Evening star., 1923-12-06
ments. and we shall have to pay

Inc time mas come 70 resume III
moderate way the opening OF our
intracoastal waterways. the con-
troll OF flood waters Of the Missis-
sippi and the Colorado rivers. the
Improvement OF the waterways
from the Great Lakes toward the
Gulf of Mexico and the develop
Inent OF the great power and navi-
CATION project Of the st. Law
renee river, for which efforts are
now being made to secure the nee
essary treaty with Canada. These
at once. eSn but naf all should os anns have sse
immediate consideration OF the
Congress and be adopted as fast
as plans can be matured and the
necessary funds become avail
able: able This is not incompatible
does not require so much a public
expenditure as a capital invest
ment which will be reproductive.
as evidenced by the marked In
crease in revenue from the Panama
canal. Upon these projects de-
pend much future industrial and
agricultural progress. They rep
resent the protection OF large
areas from food and the addition
of a great amount Of cheap power
and cheap freight by use of navi-
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 proceed
Ing under the direction Of the De-
partment of Commerce by joint
conference with the local authori-
ties.
Defends Railroads.
Criticism OF the railroad law has
been directed, first, to the section
laying down the rule by which
rates are fixed, and providing for
payment to the government and
use OF excess earnings; second, to
the method for the adjustment OF
wage scales; and third. to the
authority permitting congolida-
tions.
1t has been erroneousIy assumed
that the act undertakes to guar
antee railroad earnings. The law
requires that rates should be just
and reasonable. That has always
been the rule under which rates
have been hxed. To make rate
that does not yield a fair return
results In confiscation, and confis-
catory rates are OF course uncon-
stitutional. Unless the govern
ment adheres to the rule Of max
ing a rate that will yield a fair
return. II must abandon rate max
ing altogether. The new and i'm
portant feature OF that part Of the
law IL the recapture and redis-
trlbutton Of excess rates. The
constitutionality of this method is
for adjudication. Their decision
should be awaited before attempt
ing further legislation on this
subject. Furthermore. the i'm
portance of this feature will not
be great II consolidation goes into
The settlement Of railroad labor
disputes Is a matter of grave pub
lie concern. The Labor Board was
established to protect the public
in tho enjoyment Of continuous
service by attempting to insure
their employees. 1t has been q
great help. but is not altogether
satisfactory to the public. the en-
ployes, or the companies. II a
substantial agreement can be
ested, there should be no hesita-
tion In enacting such agreement
into law. II II Is not reached. the
Labor Board may very well be left
for the present to protect the pub
The law for consolidation is not
sufhciently effective to be expe-
ditious. Additional legislation Is
needed giving authority for volun-
tary consultations. both regional
msnt a % %.ei.nery ner poss to aid and fsus s,imn.
late such action, always sub
1ect to the approval of the
Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. This should authorize the
for each proposed group. repre-
senting the public and the COM
ponent roads. with power to ne
gottate with individual security
holders for an exchange of their
securities for those OF the consoli-
tions as the commission may pre-
scribe for avoiding any confsca-
tion and preser rving fair values.
Should this permissive consolida-
tion prove ineffective after q lin
tied period, the authority Of the
government will have to be direct
ly invoked.
Consolidation appears to be the
only feasible method for the main
tenRnce of an adequate system
Of transportatien with an oppor-
tunity SO to adjust freight rates
as to meet such temporary condi-
tions as now prevail In some
agricultural sections. Competent
authorities agree that an entire
reorganization OF the rate struc-
should be ordered at once by the
Congress.
Department Of Justice.
AS no revision of the laws Of the
United States has been made since
1873, q commission or committee
should be created to undertake this
work. The judicial council reports
that two more district judges are
needed In the southern district
Of New York. one in the northern
district of Georgia. and two more
I'll ~ayst Ir1d ID, hA Ofr ~
OF appeals of the eighth circuit.
Legislation should be considered
for this purpose.
1t Is desirable to expedite the
hearing and disposal Of cases. A
commission Of federal judges and
ommend legislation by which the
procedure in the federal trial
courts may be simplified and regu-
/ lated by rules OF court. rather
than by statute; such rules to be
be in force until annuiied or modi-
ned by the Congress. The Su-
preme Court needs legislation re-
vising and simplifying the laws
governing review by that court.
and enlarging the classes Of cases
be subject to review Such re-
forms would expedite che trans
action OF the business Of the
courts. The administration OF
Justice Is likely to fail X 1t be
long delayed.
Work for Prisoners.
The national government has
never given adequate attention to
its prison problems. It ought to
provide employment in such
forms Of production as can be
used by the government. though
naf aold m fhA nuhlic IN rouneti.
tion with private business, for all
prisoners who can be placed at
work, and for which they should
receive q reasonable .compensa-
tion, available for their de-
pendents.
Two independent reformatories
|. are needed; one for. the segrega-
tfon of women and another for