The age-herald., 1902-01-31
Washington Day by Day


 given all the money demanded of Con- gress this year for the improvement of the rivers of the state, and, as hinted in a Washington despatch to the Age-Her- ald of Sunday some of our people are certain to be disappointed If they ex- pect even one dollar in ten of the ap- propriations asked for in one or two par ticular instances.
 Chairman Burton of the rivers and har- bors committee of the House has plainly intimated to the immediate representa- lives of the Coosa river that they need not expect much more than a sum snf- ficient for the maintenance of work al- ready done.
 The truth is, the leading men of the Republican majority of the committee are not impressed with the advantages of the Coosa Improvement as a great na- tional undertaking. It is but fair to as- sume that these Republicans regard the proposed improvement from a purely practical business viewpoint, for it is not their money they are asked to appro- priate, and 1t is not reasonable to assume that they have even the smallest degree of sectional feeling in this business of their congressional duties
 The immediate friends of the Coosa ask for six million dollars which is prob ably not a dollar too much but upon that basis, as Chairman Burton pointed out, the appropriation for such improve ments for the entire country would this year exceed a hundred and fifty million dollars, an utterly impossible amount in view of the purposes of the commit tee to keep the total sum provided for below sixty-flve million.
 Six million dollars, asked for the Coosa alone, is more than three times the total amount ever named in one bill for all Alabama, including Mobile harbor; and probably that much money has not been appropriated for Mobile harbor improve ment a really national undertaking during a quarter of century. Work on the Coosa has been going on for nearly thirty years, and yet the entire Alabama delegation is unable to convince the Re- publican majority of the committee of the great desirability of quickly completing, or even continuing on an adequate scale that much desired waterway improve ment. As matters stand, if every man in Alabama could speak to the committee in favor of the Coosa, not a sixth. nor even tenth, part of the six million dol lars asked for could be obtained.
 Chairman Burton and his colleagues are aware that Alabama is state with numerous noble rivers requiring govern ment appropriations to make them en- tirely useful to trade and commerce. Con- gressman Bankhead. the Alabamian on the committee. has proclaimed that to his associates in various congresses for many years and constantly pleaded the absolute necessity of generous improve ments, and in this he has been aided by the ability, energy and wisdom of all other Alabama congressman; but Ala bama's delegation cannot do the impos- sible, and it is worse than idle for peo- pie to assume that our congressman have got simply to work in order to se- cure large appropriations. At best ap- propriations for rivers and harbors are secured by conciliation and concession.
 No man in his right senses can doubt that if any one of the Alabama delega- tion. or all of them working as one. could induce Congress to vote every dollar required. whether the total be ten million or thrice that sum, the money would be immediately forthcoming.
 But 1t seems to be the sense of the majority of the committee that the river improvements in Alabama should be taken up one or two at time. &C., cording to importance. and pushed to completion, rather than that the sum total for the state be doled out in small measure to each of all the rivers; and there are indications that this plan will be adheared to in this Congress and here- after.
 And the direct interests of respective localities aside, this plan would seem to be based upon common business princi- pies. There can be no reasonable busi- ness argument in favor of digging one little hole in the Tennessee, two little holes in the Warrior, one in the Tombig- bee, and making a scratch at the Coosa every year. and suffering the century to pass away without the completion of either undertaking
 Certainly the greatest good to the greatest number of people would be first promoted by the early completion of the Warrior improvement. As the Age Her aid has wisely and timely said Alabama cause the Warrior has not been opened to navigation
 There is no real difference of opinion as to the pre- eminent claims of the Warrior for improvement before any other Ala bama stream: and as only about three quarters of a million of money is now asked for, Congress may consent to ap- it. And there is likely to be sum voted for Colbert Shoals, in the Tennessee river.
 Meantime, as 1t is but just to say Con- gressman Bankhead, the Alabama mem- Der of the rivers and harbors committed on which he has long and faithfully served Alabama. has the active and able support of his colleagues in laboring to get everything possible for improvements inside the state.
 Coneressman IIndarwood who likewise