The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-06
TO ALABAMA'S SENATE

Today the senate Of Alabama has on it's calendar the most important measure on which it shall be called to make decision. This measure is the port-enabling act. The senate today has it within it's power to pave the way for Alabama's greatness, or to block that greatness. Today the sena- tors of Alabama will stand forth be- fore the people as men of little vision, hesitating on the threshold of a mo- mentous undertaking, or the senators of Alabama will reveal themselves as men of courage, foresight and judg- ment. It all depends upon how they decide on this seaport program.
 The senate committee has held this measure longer than was necessary Some of it's amendments are insidious jokers. One of the suggestions is worth approval, and that is the reduction of the port commission from five to three members. In it's setting of incongru- ous companion amendments, however, even this amendment would be of small consequence.
 The committee would impose a limit of three million dollars upon the sum the commission may expend within the next four years. What is the reason for such limitation? No man who sincerely wants to behold the develop ment of Alabama's seaport can dis cover any good or sound defense for such an amendment. On the contrary, the limitation might be such as would nullify port construction for the pc riod of four years named.
 Restrictions on the acquiring of property necessary for port develop ment are meaningless. The commits sion, having the right of eminent do- main, is sufficiently protected against exploitation. Men of sufficient ca pacity to discharge the port task will not permit themselves to be held up by private owners of property. To honorable men the protection of the public money would be a sacred trust.
 The creation of legislative board of censors is still further to load down the state with an expense burden, to create jobs for political lame ducks, and to obstruct the port program with the objections of men who have no qualifications, except political, for the duty of supervision. The Dock Board of Louisiana is free from such inquis;- tion, and the Dock Board of Louisiana is triumphant example of what cap able men free to act are able to ac- complish.
 | Mobile contribute it's river frontage to the enterprise is not unreasonable The difficulty is that Mobiles city wharf property is security for the old Mobile debt, which would render some substitute arrangement necessary.
 The senate committee would free the property of railroads from con- demnation! There speaks the voice of invisible government. Why should the property of railroads be exempt, when they occupy needlessly great portion of Mobiles waterfront? Such a provision is to give the port to the railroads beyond hope of redemption.
 Already the Mobile and Ohio con trols the trackage to the municipal wharf. Shall the state be made power less to combat the influence of those roads that have consistently in the past throttled Mobiles development as :. port? Will the senators of Alabama al low themselves to give even serious consideration to such preposterous suggestion, so inimical to the public welfare of Alabama and so full of menace to the port program?
 The people of Alabama have com manded the legislature to provide for tho construction of seaport capable of serving the industry and commerce of Alabama. The people have placed in the hands of the legislature grave responsibility. To accept all amend ments of the senate committee is to betray that responsibility. Let the