Evening star., 1933-04-02

to the formation OF the National Transportation
Committee, at the request of a number of i'm
portart business associations, savings banks,
insurance e0npanies and trust institutions. The
committee organized on October Z, 1882, with
Calvin Coolidge as its chairman and former
Gov. Alfred E. Smith member of the COM
mittee. DR.. Harold @. Moulton, president Of
the Brookings Institution, was asked to conduct
research in this problem which has so many
ramifcations. This volume is the result Of that
research carried on by q staff of economic
specialists. It is prefaced by the report of the
National Transportation Committee, based on
the results Of the research, and by supple
mental report Of Gov. Alfred e. Smith, who
says: while am in substantial agreement
with the greater part of the committee report.
this supplementary memorandum states my
conclusions in my own language, placing the
emphasis where think it belongs
Sound study of all economic and social ques-
tions, perhaps of all questions Of any sort, must
be based on history and DR.. Moulton and his
staff have given in their introduction sum-
mary Of American transportation development
: from the opening Of the Erie Canal In 1925
and the first railroad-the Baltimore & Ohio
in 1929. All the important aspects Of railroad,
water motor, air and pipe line transportation
are then analysed. from the three viewpoints
of the public, the transportation companies, and
the Government. It is impossible to mention
in brief review even few Of the pertinent
facts brought out by this study, but some Of
the conclusions may be noted The Brookings
investigators ask and seek to answer three
questions: "Q) What general principles Of
regulation and Government support are neces-
sary in order to promote the most eficient
possible transportation system? (2) What
conditions are responsible for the failure OF
existing regulation to attain this objective?
go What reorientation in our system Of regula-
ton is necessary II we are to obtain the desired
results in the future?" Their conclusions are
definite significant and will undoubtedly carry
weight when the transportation question comes
up for further governmental action. They are:
That various forms Of transportation should
be given economic parity; that our present sys-
TEN does not give such parity; that our
various agencies Of regulation are not CO.
ordinated and are often conflicting: that q
national transportation system should have
unified regulation: that Federal control Is
essential to q comprehensive system Of trans
portation," and that Federal regulation should
be centralized under the Interstate Commerce
Commission" which has the benefit of As years
of experience and 'is competent to meet greater
responsibilities" than 1t already has IN the
present restricted regulation of railroads and
pipe lines.
BEAuREoARD: THE GREAT CREOLE. BY
Hamilton Basso. New York: Charles Scrib-
ner's Sons.
siCOR several months before the election Of
Lincoln, Beauregard had been pulling
wires to get himself appointed commandant OF
West Point" His wire-pulling was successful,
and he held the position just five days when he
was relieved, undoubtedly because he had
ayowed his intention Of following his State
should Louisiana secede from the Union. When
the Confederacy was formed, Jefferson Davis
appointed Beauregard first brigadier general in
the Provisional Army of the Confederacy. and
he was in command at Charleston when Fort
Sumter was fired upon. At the beginning Davis
and Beauregard were friends, or at least friendly
allies devoted to the same cause. In few
months the situation changed and the two
men became definitely antagonistic Finally, ac-
cording to Mr.. Basso, they hated each other.
This hatred was partly due to opposition in
temperaments; Davis was dignifed, cautious
cold Beauregard was enthusiastic, bold, rather
emotional. Both were egotstical and perhaps
each considered himself military genius. In
their theories Of strategy they were absolutely at
variance. Davis planned a defensive war policy,
conservative, likely to bring striking success,
but not tempting disaster. Beauregard urged q
more daring program OF attack, somewhat
Napoleonic, and pictured immediate capture of
Washington, the flight of Lincoln and his cab
met and the recognition of the Confederate
States as an Independent nation. jealousy was
added to the growing hostility when Beauregard
was supported by a substantial group for the
presidency of the Confederacy Long after the
Civil War was ended, when both were old men,
the hatred endured, and there is vivid word
picture Of Beauregard poring over the two thick
volumes Of Jefferson Davis Rise and Fall of the
Confederate Government" and gnashing his
teeth over the sights and Misrepresentation he
found there with regard to himself.
In this hatred Mr.. Basso finds the cause of
the tragedy Of Beauregard's life, the reason why
all his successes were Knocked by futilty." It
is because he thinks that time ITSELF which often
adjusts things fairly, has been unjust to
Beauregard, that Mr.. Basso has chosen to write
this biography. He says: He has fallen into
obscurity. even in the South, where once he was
lo-cd and honored as much as Lee. And SO, in
writing Of him. 1t has interested me to seek an
exclamation of his NEGLECT and effacemenf