National Republican., 1888-04-11

The executive board Of the council of
engineering societies Of the United States
had hearings on Monday and Tuesday of
this week before the Senate committee on
commerce and the House committee on eN-
rcnditulcs in the War Department.
These engineers represent twenty-tlrec
engineering societies, comprising about
5000 members, and located in nearly all
sections Of the country.
They have given careful consideration for
several years to the subject of rcorganizing
the present method of conducting river aud
harhor works, which all who have any fami-
iarity with the subject know to be exceed
ingly defective, costly, and wasteful.
These engineers deserve the thanks o
Congress and the country for having given
the time and thought required for such a
presentation as they made before the com
mittees, and particularly for assisting in
preparing the bill which was introduced in
the Senate by Mr.. Cullom and in the House
by Mr.. c. r. Brecknrdgc. Considering
the scope of this important measure, the
great evils in legislation and administration
that inhere in the present methods, the com
plicated conditions that exist, we are sur
prised at the adequacy of this carefully
drawn measure to accomplish the important
results aimed at
Confidence In the government that ii can
efficiently carry forward the numerous aud
necessary Improvements in our rivers and
harbOrs will at once he restored when this
act goes into effect. We believe that while
now the very mention of river and harbOr
bill appropriating S20,0OO,O0O raises hue
and cry in all sections with charges Of job
berry and log-rolling, the country will strongly
approve the action Of Congress in appro-
prating twice that sum under system
which all will recognize to he conducted on
sound business principles like those which
We find on the great public works Of compl-
mics and corporations,
The engineers present facts relating TO
methods pursued IN foreign countries that
show that they are on a civil basis, although
the governments themselves are essentially
military, and these governments have proven
by centuries Of work that civil basis is the
only correct one for any government.
The statements made 10y these civil cngi-
neers as to the utter inadcquacy and great
wastciulncss of our methods is appalling,
and yet they fOrtify themselves behind ire
frOgible proofs.
There are some provisions of the bill
which will work much needed reforms in
legislative methods.
1t provides "that no appropriation or al
lOtmcnt uf money for harbor or waterway
work shall be expended upon such work
unless II is sufficient to provide for the COM
pio'ion Of said work, or, in addition to the
current appropriation, provision shall have
been mad 10y law for funds necessary for
it> cumplction," and the intent and purpose
of the act Is said to be that no power or
discretion shall rest with the engineers or
the War Department to spend public money
when the amount applicable to work is in
sufficient to serve amy useful public pur-
pose In connection with commerce or the
completion of the work.
The civil corps Of engineers to he or
ganizcd under thi, act viii certainly be com
posed Of able men, and in every way Of an
efficient personnel,
The railroad regulations; the principles
of appointment, discharge, and promotion,
partly by seniority aud partly by merit;
the idea carried all through the act of OBJ
tanning great efficiency aud economy; CON
trolling principles of strict accountability
and responsibility utilizing the skill, ex-
pcricncc, and matured Judgment Of the
hest mcn-all appeal to the good sense of
the country, and will, we believe, be APP
proved aud will command the support Of
all good men dcsirous Of promoting our
| commercial interests.
Improved rivers and deep harbor chan
nels will soon result from the introduction
Of such system as these engineers pro-
pose.
The carnestncss, thoroughncss, and withal
evident fairness displayedsby them, with the
knowledge that they have personally no in
terested motives in bringing forward this