The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-17
NOT MEETING THE ISSUE


Colonel T. Q. Ashburn, head of the
federal division of waterways, puts up
ar eloquent argument in support of
the recent order curtailing service on
the Warrior, the chief fault being that
it is not convincing. That, however,
is fatal fault as far as the friends
o. the waterway are concerned. The
purpose given for the order is that all
improbable business may be cut out
so that report to congress asking for
~ further appropriation may show the
Warrior on a profitable basis. 1t IS
hard to conceive of congress so stu
pid as not to detect the altificiality of
such d scheme. The primary purpose
OF the barge service is to haul its pro-
portionate share of the tonnage within
its trade territory. Merely to show
that the barge lines can make profit
only on certain selected commodities
and with certain selected equipment IS
not to show proof that the waterway
Is a public necessity.
The friends of the Warrior know
that if the unjust rate divisions were
rtctified the whole service would show
4 profit. AS for the improbable
equipment, it appears that properly
tabulated chart moving how such
equipment operates to reduce profits
would be convincing evidence to con-
gresc that better equipment should be
r, 1vided. And the is no coed rea-
SON why congress should be kept FROM
knowing that unfair divisions of rates
TOR joint hauls is the chief obstacle to
II Warriors earning capacity. If the
Interstate Commerce Commission con-
tinues dilatory in this important mat
ter, surely congress, which is charged
With responsibility for the investment
in the waterway, can be moved to leg
islate in behalf of fair rate divisions.
o. at least to order the federal COM
mission to proceed promptly to estab-
lish fair division.
Says Colonel Ashburn: "In order
to finance the Warrior river success
fully, we must make big earnings on
the Mississippi, and we must cut down
the losses on the Warrior" That is
fine paraphrase, "cut down the losses
on the Warrior" for cutting down the
service on the Warrior! And in reply
to the statement that sin order to
finance the Warrior successfully, we
must make big earnings on the Mis-
sissippi," the patrons of the Warrior
might we'll retort: "Why not achieve
the same end by using the same tao
tics to make big earnings on the War
rior that have resulted in big earnings
for the Mississippi" The whole plan
of the waterway management is It's
sue of artificial contrivances which
will not bear examination. The way
t. build up the Warrior is to build up
business for the Warrior, and when
t Re are rate Disadvantages :, remove
them just as they have been and are
being removed for the Mississippi.
Here is another significant state
ment by Colonel Ashburn which en-
rior: "The cost (of operating a coal
burning towboat to MOBILIZE was
greater than the entire revenue ac-
cruing from the cargo after the rail-
roads had received their division"
And right there is the obstacle upon
which the management of the water
ways should work and in the removal
of which the friends of the Warrior
should cooperate. Why should any
methods of questionable indirection be
resorted to when the effective remedy
is so apparent to all? Let there be
united pressure brought to bear upon
the Interstate Commerce Commission
to perform the simple act of rate JUS
tice the situation and the public well
fare so clearly demand. The railroads
are trading with the officials of the
waterway, to be sure, and the longer
they can drag out the negotiations the
longer will they enjoy their present
spoliation of the Warrior. The cour-
ageous way is to met the situation
squarely and to attack the menace in
it's stronghold.
Meanwhile, it cannot be overlooked
that the barge service has been griev-
ously impaired and that the public
interest is suffering, while the officials
charged with public responsibility in
the premises are fencing with the
railroads, for there is no doubt that
the railroads are the ones drawing the
blood.