Evening journal., 1901-01-07
IN FAVOR Oh
CONTRACT SYSTEM
improvements to Delaware to
Be so Continued
River and IIarbOr Bill Provides for
Creation OF Supervisory Board
Of Engineer Officers

Washington. Jan Printed copies
of the River and Harbor bill. together
with the report of the committee. we're
issued on Saturday. The text of the
bin has undergone no change. so far
as the improvement OF the Delaware
river is concerned A considerable
number of the Improvements provided
for including the Delaware river. have
been placed under the continuing con-
tract system which is fully set forth
and explained i'm the committees rec
port. For the thirty foot channel I'M
the Delaware the sum OF s600000 is
Appropriated to begin the work and
il is provided that a contract CT con-
tracts may be entered into by the sec
retary of war for such materials and
work as may be necessary for the
prosecution of the project recommend
ed In said report, to be paid for as APP
pIopriationa may from time to- time be
made by law. not TO exceed in the ag
gresate 50, 100000. exclusive of the
amount herein and heretofore appro-
priated. The report referred to is
that made to the chief of engineers by
the commission of engineer officers
appointed by authority of Congress to
survey and report upon the advisability
and cost of the proposed movement
and presented to the House at the pre-
eeding session. In that report the
probable cost of the completed work
was placed at s5.S50000, and the sum
appropriated in the pending bin for
expenditure next year and that author
lied to be placed under a continuing
contract Is equal to one-half of the es-
timated total cost.
ADVANTAGE OF THE CONTRACT
SYSTEM.
The report OF the committee clearly
sets forth the great advantage to the
government OF the continuing contract
system. The amount of the obligations
authorized under this system is S37-
| l42 704. and the amount appropriated
| for the coming fiscal year $22,192,7l1,
making the tOial expcaditre author
lied S59. 1875. AIS. "It has been the de-
sire Of the committee says the re-
port ITO adopt q policy looking TO the
completion, as rapidly as possible. OF
/ the most important projects presented
! for consideration, thereby avoiding the
making of piecemeal appropriations
and securing early results. II is con-
sidered that the results obtained by the
! AlnNAA Eh IlNllNAAAAE NA uAAUuAAnl MAlAlA
are only a small share Of the total re.
quired, are neither economical nor de-
sirable. The adoption Of the continuing
contract system in all cases has proved
so beneficial i'm the way Of economy
and In the early accomplishment OF
permanent results that the committee
deems its adoption the best method fol
the prosecution Of the more extensive
river and harbor works"
| SUPERVISORY BOARD OF ENGI.
NEER OFFICERS.
A section Of the bill prviodes for the
creation of a board Of five engineer Of
fcers, in the Office of the chief of en-.
i gineers, whose duty it shall be to ex
anime reports made upon examination.
and surveys authorized by Congres.
and submit recommendations thereon
The board is also to examine, at the ie
4 quest Of the River and Harbor Com
mittce Of the House and Commerce
Committee of the Senate. or upon it
motion, projects heretofore adopted fo
the improvement of rivers and har
bors. The object aimed at by the ere
alton of this board is TO secure create
uniformity in the recommendation
and reports as to various projects ant
the examination of existing project
the further prosecution of which is de
/ cfrnhln