Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-05-30
Public Ownership of Ports

Governor Huey Long Of Louisiana, IN a recent
message to the legislature. unequiyocally declared that
public ownership Of the New Orleans dock system must
not be abandoned in favor Of private ownership. Hts
attitude on the question that has been agitated in New
Orleans for several years will, it is believed, definite
" establish the policy of that state and will render it
very unlikely that the people Of New Orleans and Of
Louisiana will ever sanction any legislative proposal
for enabling private interests to obtain control Of one
Of the greatest ports OF the South.
The claim has been made that public ownership
creates many disadvantages. and this may be true to
a certain extent. But it az least has the advantage Of
giving all interests equal privileges. which is Of para
mount importance in connection with development or
a port.
In commencing the attitude Of Governor Huey Long
on the New Orleans port problem. the Beaumont En-
terprise says: The New Orleans idea is that a port
belongs to the people and all carriers are entitled to
use its facilities on a fair and impartial basis, so that
the city and the port, as well as the carriers, may
profit. The old idea, much favored by the railroad
bsrons of a past generation, was that the ports be-
longed TO the railroads, and the people should have no
part either in the ownership or operation OF such
utilities.
$50 successfully did some Of the railroads act upon
this principle that they obtained valuable port conees-
sions' bought waterfront property for shutting out
competition and we're able for a long period Of years
TO DO much as they pleased with the ports they con
trolled.
~ huhilti LOT many years. two large railroad SyS-
tens dominated the port. These railroads and their
subsidIariss acquired valuable waterfront property on
which they laid their tracks and built warehouses.
Naturally, a competing system did not have a ghost Of
a chance 70 compete with these railroads in Mobile.
No competitor could ever reach the waterfront. At A
point where n profitable business could be done. To
make matters worse, one of the big railroads gave the
bulk Of its tonnage to New Orleans.
But as Mobile increased IN population ard the nm
pie OF Alabama became aware Of the folly ~ aIlou;rc
their only seaport to remain under the domination Of
the railroad interests, plans we're made to purchase
lands above the city on the Mobile river and bp;Id
public docks and warehouses. This great undertakir,
financed by a s~lo,0O0,Oo0 bond issue voted bv the reo.
PIE Of Alabama, is now about completed.
"The example set by New Orleans IN protec,i,r -.
public interest in its port strongly influenced a..
people OF Alabama, who have created AZ Mohi,. -.
port owned and controlled by the people and serving
ali the rail carriers alike. This principle in a.
v~elopment is now accepted as the soundest and hest
for all interests concerned"
Texas is fortunate in the fact that these problems
are met in the laws governing navigation districts
laws established upon the experiences OF all states
Texas navigation districts may own and operate dock.
and terminal facilities, end may enter into any CON
tract with the federal government in connection with
construction or maintenance OF channels and harbors.
In other words, Texas law makers have sought TO avoid
the danger Of private enterprise controlling Texas
Auorts. and have delegated to districts broad powers in
W his respect. powers which assure that all interests will
be served upon q fair and impartial basis.