The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-19


shall command wide following, and
whose public record is we'll and IA
vorably known. Such leader can be
found, and the opportunity is so OBJ
vious that it can hardly be lost with
out some blunder more egregious than
| the present generation of Democrats
has ever committed.
BARGE SITUATION STILL ACUTE
1t is regretted that the Chamber of
Commerce, which could easily have
taken a position of leadership in the
matter, has not seen fit to make a
more active canvass of the Warrior
| barge situation with view to restor-
| ing the discontinued service and bring
ing about a more prompt adjustment
of rate divisions than is, now in pros
pect. Approval of the waterway man
agement's course with regard to cur
tailment of business might well have
been withheld pending more careful
inquiry. Sufficient attention has not
been paid to the policy of the man
agement which has tended to create
business and profit for the Mississippi
rather than for the Warrior. The
whole history of rate schedules indi-
Gates that the Warrior has always
been of secondary consideration, and
that, as a consequence, the railroads
have prospered at the expense of the
barge service, and more than that have
made even more profit on certain joint
hauls than they would have made had
the barge line not participated. The
waterway development has been car
ried out neither by the waterway
management nor by the Interstate
Commerce Commission.
1t is very evident that the discon-
tinuance of much Of the barge SER
vice is but an expedient and has little
bearing upon the fundamental diff
ficulty, which is fair play for the
waterway through a fair division of
rates. Of course, considering it apart
from it's relationships, the curtail-
ment of service on goods and equip
ment which show no profit appears
good business. But when it is re-
Elected that the reason. for this fail
TIRE to show profit is Sunfairness in
rate division; and that the failure to
provide better equipment has been
due to the failure to show a profit,
il is an inevitable conclusion that the
basic trouble is unfair rate division.
In this respect the waterway manage
ment has consistently failed. How
can there be an expression of conf
dence after such record?
Yet the waterway is of vital i'm
portanee to the industrial districts of
this state, not only because Of the
service in the actual hauIage of goods,
but far more in its effect upon rail
rates. If the waterway should be en-
tirely discontinued, as it has already
been partially discontinued, not only
would Alabama's tonnage be deprived
of this convenient means of tl'anspor;
tation, but also the rail rates would
Immediately rise in response to- relief
from the burden of competition. The
barge line has been forced to com
pete, not with normal rail service,
but with an abnoramlly low competi-,
tive rate schedule, furnishing the very
same condition by which the railroads
originally drove the waterways out
Of business and themselves monopo-
lized the transportation business of
the country, building up their arti-
ficially stimulated long hauls, ex-
banding their favored ports and other
wise conducting their business so as
to pile up maximum freight cost to
be borne by the industry of the coun-
try. These are the same railroads
out of which it is now expected to
win an agreement fair to the public
and tending to permit the expansion
of the barge lines. The railroads
might do it.. Indeed, it is hoped that
they will perceive it wiser and more
profitable to lend such encouragement
to the industry and commerce of the
country. But there is danger that
they will perceive in delayed negotia-
tons an advantage for themselves.
1t is far wiser for those whose well
fare is served by the Warrior to band
themselves together into a determined
unit for the purpose Of protecting the
barge lines and to expand their SER
vice along legitimate lines. The rail-
reads have the organization with
which to protect themselves. The
shipping intere SITS concerned are not
so organized. The logical next step
is obvious. 4, ,s.+=- .-.-...- .....--.
1t may cheer Uncle Joe Cannon, in