The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-11
QUESTION OF THEIR IMPROVEMENT
AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE.
MEETING OF THE CONVENTION
Two Hundred Delegates From Board
Onr Chief Cities Meet in Baltimore.
ed by Theodore Burton, of the Com
gressfonal River ard Harbor Conn
mittee Twenty-Five Cities Repre-
senred.

Baltimore. October S.-More than 200
delegates from the various boards of
trade and commercial bodies in the
principal cities in the United States
gathered here today for the purpose Of
discussing the propriety of ~appropriat-
ing public moneys for the Improvement
of the rivers and harbors in the Unit
ed States. They will remain in session
for two, and perhaps three days, Iur-
ing which they will be handsomely en-
tertained by the local board of trade.
Twenty-Five cities are represented by
the delegates present.
Tn purpose of the is per-
haps best explained in the speech CT
Congressman Theodore Burton, chair
man of the river n harbor committee
of congress-, who made the opening adj
dress to the delegates today. He said
in part:
This gathering is the first of it's kind
and the scope of it's undertakings must
in great measure be determined b. your
action during the days of this meeting.
1 take it the movement which led 10
tbs convention vas prompted by a de-
sire to awaken general interest in river
and harbor improvements and to bring
the commercial bodies which are repre-,
sented here into closer touch with legis-
lation upon this subject. / am inform
ed it is not desired hat any special pro-
Ject shall be advocated here, but at the
same time you consider the improve
ment of the naVigabIe channels and
ports of the country as essential for
our 0pVelODmpnt and that fhaCa mort
n channels requi& the fostering care
and assistance of the national govern
ment. With this view, it is in your
power to educate public opinion and TO
organize efforts for the enactment of
legislation which shall be national in
It's scope and for the benefit of the
whole people. The influence of this as
sembly should be eXerted for liberal
appropriation for rivers and harborS.
u lberality should always be coupled
with discrimination. Appropriations
should not be denied because large
amounts are required to secure the best
and prompteSt results. but there should
be equal care to prevent waste or the
adoption of unworthy or impracticable
projects. There should be no advocacy
of a policy of compromise in selecting
localities for appropriations; but care
full consideration should be given to all
claims from all parts of the country
DC oAu SiIidil IOJSClS alike.
I'm view of necessary limitations in
the amounts appropriated in river and
harbor acts n the pressing need fCr
deeper channels and improved facilities
along established lines of traffic, it is
better to appropriate for localities
where traffic is already established
than where it's development is uncertain
or problematical. In case of a plurali.
ty of claims. V equally deserving
when money is not available for all, il
is more business like to finish one arG
obtain results from it than to make
piecemeal appropriations upon all.
The following officers were elected
PRESIDENT. George E. Bartol, PhilaieI.
phia; secretary, William H. Fore, Bal.
tlmore; assistant secretaries, E. r
Sherwood, Philadelphia; George H
Lord. New Orleans, and F. w. Scott
! Cleveland. o.
A feature of the afternoon session
was an address by former United
states Senator A. P. German. of Mary.
land.