The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-07
Representatives Of All AIaba-
ma Ports Will Plead Their
Needs Before Government
officer At Conference Here
COOPERATION WILL SAVE
SYSTEM, OFFICIAL SAYS
Head OF Inland Waterways
Believes Fight Upon Rail-
roads Will Be Successful.
Would Eliminate Friction
WASHINGTON BUREAU !
THE AGE-HERALD
Waahi nrtnn II & Luna q |

WASHINGTON, June s.-AlI those
with complaints, criticisms and sug-
gestions regarding the operation of
the Warrior river barge line by the
government, are invited to appear
Monday at the Tutwiler hotel, Bir-
mingham, and declare themselves
freely.
Col T. O. Ashburn. in charge of
the inland waterway service of the
war department. declared today he
would leave Washington Saturday
night, reach Birmingham Sunday
night. and hear Alabama's case mon
day. 1t is regarded probable from
Mobile, Demopolis, Tuscaloosa, Cor
dova and Birmingham interested
parties will come to Birmingham.
Repr John McDuffie of
the First and William B. Oliver of
the Sixth congressional districts, will
attend the meeting, it is thought
certain.
Wants All Facts.
Colonel Ashburn Is very anxious
that the entire case be presented in
order that nothing might be left be-
hind to plague him. He wants to
hear the argument why embargoes
parcel freight from Birmingham and
Mobile to CordoVa, Tuscaloosa and
Demopolis. He wants to hear all
that Mobile has to charge against
Theodore Brent, federal manager. OF
the Mississippi Warrior barge line,
stationed at New Orleans II tho
charge that Brent has displayed
partially against Mobile In favor OF
/ New orleans can be sustained. Col
onel Ashburn wants the truth. Mo-
bile's contention that it should have
| & rate equal with that accorded New
/ Orleans on grain from ST. Louis. con-
| trasted against Mobiles contention
that New Orleans should not have an
equality of rate with Mobile on pig
| iron from the Birmingham district
should be explained to Colonel Ash
burn, he says.
Wants Cooperation
Colonel Ashburn goes to Alabama
with the hope that everything of
which complaint has been uttered
will be expressed in Birmingham
Monday. He wants to return to
Washington with the understanding
that everything is clear to all par
ties. He believes that If everybody
pulls together the Warrior PROPOSE
ton can be made permanent, whereas
If any two river ports pull against
each other, failure is probable.
Colonel Ashburn Is negotiating
with the Southern Railway company
for a division of revenue accruing
form joint hauls. He believes that
there is possibility that success Will
be achieved. 1t is known that he
holds that a fighting policy at pres
ent would be unfortunate in view of
the fact that the interstate COM
merce commission, even when con-
sidering a government project, moves
as the snail.
0 o O
VIII Fight Railroads.
1t Is known that he hopes Alabama
interests will agree with him just as
| il is known that when the time
comes he will join Alabama in fight
Ing the railroads before Congress
and the commission if in the mean
time the railroads have not come to
terms.
Colonel Ashburn Is optimistic. He
| believes that Alabamians meeting
him Monday viii be animated solely.
/ by the desire to retain the Warrior
service as permanent proposition,
and will see the advantage of the
federal policy of compromise and
Cancellation as contrasted against
! open rupture in time when he
/ thinks open rupture could afford no
relief.