases. A commits
| sion of Federal judges and lawyers
should be created to recommend legis-
I lation by which the procedure in the
Federal, trial courts may be simplified
and regulated by rules of court, rather
than by statute: such rules to be sub
mitted to the Congress and to be in
force until annullcd or modified by the
Congress. The Supreme Court needs
legislation revising and simplifying
the laws governing review by that
court. and charging the classes of
cases of too little public importance
to be subject to review. Such reforms.
would expedite the transaction of the
business of the courts. The admins
tration of justice is likely to fail if it
be long delayed.
The National Government has never
given adequate attention to it's prison
problems. 1t ought to provide en-
ployment in such forms of production
as can be used by the, Government,
though not sold to the public in COM
petition with private business, for all
prisoners who can be placed at work,
and for which they should receive a
reasonable compensation, available for
their dependents.
+ Two independent reformatories are
needed; one for the segregation of
women, and another for the segrcga-
ton of young men serving their first
sentence.
The administration of justice would
be facilitated greatly by including in
the Bureau Of Investigation of the De-
partment of Justice a Division of
Criminal Identification, where there
would be collected this information
which is now indispensable in the
suppression OF crime.
Prohibition
The prohibition amendment to the
Constitution requires the Congress and
the President to provide adequate laws
to prevent it's violation. 1t is my duty
to enforce such laws. For that purpose
a treaty is being negotiated with Great
Britain with respect to the right of
search of lowering vessels. To pre-
vent smuggling, the Coast Guard
should be greatly strengthened, and a
supply of swift power boats should be
provided. The major sources Of pro-
duction should be rigidly regulated.