Evening star., 1932-11-23

But the way TO ratification OF the treaty
Is not all clear II 1t Is to be effected
at the coming short session OF Con-
gress, friends of the treaty must arouse
public sentiment in support OF such
action. The proverbial slip betwixt
cup and lip could occur in either Wash
ington or Ottawa. Seaway advocates
on both sides of the boundary should
be vigilantly and impressively on the
job"
"It Is expected" remarks the San
Antonio Express, that the treaty VIII
meet determined opposition in the Sen
ate The Canadian government COM
mands a parliamentary majority sum-
cient to assure ratification; but Ottawa
has announced that the compact VIII
not be submitted to the Dominion legis-
lators until the United States shall have
acted upon it." The Express comments
further: "The shipway plan is favored
by many States and several Canadian
provinces, as it would lower transporta-
tion costs on their exports and imports.
Moreover, the scheme embraces hydro
electric power development on vast
scale. Opposition to the treaty Is pro-
nounoed in Quebec Province, where
Premier Louis A. Taschereau asserts
that the hydroelectric power promised
Is not needed so far as Canada is con-
cerned. He also contends that the
treaty gives the United States "a joint
proprietary interest in the Welland
Ship Canal, which connects Lake Erie
and Ontario through Canadian terri
tory. New York State authorities are
dissatisfied because they were not con-
suited regarding the disposal Of the
hydroelectric power to be allotted the
United States" >
Quoting the criticisms of the Lake
Carriers Association, the Akron Bea-
con Journal, recognizing its charge Of
the burden of huge expenditure" adds:
''The point is made that less than per
cent of the total tonnage handled on
the Great Lakes in a normal season
needs an outlet to the sea, and that
the prodigious cost of the improvement
cannot be carried by government
which Is faced with the most desperate
need of retrenchment. Another voice
to be heard in this controversy is that
of the Eastern railroads. They are op-
posed to heavy diversion of traffic
from their lines to serve what they term
as a purely mythical objective Of
granting lower shipping rates to West
ern farmers"
The Jersey City Journal comments:
with the steady improvement in rail
transportation, both as to time and
cost, and the failure Of most of our
inland waterways. both river and canal.
to move any appreciable amount OF
freight, or to be self-sustaining in NOV
ing what they do, this seems to be q
time to go slowly on any great ex-
penditure for new waterways. From
present appearances there is no great
danger that haste will be made"
The New York Evening Post con-
cludes that "this waterway would be
one more heart-breaking white ele-
phant. like Muscle Shoals" while the
Wall Street Journal reviewing the sub
ject, declares: "If the st. Lawrence ship
route means a new day for the American
farmer, as 1t protagonists tell us, the
railroads cannot stop its ultimate con-
struction and ought not to be allowed
to II they could. It is not subject for
propaganda In either direction. but for
deliberate, competent and unpreiudiced
examination. And that, unfortunately.
Is no certainty so long as the expert
testimony comes either from office-
holders under President for MANY
years unreServsdly committed to the
eficacy Of universal ditch transporta-
ton or from experts retained by or
representing the vested interests in
things aS they are. How much more
valuable part might be played In the
treaty question by an adrninistration
which hopes to deliver cheap electric
power to every kitchen door Is some
tnlng yet p he discovered.