The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1923-12-14

OAA al POSSAO4St 70 private 0W1eBShfe
and operation under conditions which /
would secure two results: First. and 4
OF prime Importance, adequate means
Tor national defense second, adequate /
service to American commerce. Until |
shipping conditions are such that our |
fleet can be disposed of advanta. |
geously under these conditions, it viii |
be operated as economically as DOS
sible under such plans as may be ad- /
vtsed 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 improvements.
The time has come to resume in a
moderate way the opening Of our in
tracOastal waterways; the control of
food waters of the Mississippi and
OF the Colorado rivers; the improve
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 be under
taken at once, but all should have the
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
public expenditure as capital invest
ment which will be reproductive. as
evidenced by the marked increase in
revenue from the Panama canal. Upon
these projects depend much future In
| dustria1 and agricultural progress
They represent the protection OF large
areas from flood and the addition of
great amount of cheap power 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 character
is the superpOwer development Of the
northeastern states, consideration of
which is proceeding under the direc-
ton 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 fol
the adjustment of wage scales; anC
third. to the authority permitting con
solicitations.
It has been 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 fixed
To make a rate that does not yield
fair return results in cOniscatiOn, ant
confscatory rates are Of course uncoh
stitltional. Unless the government
adheres TO the rule of making rat
that will yield a fair return, 1t mus
abandon rate making altogether In
new and important feature Of tina
mart of the law is the recapture an
{ redistribution of excess rates. Tn
constitutionality Of this method Is nov
(, before the Supreme court for adJud
cation. Their decision should b
+ awaited before attempting further let
: isIation on this subject. Furthermore
). the Importance Of this feature will ne
0 no great If consolidation goes mi
: effect >,
The settlement Of railroad labor oil
$ mites is a matter of grave public co
i corn The labor board was esta
i usbed to protect the public in the
It iovment of continuous service by
E tempting to insure justice between Il
d cornanies and their employees. 1t ii
= been a great help, but is not alt
u getber satisfactory to the public I
u omnlovees. or the companies. II
+ substantial agreement can be reach
"a among the groups interested, the
III sbouId he no hesitation in enacu
IL such agreement into law. If 1t is 4
reached, the labor board may We
u we'll he left for the present to protF
- the public welfare.
le The law for consultations is not su
II GENTLY effective to be expeditions. 4
pc ditional legislation IS needed glvi
Ut authority for voluntary consolidate
.li both regional and route, and prov
I'D inc government machinery to aid a
stimulate such action, always SUBJ
- TO the approval Of the Interstate &C
u MERGE commission. This should
IL IL tborize the commission to appoint &C
~ nnittees for each proposed group I
III resenting the public and the com
u nent roads, with power to negotl
- with Individual security holders
llu an exchange Of their securities
lu- those of the consolidation on 81
ION terms and conditions as the conn
- sion may prescribe for avoiding
confscation and preserving 1alr
mes Should this permissive conson
I'M tion prove ineffective after a lmi
mas neriod. the authority OF the gov
and ment will have to be directly invoi
-OS- ,.7o4fov, o7,DparS 70 be the {