Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-12-08

acts as a continual stimulant to
me p-L eXcraVaganCe. This
should be prohibited by constl-
tutional amendment. All the
wealth Of the nation ought to
contribute its fair share to the
expenses of the nation.
Tariff Law
The present tariff law has &C.
complished its two main objects.
1t has secured an abundant reve-
nue. and been productive Of an
Astounding prosperity. Under
it the country has had a very
large export and import trade.
A constant revision of the tariff
by the congress is disturbing and
harmful. The present law con-
tains an elastic provision au-
thorizirg the president to in
crease or decrease present seized
ules not in excess of so per
..cenum to meet the difference in
cost of production at home and
abroad This does not, to my
mind, warrant a rewriting Of the
whole law, but does mean, and
will be so administered, that
whenever the required investiga-
ton shows that Inequalities of
sufficient Importance exist IN (
any schedule, the power to
change them should and will be
applied.
Shipping
The entire well-being Of our
country is dependent upon trans
portation by sea and land. Our
government during the war &C.
quired a large merchant fleet
which should be transferred, as
soon as possible, to private own
ership and operation under con-
ditions which would secure two
results: First, and Of prime i'm
portance, adequate means for
national defense; second, ade-
quate service to American COM
merce. Until shipping conditions
are such that our fleet can be
disposed of advantageous1y I'M
der these conditions, it will be
operated as economically as pos
sible under such plans as may
be devised from time to time
by the shipping board. We
must have merchant marine
which meets these requirements,
and we shall have to pay the
cost of it's service.
Public improvements
The time has come to resume
in a moderate way the opening
of our intra coastal Waterways;
the control Of flood waters of the
Mississippi and of the Colorado
ba re tho
waterways from the Great Lakes
toward the Gulf Of Mexico; and
the development of the great
power and navigation project of
the st. Lawrence river, for which
efforts are now being made to
secure the necessary treaty with
Canada. These projects cannot
all be undertaken at once, but
all should have the immediate
consideration of the congress
and be adopted as fast as plans
can be matured and the neces-
sary funds become available.
This is not incompatible with
economy, for their nature does
not require so much a public
expenditure as a capital invest
ment v''1'ch will be reproductive,
DIS GNluGuCGu ny lilo uIdIhCO liz
crease in revenue from the Pan
anna Canal. Upon these projects
depend much future industrial
and agricultural progress. They
represent the protection Of large
areas from flood and the addition
Of a great amount of CHI -ap pow
err and cheap freight by use of
navigation, chief of which is the
bringing of ocean-going ships to
the Great Lakes.
Another problem of allied char
acter is the superpower develop
ment of the northeastern states,
consideration of which is pro-
ceeding under the direction of
the department of commerce 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 pro-
viding for payment to the gov
eminent and use Of excess earn
ings; second, to the method for
the adjustment Of wage scales;
and third, to the authority per-
hitting consultations.
1t has been enormously as
sumed that the act undertakes
to guarantee railroad earnings.
The law requires that rates
should be just and reasonable.
That has always been the rule
under which rates have been
fixed. To make rate that does
not yield a fair return results
in confiscation, and confiscatory
rates are of course unconstitu-
tional. Unless the government
adheres to the rule of making a
rate that will yield a fair return,
it must abandon rate making al
together. The new and impor-
tant feature of that part of the
law is the recapture and redis-
tribution of excess rates. The
constitutionality of this method
is now before the supreme court
adjudication. Their decision
should be awaited before at
tempting further legislation on
this subject. Furthermore, the
Importance Of this feature will
not be great if consolidation goes
into effect.
Labor Disputes
The settlement of railroad la
Dor disputes is a matter of grave
public concern. The. labor board
was established to protect the
public in the enjoyment of con-
tinuous service by attempting to
insure justice between the COM
panles and their employees. It
has been a great help, but is not
altogether satisfactory to the
public, the employees, or the COM
panies. If a substantial agree
ment can be reached among the
. groups interested, there should
be no hesitation in enacting such
agreement into law. If it is not
reached, the labor board may
very well be left for the present
to protect the public welfare.
The law for consultations is
not sufficiently effective to be
expeditions. Additional legisla-
ton is needed giving authority
for voluntary consultations,
both regional and route, and
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