The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-27
Mississippi River Commission
Withholds Decision in Levce
Allotments.
EXPECTED TO BE FAVORABLE.
Members Have Been Impressed by
Arguments Presented by Rep
resentatives From the
Lower Districts.

After hearing all of the arguments pre-
sented by representatives Of the various
levee boards, the Mississippi River Com
mission yesterday settled down to active
work in its offices on the eleventh floor of
the Fullerton building for the consideration
of the mass of matter which has been
offered. and TO formulate the report which
will be submitted to the Secretary of War
tomorrow.
No announcement will be made by the
commission in advance of the official report.
and It was said yesterday by President
Ernest of the commission that all informa-
ton as 10 the allotments for levec work
would necessarily come first from the au-
thorities at Washington.
Strong efforts have been made before the
commission to prevail upon the members to
authorize immediate improvements and
make allotments on the supposition that
Congress will stand by its act in appropri-
ating money in advance TO pay the cost
thereof.
PLANTERS MAXI GOOD CASE
Farmers and business men from the lower
river districts have shown TO the commits
sion that it would be unwise to hold back
the levee work TO wait on appropriations.
for the reason that the lives and property
of all those residing in the valley will be
imperiled by delay, and it is believed that
the report of the commission VIII recon-
mend nearly all that has been asked for and
possible TO grant
A serious legal question arises in the let
ting of contracts in advance of the time for
which appropriations are available. but II
has been shown to the commission by many
able attorneys that the step would be legal
and that il is possible to make the appro-
priations for two years in advance, If 1t IS
so desired.
1t may be that the commission will refer
the legal point at issue to the Secretary
of War, and permit the matter to be set
Gated in all that has transpired since the
public hearing started that the commission
is anxious to give all the direct assistance
il can.
CONSERVATISM ON THE BOARD.
Consequently, it would not be surprising
If recommendation be made that con-
tracts for the building of new levee work
and repairs. such al may be deemed ad-
visable, be let at once. But the men who
compose the Mississippi River Commission
are conservative. Several of them are Gov
eminent engineers and are familiar with
the heavy cost of all work of this kind.
Being from other sections of the country
than that every year affected by the floods.
they probably have not so much OF the sym
pathy with the levee-construction idea as
have had some of the persons who ap-
peared before it the earlier part Of the
week.
After the question of whether allotments
should be made or not, comes the trouble
some problem OF apportioning the appro-
priations. Should all Of the money provided
Tor future improvements by Congress be
made available at once, there IS not Suffi-
cient funds to provide all of the work asked
for by the various levee boards. Indeed, it
was said by one of the Commissioners yes
terday that the real problem was more as
to what should be done with the money
than as to when 1t should be Forthcoming.
WILL ADJOURN TO-DAY.
Yesterday was spent in executive session
by the commission, no further audience
being given to the petitioners. ]. A. Ocker-
son, one of the members, stated that it
would take the commission until Saturday
night to get its report in shape for presen-
probably take several days more 10 tabulate
the matter, and 1t may be week before
the report reaches Washington.
1t was given out as final that no member
OF the commission would make statement
as to what the report will contain. and
that nothing could be ascertained IN this
regard until the Secretary of War had
made the announcement.
Summed up as result Of the weeks
session in this city, 1t would seem that the
levee districts had made a strong presenta-
ton Of reasons why construction work
should be hurried and the need Of imme
date appropriations to aid the local forces
in fighting the floods. and that the commits
sion had been impressed with the argu-
ments made.
Like all matters over which the War
Department has control. military secrecy
is maintained in the movements of the COM
mission. and nothing definite will be known
until the decision Is announced from WASH
iugtOn.