Evening star., 1928-12-04


Rocket,
he Presidents message to that body today.
heavy structure. and therefore urge
the Congress to provide by law for some
locality where it can be set up.
Railroad Consolidation
Request Is Reiterated.
I'm previous annual messages I have
suggested the enactment of laws to
promote railroad consolidation with a
view of increasing the efficiency of
transportation and lessening it's cost
to the public. While consultations
can and should be made under the
present law until it is changed, yet the
provisions of the act of 1920 have not
been found fully adequate to meet the
needs of other methods of consolida-
ton. Amendments designed to remedy
these defects have been considered at
length by the respective committees
of Congress, and bill was reported
| out late in the last session which
understand has the approval in prin-
! ciple of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. 1t is to be hoped that this
| legislation may be enacted at an early
| date.
Experience has shown that the in
| terstate commerce law requires defini-
ton and clarification in several other
respects, some of which have been
| pointed out by the Interstate Commerce
| Commission in its annual reports to
| the Congress. 1t will promote the
| public interest to have the Congress
| give early consideration to the recon-
mendations there made.
Merchant Marine
Cost Shown Reduced.
1.-The cost of maintaining the United
| States Government merchant feet has
| been steadily reduced We have estab-
| lished American flag lines in foreign
trade where they had never before ex-
listed as means of promoting COM
marce and as naval auxiliary. There
| have been sold to private American
| capital for operation within the past
| few years ID of these lines, which, un-
| der the encouragement of the recent
| legislation passed by the Congress. give
| promise of continued successful opera
| tion Additional legislation from time
| to time may be necessary to promote
| future advancement under private
control.
Through the cooperation of the
Post Office Department and the Ship
ping Board long-term contracts are be-
ing made with American steamship
| lines for carrying mail, which already
promise the construction of Is to 20 new
vessels and the gradual establishment
| of the American merchant marine as
a private enterprise. No action OF the
National Government has been so
beneficial to our shipping The cost
is being absorbed to a considerable ex-
tent by the disposal of improbable
lines operated by the Shipping Board,
for which the new law has made
market. Meanwhile it should be our
policy to maintain necessary strategic
| lines under the Government operation
until they can be transferred to private
capital.
Inter American
Highway Aid Advised.
In my MESSAGE last year expressed
the view that we should lend our en-
couragement for more good roads to
all the principal points on this hemi-
sphere south of the Rio Grande. My
view has not changed. The Pan-Amer-
ican Union has recently Endorsed 1t.
| In some of the countries to the south
a great deal of progress is being made
in road building. In others engineering
features are often exacting and financ-
ing difficult. AS those countries enter
upon programs for road building we
should be ready to contribute from our
abundant experience to make their task
easier of accomplishment. l prefer not
to go into civil to accomplish this
end. We already furnish military and
naval advisers, and, following this prec-
edent, we could draw competent men
! from these san9 sources and from the
Department of Agriculture.
I'VE should provide our Southern
neighbors, j. they request it, with such
engineer advisers for the construction
of roads and bridges. Private interests
should look with favor upon all reason
able loans sought by these countries to
open main lines of travel. Such as
sistance should be given especially to
any project for highway designed to
connect all the countries on this hemi-
sphere and thus facilitate intercourse
and closer relations among them.
Air Mail Service
Rapidly Expanding.
1.-THE friendly relations and the ex-
tensive commercial intercourse with the
! Western Hemisphere to the south of us
| are being further cemented by the es-
| tablishment and extension of air mail
routes We shall soon have one from
Key West Fla, over Cuba, Haiti and
| Santo Domingo to San Juan, p. r..
where it will connect with another route
| to Trinidad. There will be another
route from Key West to the Canal
| Zone, where connection will be made
with route across the northern coast
.. of South America to Paramaribo. This
will give us a circle around the Carib-
bean under our own control. Addi-
| tional connections will be made at
| Colon with a route running down the
/ west coast of South America as far as
| Conception, Chile, and with the French
| air mail at Paramaribo running down
| the eastern coast of South America.
| The air service already spans our con-
| tinent with laterals running to Mexico
and Canada, and covering a daily flight
Of more than $4,000 miles, with an av-
erage cargo of $4,000 pounds.
Waterways Expense
Curtailment Is Suggested.
Our river and harbor improvements
| are proceeding with vigor. In the past
| few years we have increased the APP
| preparation for this regular work $28,-
| 100000, besides what Is to be expended
on flood control The total appropria-
| ton for this year was over SOL 900, 900.
| The Ohio River is almost ready for
| opening; work on the Missouri and
other rivers Is under way. In accord
ance with the Mississippi food law