The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-12-19
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER COM
MISSION.

The following editorial from the
Times Democrat shows that an at
tempt will be made to abolish the
Mississippi River Commission at
this session of Congress, and it will
do well for the citizens to take
warning:
1t is probable that an attempt
will be made at the present session
of Congress 20 get rid of the Mis-
slssippi River Commission, in order
to give the jobbers on river work a
better chance at fat contracts. This
attack really began last year, when
a very determined effort was made
on the part of ST. Louis to secure a
contract for dredging and deepening
the Mississippi, the work to be
taken away from the River Commits
sion and The fund at the command of
that body to be depleted to a large
To this proposition the very
proper answer was returned that
even if the dredging plan for keep
ing the channel open were deemed
the best the work could be more
satisfactorily and more cheaply
done under the supervision of the
commission, which, moreover, had
the necessary appliances, than by a
private firm.
The public sentiment of the river
States and cities, save only St.
Louis, was SO emphatically opposed
to taking this work away from the
commission and giving it to others
that the project was killed. 1t
showed, however great strength
sufficient to encourage new attack,
which has taken the form of pro-
posing to abolish the commission
altogether, placing the improve
ment of the river entirely under the
control of the War Department.
The recommendation of this change,
in the report of the Secre-
tary of War, is a notice of warning
to the people Of the river States of
what they may expect, and shows
them that they must be organized to
defeat 1t.
1t seems to us that if the matter
of the Mississippi River Commits
sion is to come up, Congress, in
stead of supporting any movement
looking to the abolition of that body,
or lessering its powers, Will do " ell
to carry out the suggestions made
by Mr.. Corthell at the first jetty
conference held in this city at the
Board of Trade on Oct. 80 last, and
which he SO ably supported with
argument. Mr.. Corthell proposed
that Congress, at the present SEES
sion:
"l. Extend the jurisdiction of
the Mississippi River Commission
from the head of the Passes to the
ieep water of the Gulf of Mexico
all its outlets except the
South Pass, and define the area en-
Draced in the Eads contract at the
head of the Passes.
"2. Provide for the jurisdiction
Of the Mississippi River Commits
sion to be extended to cover the
head of the Passes and the South
Pass to the deep water of the Gulf
lpon and after the expiration of the
tads contract, III about three years
rom the present time.
SO. Add TO their present duties
If improving the navigation of the
Mississippi river from the mouth of
he Ohio river to the head of the
Passes the conservation of the banks,
,hannels and volumes of the river
md its navigation outlets below
New Orleans to the Cult in the IN
crest OF the steam boat navigation
nd the railroad commerce as well,
md of course the ocean commerce
eeking New Orleans as an export
nd an import CITY,"
The best results in the matter of
liver improvement will be secured
y consolidating the work and plac-
ng it all under one head, instead of
lviding it up; and by giving it to
he Mississippi River Commission,
here it will be safe from the job
ers. The Department of War will
OF afford rs the same protection
gainst iobbery.
All the friends Of river improve
lent will do well to recognize the
anger and rally to the support of
re commission, which, while it has |
OF done as much to improve the
avigation of the Mississippi as we
ould have liked, has yet done more
n that great river than any other
ody or officer to which it's improve
tnt has been confined; and it can,
lrthermore. be depended on to
TRY to completion the plan of inn
'ovement decided on, instead of
it after millions have
l.