The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-11-08
Michigan in
Washington
BY ESTHER V. W. TUFTY


A test OF the two Michigan sena.
,ors' influence with the IL Republi.
can members from Michigan In the
house will come with the consider
alton OF the ST. Lawrence Seaway
project.
Both Senators Arthur Vanden.
berg and Homer Ferguson have
gone sled-length In endorsing the
proposal which would make ocean
ports out OF every lake port in the
state. Not one OF the Republican
men in the House is an enthusiast
tic booster, although all OF the five
Democrats from Detroit are favor.
ably on record. Both President
Roosevelt and Governor Dewey
have openly expressed hope for the
launching OF this development.
Ever since the recent meeting In
Detroit headed by the author OF
the Seaway amendment 70 the Riv-
ers and Harbors bill, Senator
George ID. Aiken, OF Vermont, II
has become apparent that Michigan
will be the battle-ground with De-
troit the spearhead For 25 yea. s.
the Detroit Board OF Commerce has
sponsored the Seaway.
Action on the protest is more i'm
minent than generally realized. II
the Rivers and Harbors bill is
brought up, as expected, right af-
ter Congress reconvenes, the
amendment will be up for Senate
debate. II for one reason or an
other that does not happen before
the new session, then Sen. Aiken
already disgruntled at the Com
merce subcommittee for it's neglect
tc hold hearings, will ask that the
committee be discharged. (Vanden-
berg is the only one OF the five
men on this committee known TO
be favorable. The others are:
Harold H. Burton, Ohio; James NJ.
Mead, Buffalo; John H. Overton,
La; and George L. Radcliffe, Mary.
land.)
The opposition to the proposal
has changed. Thanks TO some ex.
haustive surveys made by DR..
Noobar X. Danielian. consultant,
Department of Commerce, the "un-
economical charges have disap-
peared. Now the blockade comes
from some railroad sources, but
not all because the western group
sees a chance to cut down costs:
those who see threat to private
ownership of utilities in the big
power facilities which Is a part OF
the pre-. ect; and those sectional
groups who have been convinced
that the development would be de-
trimental to their part of the coun.
try.
That Michigan congressional sup
port is not unanimous dampens the
fire set by the senator from YER
mont, who contends that the Sea-
way will help all Great LaFes cities
and the tributary area which ex-
tends from the Appalachians In the
East to the Rocky Mountains in the
West.
Aiken will tell the Senate. "the
st. Lawrence is the shortest dis
lance from here to all OF Europe
and Russia" and Transportation
costs by direct water route will, in
some cases, be so per cent lower
than the present combination rail-
water rates. AS the Michigan for
eign trade becomes more extensive
(already we sell IS per cent OF our
production abroad) the cheaper
transportation costs would mean
cheaper products and greater sales.
THE electricity obtained will be
cheaper than any other available
water power on the American con-
tinent and will be available TO all
people of New England and New
York.
One new argument comes from
the neeC for more jobs certain to
arise out of the reconversion period
when some 20 million war workers
and homecoming soldiers will have
to find peacetime employment.
The key man in the House is
George A. Dondero, only Michigan
members on the Rivers and Harso.s