The Bismarck tribune., 1934-01-11
That Seaway Treaty

When the st. Lawrence seaway
treaty comes to vote In the senate.
the two representatives Of this state
may b expected to support 1t.
Sentiment in North Dakota has
been building up over . long period
of years and it clearly is the will OF
our citizens that they be given access
to the sea through this improvement
which will bring ocean-going ships
to within about 400 miles Of Bis
marck.
We must remember. however, that
We are only a small part Of the ma
ton and that gigantic forces are ar
rayed against this proposal. 4 little
contemplation Of our transportation
and economic set-up will readily dis
close why.
Foremost In the opposition Will be
the New York influence. even though
tho president halls from that state.
Senator Robert F. Wagner. close
friend Of the president though he is,
win split with him on this issue and
Senator Copeland may be expected to
follow suit. The reason may be found
In the fact that New York now Is the
greatest port on the continent and
the remark Of New York congress-
man that the "sole aim Of this pact
seems to be to make Montreal the
greatest seaport In North America"
In short. many New York enter
prises are fighting for their very ex-
istence and In such circumstances
men do not yield easily.
Both up and down the Atlantic
coast, the situation Is much the same.
Seaport cities have gained tremen-
dous advantage over cross-continent
shipments because Of low rates
through the Panama Canal. They
also do big business in goods des-
tined for shipment abroad. Their
revenues would suffer, at least in
part, if ocean-going ships are per-
mitted to penetrate into the heart Of
America.
In the central Mississippi valley
opposition to the treaty has been
built up because waterways promo
tiers there feel the seaway will inter-
fere with development OF river trans
portation.
Kansas. Missouri, Iowa and neigh
boring states have long looked for
ward to = linking Of the lakes and
the Mississippi by commercial wa
terway and such an avenue OF COM
nerce already Is In existence. They
claim they need such accommodation
II inland factories are to stay where
they are and meet competition from
firms having cheaper transportation
via the seaway.
This, they contend, viii be denied
them under the terms Of the treaty
limiting withdrawal Of water through
the Chicago drainage canal to 1000
second feet. It IS not enough to ac-
commodate all OF the barges and light
draft vessels which viii want to use
the canal, they say, and the restric-
tion threatens to stunt that artery Of
commerce before 1t is even well
started.
Hence We have Senator Bennett
Clark Of Missouri. good Democrat
though he Is, leading Middle Western
opposition to ratification.
The states bordering on the lakes,
with the possible exception Of Illinois
and New York. viii be for the treaty
without reservation. 1ts advantages
to them are undeniable.
Both sides claim they will win
when tho vote finally is taken.
Clearly the decision will be close.
Meanwhile, developments in other
fields lessen North Dakota's interest.
The principal reason for support in
this area u the belief that the sea-
way will reduce the cost Of shipping
wheat to Liverpool. But little wheat
has been going abroad recently and
the allotment plan = designed to taks
US out Of the export trade almost en-
tirely. The specific advantage to ~
on this one itsm Is thereby lessened.
although No still Win benefit because
of lower shipping charges ca many
other things.
Pleasant Prospect
President Roosevelt puts the mat
ter Of federal pay On the propey basis
when he makes provision Tor . return
70 the old scale when living costs
justify such action.
Il = true that the purchasing
power Of federal salaries inc,eased q
the prices Of commodities dropped
and that reduction n the government
GcAles ue01ahlv mas not nl1itA ~ dras-