New-York tribune., 1901-01-26
Icy TELEGRAPH TO TIE rR1BuNE.l


icy TELEGRAPH TO TIE rR1BuNEl
washington. Jan. 25.-Not content with their
,-ssent enormous patronage and power. the
army Engineers are preparing a grand coup TO
.scure 10 themselves forever absolute control
:, al public works. This is TO be done through,
,srsgraph in the River and Harbor bill the
4,n meaning Of which has apparently escaped
zen The searching eye OF the opposition. Sec
ion 3 OF the River and Harbor bill as il passed
,be House and now lies before the Senate is as
follows
Section 3. That there shall be organized in
the Office OF the Chief Of Engineers. United
states Army, by detail from time TO time from
ne Corps Of Engineers. a board of five engineer
Ulcers whose duties shall be fixed by the Chief
n Engineers. and TO whom shall be referred
cor consideration and recommendation, in addi-
ion 10 any other duties assigned. so far as in
he opinion Of the Chief Of Engineers may be
NECESSARY. all reports upon examinations and
surveys provided for by Congress- and an
nroiecrs or changes in projects for works Of
rsver and harbor Improvement heretofore or
hereafter provided for. And the Board shall
submit 70 the Chief Of Engineers recommended
rions as 70 the 6esira bility of commencing or
continuing any and all improvements upon
which reports are required. And in the con-
sideration OF such works and projects the Board
shall have in view the amount and character Of
commerce existing, OF reasonably prospective.
which VIII be benefited by the Improvement and
the relation OF the ultimate cost Of such work
both as to cost OF construction and main
involved. and the public necessity for
he work and propriety Of its construction
continuance or maintenance at the expense Of
the United States. And such consideration shall
be given as time permits TO such works as have
Heretofore been provided for by Congress, the
same as in the case Of new works proposed
The Board shall, when il considers the same
,ecassarv and with the sanction and under
orders from the Chief of Engineers. make. as a
Board OF through its mem bers, personal exami-
nations Of localities. And AL facts and inforrna-
ton and arguments which are presented TO the
Board for its consideration in connection with
any matter referred 10 il by the Chief Of En-
gineers shall be reduced TO and submitted in
writing. and made part Of the records OF the
Office OF the Cher or Engineers It shall further
be the duty Of said Board, upon a request trans
ntted 10 the Chief Of Engineers by the Com
rnttee on Rivers and Harbors Of the House Of
Representatives or the Committee on Commerce
Of the Senate, in the same manner TO examine
aud report through the Chief of Engineers upon
eminent or upon which appropriations have
heen made. and report upon the desirability Of
continuing the same or upon any notifications
thereof which may be deemed desirable.
The board shall have authority, with the ap-
proval Of the Chief Of Engineers, TO rent quar-
ters. Il necessary, for the proper transaction Of
its business and 10 employ such civil employees
as may. in the opinion Of the Chief of Engineers
be required for properly transacting the business
assigned 10 it, and the necessary expense Of the
board shall be paid from allotments made by
the Chief Of Engineers from any appropriations
made by Congress for the work or works 10
which the duties Of the board pertain.
ITS MEANING NOT DETECTED.
On Wednesday, January 16, when the clerk Of
the House read this section and discussion Of il
was in order, not a single member apparently
grasped the full meaning and far reaching ef-
feet Of the creation Of such board. The only
point which apparently agitated the House was
as % whether the creation Of this board would
in any way curtail the power Of Congress. Ad-
VOcates of the proposed commission, notably
M. Burton, disposed Of this objection by max
ing the point that the River and Harbor Com
nittee can include in its bill any project for
which there is an estimate. whether there is a
recemmsndation not Mr.. Cushman moved
that AL Of this section be stricken from the bill
but explained that he had no especial hostility
10 the provision. but simply thought it an un-
necessary addition to the red tape which already
surrounds the proceedings Of the Engineering
Department Of the Army.
The River and HarbOr bill. as il viii probably
become law, viii add TO the present patronage
II the Army Engineers 10 the extent Of about
Sl20O0O,O00t the bill carrying S6OOOOOOO, but
the work begun under its provisions requiring
at least double that amount for completion
As already shown in the columns of The Trib-
une. the Army Engineers constitute the most
powerful bureau Of the Government. There is
now over $500 100000 involved in projects rec
rolls are carried over ten thousand names. and
with the extensions which are now promised in
Porto Rico and the Philippines there is ap-
parently limit TO what may in the future
come under the control Of this proposed board
Of five Army engineers.
A BOARD WITH VAST POWERS.
The alleged purpose OF this board is 10 bring
about harmonious scheme Of public works
ed rrrf fFarT -no in rFa rka;,
Official duties, would supposedly become familiar
with the needs OF the country in every town
ship. from Alaska TO Porto Rico. In the first
place, this board is TO be appointed by the Chief
OF Engineers. and as this post is filled and va
Gated every few months by reason of seniority
there is no guarantee Of permanence in the per-
sonnel Of the proposed commission. There is no
oficer Of the Engineer Corps who could give the
necessary time 70 the duties Of such board
without giving up the work with which he has
been Identified in State or another. II is
only just 10 say that certain number Of the
Army engineers are in favor OF restricting the
work Of their branch Of the service to public
improvements Of a purely military character
colonel Bingham, Of the White House, is nota-
oiy one Of these. having prepared a bill along
these lines which was introduced in Congress
several years ago. but which failed owing 10
the antagonisTn of his own Army corps. with
which ITS provisions dealt
The antagonism between the Army engineers
and the civil engineers OF the country is almost
Wariike in its ferocity. and IT is rarely the case
that any project or design proposed by civil
engineers finds Endorsement suppors at the
hands OF the Army corps. In several great en-
terprises. one OF which is the isthmian canal
the participation Of civil engineers in the pre-
Enninarv work has ezra blishei nrecedsnr ,rhfcb