Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-24

Congress be urged to take action on this
measure at this session.
The report of the committee was then
adopted by unanimous vote
Report on Internal Waterways.
A report from the committee ON internal
waterways recommended that Congress be
urged to make continuous appropriations
for the Improvement of the Ohio and Mis-
sissppi rivers; also favoring the construc-
ton by the government of ship canal
from Lake Michigan, via the Chicago SAM
tary canal, the Desplains and Illinois river,
to the Mississippi river; recommending the
enlarging and developing of the coastWlse
waterways between New YORK ana the
sounds of North and South Carolina ana
the continuation of the surveys for deepen
ing a waterway through the North Carolina
sound.
Prof. Haupt was asked to address the
board in regard to the conditions at the
mouth Of the Mississippi river and the pro-
posed plans of improvement, especially for
the removal of the bar obstructing the
Southwest Pass.
Mr. Tucker of Philadelphia thought that
the board would enter upon a dangerous
field by the adoption of this report and
recommending improvements which are not
national, but only quasi-national.
In the discussion of the subject of the
Improvement of waterways it was said that
railroad men were injuring their own in
terests by opposing such improvements, for
even when waterway was paralleied by d
railroad and the former was improved the
business of the steam road was benehted.
Several of the speakers said they believed
in the Improvement of the waterways, for
the reason that the business of the country
needed all facilities Of transpor alton
Mr. Hopewell of Boston, in the course of
some remarks on this subject said the
board exposed itself to criticism, because it
held an annual session of two or three
days and disposed of a large number Of ex-
tremely important matters which Congress
spent years in considering. A better plan,
he thought, was for the board to concen-
trate itself few topics, thoroughly
master them and then the conclusions
reached would be recognized as of value
and Importance
Objection made to the feature of
the report recommending the building of
canal from Lake Michigan to the MISSISSIPPI
pi river on the ground that it was a local
rather than a national Improvement, but
Mr.. Stannard of ST. Louis thought this
canal would be about three hundred miles
in length and inclined to believe that
1t could hardly be considered a local mat
ter.
After further debate the report was re-
ferred back to the committee, in order that
the several resolutions may be harmonized
Louisiana Purchase.
A report from the special committee on
the Louisiana purchase exposition of 1903
was made, which heartily Endorsed the en-
terprise and the bill now pending in Con-
gresS, and recommended that the National
Board of Trade hold a meeting in st. Louis
in that year. The report was adopted.
resolution was referred to a committee,
to report at the next meeting providing
that the National Board of Trade, in order
to urge before the national government and
to promote the passage of such legislation
may be deemed wise, shall employ
suitable person, who shall be called a local
secretary of the National Board of Trade
and whose duties and salary shall be here
after determined.
resolution was offered directing the ap-
pointment of special committee of five to
consider the subject of the expansion of the
scope of the national board. so as to in
clude all national manufacturing and COM
mercial OrganiZat tons
The secretary of the board, Mr.. Tucker,
expressed his hearty sympathy with the
purposes of this resolution and said that
while it was the desire to increase the
membership of the board yet the fact
that for several years past the board has
merely maintained it's own, and the mem
bership has remained about the same. He
thought that several changes could be
made, especially in the composition of COM
mittees, SO that they would have repre-
sented on them all shades of opinion.
The resolution was adopted and Mr..
Barry, who offered it, was made chairman
of the committee, with the secretary of the
board as assistant chairman, and authority
was given to appoint their associates on
the committee.
A resolution was adopted declaring that
the board reneWS its recommendation that
Congress enact such legislation will per-
NIT the laying of competing cables between
the Island of Cuba and the United States.
The resolutions reported by the commit
tee waterways was reported back and
adopted.
After adopting the usual resolutions OF
thanks and farewell words from the chair
man the board finally adjourned. The next
session will be held in this city next
January.
Afternoon Session Yesterday.
At the afternoon session yesterday re-
port was adopted recommending to Con-
gress that not less than $500 900 be appro-
priated for irrigation surveys and maps Of
irrigable lands, with plans and estimates of
the cost of reservoirs, canals and irrigation
works
There was a warm discussion over the
report of the committee on consular ser
vice, read by Mr.. Carter of Boston, and
which criticised severely this branch of the
governments official representation abroad.
1t was alleged that the service as whole
is inefficient. Several of the members spoke
of the ignorance said to be displayed by
many of the consuls. and asserted that
much better information can be obtained
by Americans travelling abroad through
the agents of American corporations
through British consuls. 1t was the vigor-
ously expressed view of the majority of
those who spoke that in filling consular
offices men should be selected for their
qualifications and not to satisfy political
obligations. The report was adopted.
The board adopted unanimously re-
port submitted by Mr.. Frank Parsons of
st. Louis suggesting that the gold standard
law Of 1900 does not explicitly remove all
questions of the purpose and compulsiOn of
the government to pay all its obligations
in gold, and that Congress should take
early action to remedy the defects and
place the country more firmly on a gold
basis.
To BE Examined for Promotion.
The following named officers have been
ordered to examination for promotion:
Captains A. A. Augur, oath Infantry and