The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-03-20
The Fight for Support

No more convincing evidence Of the power which the
business leaders OF the nation attach to honest edltorlai
declaration can be obtained than now is eVloent IN t"e
thr.e-cornered battle between the railroads, the motor
lines and the inland waterways for the support OF the
press.
Swift perrsal Of the mail delivered to an editors desk
almost any day proves the point beyond dispute. y
Here is a long declaration by the Association OF rail-
vay executives who are seeking, in a hearing oe1ore Ie
Interstate Commerce commission at Washington 10 nave
motor buses brought under the same restrictions WHICH
the railroads must obey. It Is charged that bus ana Truck
lines are indulging in the rebates and determinations
which caused a cry to go up in the country many years
apo and brought the I. c. c. into being. Included in the
argument is the claim that the railroads are being taxed
heavily while the bus lines escape with much less than
their fair share.
Another appeal by the rail carriers attacks the water
ways, pointing out that they are improved with TAX
money and that, while water rates are sometimes lower
thew really cost the public much more than the railroads
when the tax money spent is added to the bill.
From one Of Che leading bus lines, which is amply IL
nanced and which spreads a giant network across the
country, comes the statement that common carrier mo-
tor buses are extensively regulated and as a group pay
larger taxes than any other public utility" A thousand
words Of argument and alleged fact back up the
declaration.
fTOm VIC ~
short enough to be printed In full. Under the heading OF
mo Conflict" 1t says:
"There should be no conflict between the executives
operating the railroads and those operating Transporter
ton lines on the inland waterways.
Both are engaged in the work of rendering the great
est possible service to the greatest possible number OF
people and each is and will continue to be the compile
ment of the other.
THE successful operations on the inland waterways
will bring a large increase in population, payroNs and In
dustries to the middle west and this in time will mean
more tonnage to the carriers and an increase OF fast
freight will go to the railroads while the waterway lines
will handle bulk raw materials and freight moving with
less speed.
When the n~avigable inland streams are put into gen.
eral use, as is now contemplated. the radical industrial
change in river served sections will show such additions
In tonnage that the business Of the railroads will be ma
terially increased, notwithstanding the tonnage carried
by water transportation lines.
ITO bring industry to agriculture will be the effect of
water transportation and with this will come a proper
readjustment Of economic conditions, the relief of the
congested situation along the coast and the proper equal
ization and distribution Of the nations population.
The prosperity and development Of the middle west
is bound up In the problem Of cheaper freight rates foE
slow-movng commodities which cannot be accomplished
without water transportation this prosperity and develop
ment is a practical impossibility."
The editors read, ponder and wait. Only a few have
taken any definite stand for or against the projects and
aims Of the three classes Of transportation. Perhaps
when an unchallenged set Of facts and figures is pre-
sented, the newspapers Of the nation will speak, each il
line with the interests Of its section. Until then, such
documents and bits Of information as now flood the mails
viii serve little useful purpose.