The policy is well established that the Government should open public highways on land and on water, but for use of the public in their private capacity.  It has put on some demonstration barge lines, but always with the expectation that if they prove profitable they would pass into private hands and if they do not prove profitable they will be withdrawn.  The problems of transportation over inland waterways should be taken up by private enterprise, so that the public will have the advantage of competition in service.  It is expected that some of our lines can be sold, some more demonstration work done, and that with the completion of the Ohio project a policy of private operation can be fully developed.

PROHIBITION

After more than two generations of constant debate, our country adopted a system of national prohibition under all the solemnities involved in an amendment to the Federal Constitution.  In obedience to this mandate the Congress and the States, with one or two notable exceptions, have passed required laws for its administration and enforcement.  This imposes upon the citizenship of the country, and especially on all public officers, not only the duty to enforce, but the obligation to observe the sanctions of this constitutional provision and its resulting laws.  If this condition could be secured, all question concerning prohibition would cease.  The Federal Government is making every effort to accomplish these results through careful organization, large appropriations, and administrative effort.  Smuggling has been greatly cut down, the larger sources of supply for illegal sale have been checked, and by means of injunction and criminal prosecution the process of enforcement is being applied.  The same vigilance on the part of local governments would render these efforts much more successful.  The Federal authorities propose to discharge their obligation for enforcement to the full extent of their ability.

THE NEGRO

History does not anywhere record so much progress made in the same length of time as that which has been accomplished by the Negro race in the United States since the Emancipation Proclamation.  They have come up from slavery to be prominent in education, the professions, art, science, agriculture, banking, and commerce.  It is estimated that 50,000 of them are on the Government pay rolls, drawing about $50,000,000 each year.  They have been the recipients of presidential appointments and their professional ability has arisen to a sufficiently high plane so that they have been intrusted with the entire management and control of the great veterans hospital at Tuskegee, where their conduct has taken high rank.  They have shown that they have been worthy of all the encouragement which they have received.  Nevertheless, they are too often subjected to thoughtless and inconsiderate treatment, unworthy alike of the white or colored races.  They have especially been made the target of the foul crime of lynching.  For several years these acts of unlawful violence had been diminishing.  In the last year they have shown an increase.  Every principle of order and law and liberty is opposed to this crime.  The Congress should enact any legislation it can under the Constitution to provide for its elimination.