Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-12-09

make unnecessary further appel.s IA
the Congress. Unless this can be
done, Federal reclamation Will III
considerably retarded. With the
greatly incl eased cost of constrtic-
ton and operation, it has become
necessary to plan in advance. bv
community organization and Sc
lective agriculture, methods sufficient
to repay these increasing OUTLAWS.
The human and economic Interests
of the farmer citizens suggest that
the States should be requil ed to exarf
some effort and assume some re-.
sponsibility, especially in the init
mate, detailed, and difficult work ar
securing settlers and developins
farms which directly profit them
but only indirectly and remotely can
reimburse the Nation. 1t is believed
that the Federal Government shoul5
continue to be the agency for plan
ming and constructing the great nm.
dertakings needed to regulate and
bring into use the rivers of the West
many of which are interstate Il,
character, but the detailed work ~
creating agricultural Communities
and rural civilization on the land
made ready for reclamation ought 10
be either transferred to the State I'm
its entirety or made a cooperative
effort of the State and Federal Gov
eminent.
Shipping
The maintenance of a merchant
marine is of the utmost importance
for national defense and the service
of our commerce. We have a large
number of ships engaged in that
service. We also have a surplus
supply, costly to care for, which
ought to be sold. All the invests
cations that have been made under.
my direction, and those which have
teen prosecuted independently. have
reached the conclusion that the fleet
should be under the direct control of
q single executive head, while the
Shipping Board should exercise its
judicial and regulatory functions in
accordance with its original CON.
ception. The report of Henry q
Dalton, a business man of broad ex-
perience, with a knowledge of shin.
ping, made to me after careful in.
vestigation. will be transmitted for
the information of the Congress. the
studies pursued under the direction
of the United States Chamber Of
Commerce will also be accessible
and added to these will be the re.
port of the special committee Of the
House.
l do not advocate the elimination
of regional considerations, but il has
become apparent that without
centralized executive action the
management of this great business
like tho -
great business, will founder in in
capacity and languish under a di.
vision of council. A plain and un-
mlstakable reassertion of this prin-
ciple OF unified control. which have
always been advised was the inten-
tlon OF the Congress to apply. is nee
essary to increase the efficiency Of
our merchant feet.
Coal
The perennial conflict in the coal
industry is still going on to the great
detriment of the wage earners. the
owners. and especially to the public.
With deposits of coal in this coun-
try capable of supplying its needs
for hundreds of years, inability to
manage and control this great re-
source for the benefit of all con-
cerned is very close to q national
economic failure. 1t has been the
subject of repeated investigation and
reiterated recommendation Yet the
industry seems never to have ac-
cepted modern methods of adjusting
differences between employers and
employees. The industry could serve
the public much better and become
Sllhlnnt IN "A
method of control If regional con-
solicitations and more freedom in the
formation of marketing associations,
under the supervision of the Depart
ment of Commerce, were permitted.
At the present time the National
Government has little or no author
ity to deal with this vital necessity
of the life of the country. 1t has
permitted itself to remain so pow
erless that it's only attitude mus.
be humble supplication. Authority
should be lodged with the President
and the Departments of Commerce
and Labor, giving them power to
deal with an emergency. They
should be able to appoint temporary
boards with authority to call for
witnesses and documents, conciliate
differences, encourage arbitration,
and in case of threatened scarcity
exercise control over distribution.
Making the facts public under these
circumstances through a statement
from an authoritative source would
be of great public benefit. The re-
port of the last coal commission
should be brought forward, recon-
cidarod ond acted imam
Prohibition
Under the orderly processes OF our
fundamental institutions the Con-
stitution was lately amended pro-
viding for national prohibition. The
Congress passed an act for its en-
forcement, and similar acts have
beeen provided by most OF the
States. 1t is the law of the land.
1t is the duty of all who come under
its Jurisdiction to observe the spirl.
Of that law, and it is the duty Oh
the Department of Justice and tne
Treasury Department to enforce II;
Action to prevent smuggling. iliegai
transportation in interstate COM
merce, abuse in the use of pernlts'
and existence of sources OF supply
for illegal traffic is almost entireu
imposed upon the Federal Govern
ment.
Through treaties with forelsn
and increased actlVties
of the Coast Guard. revenue agents
district attorneys, and enforcement
agents effort is being made 10 pre-
vent these violations. But the Con
stitution also puts a concurrent uuo
on the States. We need their actNe
and energetic cooperation, the WEI
liant action of their police, ana ny
jurisdiction of their courts to ass,ss
in enforcement. / request OF tne
people observance, of the pubic ON
GERS continuing efforts for eniores
nent, and of the Congress faVora,''
action on the budget recommends
ton for the prosecution of this worn