Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-12-08
SEVEN

payments required Construction
payments by water usors last year
were the largest in the history of
the bureau.
The anticipated reclamation fund
viii be fully absorbed for a num-
ber of years in the completion of
old projects and the construction of
projects inaugurated in the past
three years We should, however.
continue to investigate and study
tho possibilities of a governmental
concern because OF their physical
magnitude immense cost and the
interstate and International problems
involved. Only in this way may we
be fully prepared to meet intelli-
gently the needs of our fast-grow-
ing population in the years to come. E
Transportation
1t would be difficult TO conceive
of any modern activity which con-
tributes more to the necessities and
conveniences of life than transport
tation. without it our present agri-
cultural production and practically
all of our commerce would be COM
pleteIy prostrated. One of the large
contributing causes to the present
highly satisfactory state of our
economic condition is the prompt
! and dependable service, SURPRISING
all our previous records rendered
by the railroads. This power has
been fostered by the spirit of CO.
operation between federal and state
regulatory commissions. To render
this service more efficient and to
promote a more scientific regulation
the process of valuing railroad prop
critics should be simplified and tho
urinary valuations should be COM
pleted as rapidly as possible. The
problem of rate reduction would DO
much simplified by a process OF rail-
road consultations. This principle
has already been adopted as FED
| eral law Experience has shown
that a more effective method must
be provided. Studies have already
been made and legislation intro
duced seeking to promote this END.
II would be of great advantage IL
! it could be taken up at once ana
sneedily enacted. The railroad sys-
TENS of the country and the con-
venience Of all the people are walt
Merchant Marine
It is automatic that no agricul-
+ura1 and industrial country can get
the full benefit of its own advan-
+aees without merchant marine
we have been proceeding under the
| act of congress than contemplates
! the establishment of trade routes 20
he ultimately transferred to private
Iownership and operation. Due 70.
temnorary conditions abroad ana at
home we have a large demand just
/ now for certain types OF frelght Ves
sells. Some suggestion has been maue
for new construction. / do not Ieel
that we are yet warranted in enter
! irr that field Such ships as we
Night build could not be sold atter
| nav are launched for anyWherc
near what they would, cost.
hove expended over $25O,OOO,ooO' OUT
iof the public treasury an recene
,ears to make up the losses %
] oneration, not counting depreclatioH
~ anv cost whatever of our capl1ai
Einvostment. The great need OF our
,,,orobart marine is not for more
-,,ins hut for more freight. our
o,orcbants are altogether too inoll-
reran+ about using American shlps
+he transportation of goods
which thew send abroad or bring
home. Some Of our vessels neces-
sarily need repairs, which should De
made. 1 do not believe that the
operation of our fleet is as econ
omical and efficient as it could be
made if placed under single re-
sponsible head, leaving the ship
Epine board free to deal with gen.
i eral matters Of policy and regula-
Etion.
I Radio Legislation
| The department OF commerce has
for some years urgently presented
the necessity for further legisla-
tion in order to protect radio lis
teners from interference between
! broadcasting stations and to carry
out other regulatory functions. Both
branches of congress at the last
Session passed enactment intended
to effect such regulation, but the
two bills yet remain to be brought
! into agreement and final passage.
Due to decisions of the courts. the
authority of the department under
|
many more stations have been oper-
ating than can be accommodated
within the limited number of wave
lengths available; further stations
are in course of construction; many
stations have departed from the
scheme OF ALLEGATION set down by
the department, and the whole serv-
ice of this most important function
has drifted into such chaos as seems
likely, if not remedied to destroy
it's great value most urgently
recommend that this legislation
should be speedily enacted.
1 do not believe it is desirable to
/ set up further Independent agencies.
in the government. Rather be-
llieve it advisable to- entrust the
| important functions of deciding who
shall exercise the privilege of radio.
transmission and under what con-
ditions, the assigning OF wave
lengths and determination Of power,
20 q hoard to he assembled when