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

Governor Huey Long Of Louisiana, IN n recent
message to the legislature. unequivocally declared that
public ownership Of the New Orleans dock system must
net be abandoned in favor Of private ownership. HIS
attitude on the question that has been agitated in New
Orleans for several years will. it is believed, definite
ly 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 il at least has the advantage Of
giving all interests equal privileges, which is Of para
mount importance in connection with development Of
. 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
barons Of 8 past generation. was that the ports be-
lcnged to the railroads, and the people should have no
part either in the ownership or operation Of such
utilities.
so successfully did some Of the railroads act upon
this principle that they obtained valuable port conces-
sions, bought waterfront property for shutting out
competition and we're able for a long period of years
60 do much as they pleased with the ports they con-
trolled.
AT Mobile. for many years. two large railroad sys-
tens dominated the port. These railroads and their
subsidiaries acquired valuable waterfront property on
which they laid their tracks and built warehouses.
Naturally competing system did not have a ghost Of
q chance to compete with these railroads in Mobile.
No competitor could ever reach the waterfront, at }
point where a profitable business could be done. To
make matters worse, one Of the big railroads gave the
hulk Of it's tonnage to New Orleans.
But as Mobile increased in population and the peo-
pie Of Alabama became aware OF the folly Of allowing
their only seaport 70 remain under the domination ~
the railrood interests, plans were made 70 purcbasa
lands above the city on the Mobile river and bpird
public docks and warehouses. This great undertaking.
financed BY a slO,oOO,OO0 bond issue voted bv N. rso'
pie Of Alabama. is now about completed.
"The example set by New Orleans in protee,ir- -.
public interest in its port strongly influenced ~.
ueople of Alabama, who have created at Mobile go.
mort owned and controlled by the people and .s~v;ro
all the rail carriers alike. This principle in nor. A.
velopment is now accepted as the soundest and host
for all interests concerned"
Texas is fortunate in the fact that these problem.
are met in the laws governing navigation district.
laws established upon the experiences Of all states
Texas navigation districts may own and operate docks
and terminal facilities, and may enter into any con.
fract with the federal government in connection with
~onstruction or maintenance Of channels and harbors
In other words. Texas law makers have sought to avoid
tke danger Of private enterprise controlling Texas
rcrt= and have delegated to districts broad powers in
III. respeet. powers which assure that all interests viii
II served upon a fair and impartial basis.