The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1923-12-14

DISTURBING ana harmful LIE DfcScnL law
contains an elastic provision authorizing
the President to increase or decrease pres
ent schedules not In excess Of 30 per
centum to meet the difference in cost of
production at home. and abroad. This
does not. to my mind, warrant a rewrit.
ing Of the whole law, but does mean. and
will be SO administered. that whenever
the required investigation shows that In
In any schedule. the power to change
them, should and will be applied.
Shipping.
The entire well-being of our country is
dependent upon transportation by sea and
land Our government during the war
acquired a large merchant fleet which
should be transferred. as soon as pos
sible. TO private ownership and operation
under conditions which would secure two
results: First. and of prime Importance.
adequate means for national defense; sec
ond. adequate service to American COM
merce, Until shipping conditions are such
that our fleet can be disposed of advan-
tageOusly under these conditions, it viii
be operated as economically as possible
under such plans as may be devised
from time to time by the shipping board.
We must have a merchant marine which
meets these requirements, and we shall
have 10 pay the cost of Its service.
Public improvements.
The time has come to resume in mod
crate way the opening of our intra-
ters of the Mississippi and of the Colora-
do rivers: the improvement of the water
ways from the Great Lakes toward the
Gulf Of Mexico: and the development of
the great power and navigation project OF
the st. Lawrence river. for which efforts
are now being made to secure the nee
essary treaty with Canada These prof.
ects cannot all be undertaken. at once.
but all should have the immediate con-
sideration of the congress and be adopt
ed as fast as plans can he mattired and
the necessary funds become available.
Railroads.
Criticism OF the railroad law has
been directed. first. TO the section lay
fixed. and providing for payment to
the government and use OF excess earn
ings: second. to the method for the
adjustment of wage scales; and third,
to the authority permitting consolida-
tions.
II has been ANONYMOUSLY assumed that
the act undertakes to guarantee rail
road earnings. The law requires that
rates should be just and reasona BILE.
That has always been the rule under
which rates have been fixed To make
a rate that does not yield fair return
results in confiscation. and conflscatory
rates are of course unconstitutional.
Unless the government adheres to the
rule Of making a rate that will yield
a fair return. 1t must abandon rate
makrg atogeth n9 the new NJ " ana hs Inv
is the recapture. and redistribution of
excess rates The constitutionality Of
this method is now before the Supreme
court for adjndieation Their decision
further legislation on this subject
the Importance of this
feature will not be great il c0nsolida-
ton goes into effect
TIE settlement of railroad labor dis
putes is a matter of grave public con-
Germ. The labor board was estab-
lished to protect the public in the en-.
tempting to insure justice between the
and their employees It has
been a --eat help. but Is not altogether
to the public. the employ
agreement can be reached among the
groups interested. there should be
hesitation in enacting such agreement
into law II It Is not reached: the
labor board may very well be left for
the present To protect the public well
fare
Department Of Justice.
AS no revision of the laws of the
United States has been made since 1873,
4 commission or committee should be
created to undertake this work. The
judicial council reports that two more
district Judges are needed in the south
srn district OF New York. one in the
northern district OF Georgia. and two
more circuit judges in the Circuit Court
Df Appeals of the Eighth circuit. Leg
slation should be considered for this
purpose.
given adequate attention to its prison
problems 1t ought to provide employ
ment in such forms of production as
can be used by the government. though
not sold to the public in competition
with private business. for all prisoners
who can be placed at work. and for
which they should receive a reasonable
available for their de-
pendents
Prohibition.
me prohibition amendment to the
requires the congress and
the President to provide adequate laws
to prevent its violation, 1t is my duty
to enforce such laws For that pur
pose treaty is being negotiated with
Great Britain with respect to the right
of search of towering vessels. To pre-
vent smuggling. the coast guard should
be greatly strengthened. and a supply
vided The major sources Of produc-
ton should be rigidly regulated. Sand
every effort should be made. to suppress
interstate traffic With this action on
the part of the national government.
and the cooperation which is usually
rendered by municipal and state au-
thorities. prohibition should be made
effective. Free government v has no
and continual violation of
law. 1t Is the duty of a citizen not
only to observe the law but to let 1T
be known that he is opposed Ia its
The Negro.
Numbered among our population are
some 100000 colored people. Under
our Constitution their rights; are just
as sacred as those OF any other citizen.
1t is both public and a private duty
to protect those rights The congress
ought to exercise all it's powers of pre-
and punishment against the
hideous crime of lynching. Of which
the negroes are by no means the sole
sufferers, but for which they furnish
a majority of the victims. rs5iis,.
Regulatory Legislation.
Cooperation with other maritime, pow
ers is necessary for complete protection
Of our coast waters from pollution. Plans
for this are under way. but await certain
experiments for refuse disposal Mean
time laws prohibiting spreading oil and
oil refuse from vessels in our own terri
torial waters would be most helpful
against this menace and should be speed
lily enacted.
Laws should be passed regulating avn
alton.
Revision is needed OF the laws regulat-
ing radio interference.
Army and Navy.
For several years we have been de-
creasing the personnel OF the army and