The Winslow mail., 1923-12-14

ent schedules not in excess of so 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
eQualities of sufficient Importance exist
in any schedule. the power to change
them should and will be applied
Shipping.
The entire we'll 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
tageously under these conditions, it will
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 to pay the cost of it's service.
Public Improvements.
The time has come to resume in a mod
crate way the opening of our intra-
coastal waterways, the control of flood wa
ters of the Mississippi and of the Coora-
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.
but all should have the immediate con-
siderat ton of the congress and be adopt
ed as fast as plans can be matured and
the necessary funds become available.
Railroads.
Criticism of the railroad law has
~ANI
ing down the rule by which rates are
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.
1t has been enormously assumed that
the act undertakes to guarantee rail-
road earnings. The law requires that
rates should be just and reasonable,
That has always been the rule under
which rates have been fixed To make
a rate that does not yield a fair return
results in confscation, and confiscatOry
rates are of course unconstitutional.
Unless the government adheres to the
fair return, it must abandon rate
making altogether. The new and i'm
portant feature of that part Of the law
is the recapture and redistribution of
excess rates The constitutionality of
this method is now before the Supreme
court for adjudication, Their decision
should be awaited before attempting
further legislation on this subject
Furthermore the importance of this
feature will not be great if consolida-
ton goes into effect.
The settlement of railroad labor dis
putes is a matter of grave public con-
cern. The labor board was estab-
lished to protect the public in the en-
Joyment of continuous service by at
tempting to insure justice between the
companies and their employees. 1t has
been, ~reat help, but is not altogether
satisfactory to the public, the employ
ees or the companies. If a substantial
agreement can be reached among the
groups interested there should be
hesitation in enaoting suchAa greement
into law. If it is not raached, the
labor board may very we'll 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 1878,
created to undertake this work. The
judicial council reports that two more
district judges are needed in the south
ern district of New York, one in the
more circuit judges in the Circuit Court
of Appeals of the Eighth circuit. Leg
islation should be considered for this
purpose.
The national government has never
given adequate attention to it's prison
problems. 1t ought to provide employ
m6nC IN SuCn IOrmS 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,
compensation available for their de-
pendentS.
Prohibition.
me prohibition amendment to the
Constitution requires the congress and
the President to provide adequate laws
70 T0raU ffC wiz Ia iC 61lfu
to enforce such laws. For that pur
pose treaty is being negotiated with
Great Britain with respect to the right
of search of lowering vessels To pre-
vent smuggling. the coast guard should
be greatly strengthened. and a supply
of swift power boats should be pro-
vided, The major sources Of produc-
ton should be rtgidly regulated. and
every effort should be made to suppress
interstate traffic. With this action on
the part of the national government.
rendered by municipal and state au-
thorities, prohibition should be made
effective. Free government has no
greater menace than disrespect for
law. 1t is the duty of a citizen not
only to observe the law but to let it
be known that he is opposed to it's
violation.
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 a public and a private duty
to protect those rights. The congress
ought to exercise all it's powers of pre-
vention 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
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 avi-
alton.
llevision 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
navy, and reducing their power to the
danger point. Further reductions should
not be made. The army is guarantee
of the security of our citizens at home
tha &c 0f he