Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1924-08-28
THURSDAY, AUGUST %, 1924
SENATOR GOODING SPEAKS
ON IMPORTANT LEGISLATION

America will come to standstil
during the next decade for lack o.
adequate transportation unless tDe
federal government fosters develop
ment OF the country's inland water
WAYS by eliminating discriminatory
rail rates which throttle water com
petition, U. S. Senator Frank K
Gooding of Idaho, declared in an ad'
dress here today at the semi-aDnual
meeting of directors OF the Interme-
date Rate association.
Senator Gooding is author OF the
bill which passed the senate In May
by vote of 54 to %, and which Will
be before the house of representa-
tives in December. amending fourth
section OF the transportation act to
prohibit violation of the long and
short haul law to meet water COM
petition.
'If our country is to reach its
full greatness as nation, transpor-
tation rates must be reasonable, Just
and fair, and without discrimination
to any state, community or indus
try" Senator Gooding asserted. "Nor
can this country develop to its full
extent without development of wat
err transportation on our inland wat
erways and coastwise shipping.
x great crisis confronts this ma
ton in the matter of transportation
and unless we permit development
OF our waterways by eliminating dis
elimination against water transpor
tation the mighty growth and devel-
opment that has taken place in
America will come to standstill.
Ever since railroads became a
factor in transportation problems,
there has been a bitter struggle be-
tween water and rail carriers. The
struggle has not been even or fair,
for with the Interstate commerce
commission on the side of the rail-
roads, transportation on our rivers
has not had fighting chance for
existence.
"Our government, through h e
commerce commission, has practi-
cally destroyed water transportation
on our Inland waterways, for with
few exceptions, the commission has
permitted railroads to charge less
for longer haul than a shorter haul
In order to meet water competition.
This has made it impossible sto in
terest capital In building of river
boats to establish water transporta-
ton, and at the same time it has .
impaired the. growth and develop
ment OF our coastwise shipping.
What the railroads have been
fighting for and what they have sue
ceeded In getting with the assist
ance of the commerce commission. is
a monopoly of transportation. No
river boat or other water transport
tation has been permitted to exist
that the railroads could destroy. The
western railroads bitterly opposed
building of the Panama canal, and
Jim Hill as president OF the Great
Northern used to boast that before
they got through their fight, there
would be pond lilies growing in its
channel.
I'VE have expended $1,000, OOO,-
600 for rivers and harbors, and we
want to continue to develop the
waterways, but 1t is waste of mon
ey to continue appropriating humid
reds Of millions of dollars for i'm
provement of rivers with a govern
mental policy that makes 1t impos-
sible to develop water transporta-
ton In our inland waterways.
Determinations in freight rates
against communities are un-Ameri-
can. All we ask out here in the ,
mountain states is a square deal.
the same rights and privileges that
people OF the east enjoy SO that we ,
may develop our own resources. But ,
with discrimination in freight rate
FORCED upon us, we haven't a fight :
ing chance to develop our mighty re-
sources. Under the governmental 4,
policy OF permitting determinations I
In freight rates against the interior I
states OF the west and south, we are ,
building up great centers of popu- ,
iation on the coast at the expense '
Of the interior, a most dangerous ,
policy for the best interest of the /
government lies in a proper distri- I
button OF its people over the entire $
country.
We OF the mountain states of the
west are making a fight against the
rates that have been
forced upon US for many years and $
unless we can Eliminate this discrim- G
nation. our states always must re- .
main agricultural and pasoral. for 4
capital will never invest in anv in !
1ustry or in any part of the conn +