Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-23
WANT AN AMENDMENT.
A Local Committee Can Improve on
the River Commission Bill.
nor ENOUGH MEMBERS ON 1T NOW.
Pittsburg district Most Important and
Must Re Represented.
EXTENDING 100000 EACH YEAR

The River and Harbor Committee of the
Chamber of Commerce, with other business
and river men interested, will heartily CO.
operate in the work of pushing the bill pre-
sented to Congress from Indiana for the ap-
pointment of an Ohio river commission.
They will, however, ask for one or two
amendments necessary to Pittsburg's inter-
ests. The Chamber of Commerce had APP
pointed committee to assist in drawing up
and presenting q bill for deepening the
Ohio, but has now rather been torestalled
by the action of Congressman Parrett, of
Indiana
The Parrett bill only asks that five men,
bers constitute the commission, and it is
here the change will be asked by local busi-
ness men.
A Government Majority.
In all bodies of this kind it is necessary
that the Government have a majority, and
if only five men constitute the
commission, three must of necessity
be United States engineers; while
the remaining two will be drawn from civil
life. 1t is argued that clash will occur in
the commission, as each district will desire
a representative in that body who will work
for its own interests. The river length to,
be covered is 967 miles long, and it is pro-
posed to divide it into three separate dis
tricts.
The Pittsburg, or upper district, will ex-
tend to the mouth of the Big Kanawha, 263
miles away. The middle, or Cincinnati,
district extends to Louisville, and covers a
distance of 337 miles Then the lover, or
Louisville Evansville, district, extending
to Cairo, is 367 miles long. Should the bill
60 through in its present state, but two of
these three districts can secure civil repre-,
sentation on the commission, and it is
argued some difference is certain to arise in
their appointment
To Change the Number.
For this reason local men interested are
making preparations to propose an amend
ment increasing the number of commission
ers from FIVE to seven. This will give the
United States representatives four mem
bers, or a majority of one, while each of
the three districts will also have a civil
representative in the body. Pittsburg,
being the upper and more shallow district,
is the most important of the three. That
reason alone, and not counting her tre-
mendous tonnage, will cause the men hav-
ing the affair in charge to insist that she be
represented. Cincinnati and the lower dis
trict will also demand that they be recog-
nized, and in order to avoid all differences
it is altogether likely that these districts
will heartily combine with Pittsburg in
asking an increase in the number of com.
missioners.
A Mississippi river commission has been
in existence ever since 1879. while a simi-
lar body was appointed to oversee Missouri
river Improvements in 1884 The CONNER
cial interests of the Ohio are far greater
than the Missouri; yet her improvements
have been in the hands of really no author.
lied body.
$1,000, 900 Year.
In speaking of the necessity of such
Colonel 7. P. Roberts yester-
day said the Importance of water as
means of transportation is just being real
lied. "Over 81, ,0O0, 900 is being spent each
year on the Ohio river" said he, "yet the |
work is so slipshod and patehworky that |
he benefits do not compare with similar |
work when done systematically. Water |
in the United States is 60
ing TO engage national attention more and /
more, and the Government must take more
,are of her inland navigation. AS affairs |
puts in hiseittle plea for appropriations for
improvements. He is interested only in
pleasing his constituency in securing GER
ain local improvements, and pays no at
ention to the general good. Under COM
mission everything will be done system
4ticaIly, and a wonderful stride will be made
10 doubt.
''It is said that Congressman Parrett, of
Indiana, has secured strong assistance to
'ush his bill, and II it goes through with
'ur amendment this city will be benefited
nore than any other Senator Quay is
Iuoted as favoring the bill, as are also Con-
,ressmen Dalzell and Stone, and petitions
re being sent to Washington from all
)hio river points asking that there,be no
clay in its passage"