Evening star., 1923-12-05
RIVER AND HARbOR
CONGRESS OPENS
|. c. C. Has Failed in Duty.
President of Body De-
cIares, in Speech.

Measures for the IinSing up of the
transportation trinity railroads -
highways and waterways - were
q scussed today at the opening
session of the nineteenth annual con-
vention of the National Rivers and
Harbors Congress at the New Willard
Hotel. Nationally known speakers
presented their views on the way TO
bring about amalgamation of trans
portation by using all three of the
transportation agencies, and particu-
iarly by removing declared pretu-
lice against rail and water trans
portation combinations.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion has not measured up to its duty
and responsibilities in the discharge
of the transportation act OF 1870, IN
the opinion of President John II.
Small of the congress. Rumor has II,
Mr.. Small said. that members o. the
commission have been actuated in
some. if not in large, degree by the
proposition that a proper rating be-
tween boat lines and rail lines Will
railroads with which coordination
is sought.
Asks Shipper be Helped.
Ht uulS ol the
Commerce Commission. representing
the people of the United States. he
said, is not to protect any rail line or
any boat line, but to protect and con-
serve the interests of the American
public. He asserted that when the
commission is presented with a re-
Guest for interchange of ira! and for
the establishment of joint ~1 pro-
portional rates between a Jat line
and railroad the commission should
only consider the rights Of the ship
per.
Mr.. Small declared that Congress
stands primarily for the promotion of
water transportation, for the improve
ment and provision of navigable
channels, for the maintenance of har-
bors up to the highest state of eff
.iciency, and the development of
means of transportation where, In
order to achieve the best for water
transportation and for waterways,
we must coordinate both lines upon
these waterways with the other two
instrumentalities of transportation"
He added that the most serious prob
lem before the Congress and its allied
organizations is to devise ways and
means to the end that the interior
waterways of the United States shall
be utilized in larger degree and serve
more effectively the shippers of the
nation.
Senator Favers Aims.
Senator Joseph E. RansdelI of LOU
isiana, former president of the con-
gress, declared himself thoroughly in
accord with the present aims of the
congress. Senator Ransdell delivered
an address on the Panama canal, in
which he declared himself in favor of
free passage of ships through the ca
nal when that agency shall have paid
for itself. He alluded to the great IN
crease in revenue from the canaI,
pointing to growth In revenue of
more than 400 per cent iuring the
past fiscal year. He said American
through the canal. pointing out that
Al per cent of the business or the
canal last year was from American
intercoastal trade.
Painting of the names of rivers in
this country on bridges crossed by
highways and railroads was adVo-
Gated by Mrs. Louis N. Geldert, ma
tional president of the League of
American Pen Women, in an address.
She said few Americans know the
names of the famous rivers they cross
when travelling.
H. B. Cummins of Galveston, Tex.
Representative Cleveland A. Newton
of st. Louis, Mo, and Secretary
Thompson were the other speakers
at the opening session.
Representative Samuel r. Winslow
of Massachusetts, will address the
convention tomorrow morning, while
speakers at the banquet at the New
Willard tomorrow night Include
Masanao Hanihara, Japanese ambas-
sador to the United States; Senator
Duncan U. Fletcher, Samuel Gompers,
Of Labor; Mrs Maude Wood Park,
president of the National League Of
Woman Voters, and Maj. Gen. Lansing
H. Beach, chief of engineers. U. 3. A.