The Dolores star., 1923-12-14

soon as possible, 10 private ownership
and operation under conditions which
would secure two results: First, and
of prime Importance, adequate means
for national defense; second, adequate
service TO American commerce. Until
shipping conditions are such that our
hcet can be disposed of advanta
geously under these conditions, 1t will
be operated as economically as pos
sible under such plans as may be ad-
vised from time to time by the ship
ping board. We must have a merchant
marine which meets these require
| ments, and we shall have to pay the
cost of its service.
Public improvements.
! The time has come to resume in n
moderate way the opening Of our in
| trncoastal waterways: the control of
! flood waters of the Mississippi and
| of the Colorado rivers: the improve
/ ment Of the waterways from the
| Great Lakes toward the Gulf of Mex
! leo: and the development of the
great power and navigation project of
the ST. Lawrence river. for which eff
| l'IlS are IU" UtlHE Uluut W SfNul'
| the necessary treaty with Canada.
| These projects cannot all be under
| taken at once. but all should have the
/ immediate consideration of the con-
| cress and be adopted as fast as plans
can he matured and the necessary
| funds become available. This is not
! Incompatible with ecopomy. for their
nature does not require so much
public expenditure as II capital invest
ment which will he reproductive, as
| evidenced by the marked Increase in
revenue from the Panama canal. Upon
these projects depend much future In
dustriaI and agricultural progress.
They represent the protection of large
areas from food and the addition of
great amount of cheap power and
cheap freight by use OF navigation,
chief Of which is the bringing of ocean
going ships to the Great Lakes.
Another problem of allied character
is the supcrpower development of the
northeastern states. consideration of
which is proceeding under the direc-
tion of the Department Of Commerce
by Joint conference with the local au-
thOritieS.
Railroads.
Criticism Of the railroad law has
been directed, first. to the section lay
ing 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 con
solicitations.
II has been errOneouSly assumed
that the act undertakes to guarantee
railroad earnings. The law requires
that rates should he just and reason
able. That has always been the rule
under which rates have been fixed.
To make rate that does not yield a
fair return results in confiScatiOn. and
ConfisCatory rates are of course unCon-
Stitutional. Unless the government
adheros to the rule of making Il rate
that will yield fair return. it must
abandon rate making altogether. The
new and important feature of that
part Of the law is the recapture and
redistribution Of excess rates. The
CunStimtiOnality of this method Is now
before the supreme court for adjudi-
cation. Their decision should be
awaited before attempting further leg
isIation on this subject Furthermore,
the Importance of this feature will not
he great If consolidation goes into
effect.
The settlement of railroad labor dis
putes is matter of grave public con
Cern. The labor board was eStab-
Ilshed TO protect the public in the en-
ioyment of continuous service by at
tempting to insure justice between the
companies and their employees. 1t has
been great help, but is not alto
Cether satisfactory to the public, the
. employees, or the companies. If
substantial agreement can be reached
among the groups interested, there
should be no hesitation in enacting
such agreement into law. If it is not
reached. the labor board may very
we'll be left for the present to protect
the public welfare.
The law for consultations is not sufI-
cicntly effective to be expeditions. Ad-
difional legislation is needed giving
authority for voluntary consultations,
both regional and route, and prOvid
ing government machinery to aid and
stimulate such action, always subject
to the approval of the interstate com
merCe commission This should au-
thorize the commission to appoint com
mittees for each proposed group. rep
resenting the public and the compo-
I tn
with individual security holders for
an exchange of their securities for
| those of the consolidation on such
terms and conditions as the commits
| sion may prescribe for avoiding any
| cOntiscation and preserving fair val
ues. Should this permissive consolida-
| tion prove Ineffective after limited
| period. the authority Of the govern
ment will have to be directly invoked.
| Consolidation appears to be the only