The time has come to resume in a moderate way the opening of our intracoastal waterways; the control of flood waters of the Mississippi and of the Colorado Rivers; the improvement of the waterways from the Great Lakes toward the Gulf of Mexico; and the development of the great power and navigation project of the St. Lawrence River, for which efforts are now being made to secure the necessary treaty with Canada.  These projects can not all be undertaken at once, but all should have the immediate consideration of the Congress and be adopted as fast as plans can be matured and the necessary funds become available.  This is not incompatible with economy, for their nature does not require so much a public expenditure as a capital investment which will be reproductive, as evidenced by the marked increase in revenue from the Panama Canal.  Upon these projects depend much future industrial and agricultural progress.  They represent the protection of large areas from flood and the addition of a great amount of cheap power and cheap freight by use of navigation, chief of which is the bringing of ocean-going ships to the Great Lakes.

Another problem of allied character is the superpower development of the Northeastern States, consideration of which is growing under the direction of the Department of Commerce by joint conference with the local authorities.

RAILROADS

Criticism of the railroad law has been directed, first, to the section laying down the rule by which rates are fixed, and providing for payment to the Government and use of excess earnings; second, to the method for the adjustment of wage scales; and third, to the authority permitting consolidations.

It has been erroneously assumed that the act undertakes to guarantee railroad earnings.  The law requires that rates should be just and reasonable.  That has always been the rule under which rates have been fixed.  To make a rate that does not yield a fair return results in confiscation, and confiscatory rates are of course unconstitutional.  Unless the Government adheres to the rule of making a rate that will yield a fair return, it must abandon rate making altogether.  The new and important feature of that part of the law is the recapture and redistribution of excess rates.  The constitutionality of this method is now before the Supreme Court for adjudication.  Their decision should be awaited before attempting further legislation on this subject.  Furthermore, the importance of this feature will not be great if consolidation goes into effect.

The settlement of railroad labor disputes is a matter of grave public concern.  The Labor Board was established to protect the public in the enjoyment of continuous service by attempting to insure justice between the companies and their employees.  It has been a great help, but is not altogether satisfactory to the public, the employees, or the companies.  If a substantial agreement can be reached among the groups interested, there should be no hesitation in enacting such agreement into law.  If it is not reached, the Labor Board may very well be left for the present to protect the public welfare.