The Washington times., 1929-12-03

edged need would add dignity
to the celebration in 1882 Of
the two hundredth anniversary
of the birth of President Wash.
ington.
In consideration of these prof.
ects which contribute so much
to dignity the National Capital
/ should like to renew the sug-
gestion that the Fine Arts
Commission should be required
to pass upon private buildings
which are proposed for sites
facing upon public buildings
and parks. Without such con-
troll much Of the effort of the
Congress in Identification of
the Capital will be minimized.
Waterways and Flood Control
The development of inland
waterways has received new
impulse from the completion
during this year of the canal.
zation Of the Ohio to uni
form 9-foot depth. The devel-
opment Of the other Segments
Of the Mississippi system should
be expedited and with this in
view I am recommending an in
crease IN appropriations for
rivers and harborS from $780,
100000 to SIS, 100000 per an
mum which, together with about
$4,000,000 per annum released
by completion of the Ohio,
should make available after
providing for other river and
harbor works a sum of from
$25,00.000 to $30,000,00o per
annum for the Mississippi sys-
tenn and thus bring it to early
completion.
Construction of Highways
Federal aid in the conStruc.
ton of the highway systems in
conjunction with the States
has proved to be beneficial and
stimulating. We must ulti-
mately give consideration to the
increase of our contribution to
these systems. particularly with
a view to stimulating the i'm
provement of farm,tomarket
roads.
POStOffiCe Management
Our Postoffice deficit has
now increased to over 100000
900 year, of which perhaps
$14,000,000 is due to losses On
ocean, mail and air mail con-
tracts.
The provision of adequate
quarters for the PoStoffice
should be put on a sound basis.
A revision OF air mail rates
upon a more systematic and
permanent footing is necessary.
The subject is under study, and
if legislation should prove neceS-
Sary the subject will be pre-
Sented to the Congress. In the
meantime I recommend that
the Congress should consider
the deSirability Of authorizing
further expansion of the South
American services.
Commercial Aviation
The nation is building a sound
aviation system. operated by
private enterprise. Over 6,400
planes are in commercial use,
and 9.400 pilots are licensed by
the Government. Our manufac-
turing capacity has risen to
$500 planes per annum. The
aviation companies have in
creased regular air transporta-
ton until it now totals 10000
miles per day-one-fourth Of
which is flown by night.
Condition of Railways
AS a whole, the railroads
never were in such good physi-
cal and financial condition, and
the country has never been so
we'll served by them.
We have, however, not yet
assured for the future that ade-
quate system of transportation
through consultations which
was the objective of the Con.
gress in the transportation act.
The chief purpose of consolida-
ton is to secure well-balanced
systems with more uniform and
satisfactory rate structure, a
more stable financial structure,
more equitable distribution of
traffic, greater efficiency, and
a Single-line instead of multiple
line hauls. In this way the
country will have the assur-
ance Of better service and ul-
timately at lower and more
even rates than would other
wise be attained. Legislation to
simplify and expedite consolida-
ton methods and better to pro-
tect public interest should be
enacted.
Merchant Marine
Under the impulse Of the