The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-29
CONGRESS
 ENDS ITS LABOR Resolution Calls on Government
 to Undertake Work OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE 
If Congress Finds It lmpracticable to Take Entire Charge, It Is Urged That Appropriations Be
 Quite Liberal.

New Orleans, October 2S.-The inter- state Mississippi River Improvement and Levee association concluded it's session tonight after adopting series of resou- tions in favor of government jurisdiction for their speedy construction if govern ment control is not advisable, and indors- ing the proposed waterway from the great lakes to the gulf and the Chicago sani- tary canal, part of that project. The feature of the morning session was Judge Robert S. Taylor's appeal against the proposed movement for government ownership. Judge Taylor urged the con- vention to sacrifice the assurance of in- creased appropriations for the river by an attempt to reach the unattainable. At the afternoon session a reference of President Scott to Ex-President Cleveland without mention of his name. aroused great burst of enthusiasm.
 Resolutions.
 At the opening of the afternoon session Chairman McCatchings presented and read the report of the committee of reso- lutions. The resolutions were preceded by an elaborate preamble in which the levee system is defended as the only reas- enable and scientific protection against overflow by the river, and in which the great burden which the people or the lower valley have had to contend Tn guarding against annual inundation, Is pointed out.
 The resolution follows:
 fF.Ix, t,. tl,a ind convention the protection of the Missls- sippi valley from floods is of such na- tional importance as not only to Justly but to make it the duty of the general government to undertake it and press u flo the sneediest possib completion. II for any reason the exeIGrse Of sole Jliris- diction at this time by the general gov ernment should not be deemed advisable, then this convention urges most earn estly that congress make at it's approach ing session, such appropriations as are recommended by the Mississippi river commission in it's recent report.
 System Commended.
 Resolved further, That the system or the river improvements in the valley or Mississippi from its headwaters to the Gulf Island valley of the Ohio and other tributaries now provided for and those which may hereafter be provided for by congress, under the supervision Of the United States engineers, meets our hearty commendation, and should be prosecuted to completion without unnecessary delay.
 Resolved That the attention of con gross is invited to the serious disasters which have befallen those residing at or near St Louis, Kansas City and other localities by reason of the recent great floods, and the secretary of war is re- spectfully requested to cause an inquiry to be made with view to the prepar- ation of suitable plans for the prevention of a recurrence of such injuries; be IL,
 Resolved, That the convention of del- egates representing the states of the great Mississippi valley from Duluth 10 the Gulf of Mexico. gives it's unqualified approval to the movement for the con- struction of a waterway connecting the great lakes at the north with the Missls- sppi river, and the Gulf of Mexico at the south.
 Practical Demonstration.
 ''We recognize the expenditures of thir- ty-five millions (s35 900, ,0OO) by the sanitary district of Chicago as practical demon stration in the furtherance of this pro- ject. We express the nope that the sen- ators and representatives in congress from the various states represented in this convention, will give their encouragement and assistance to congressional legislation in favor of the completion of the deep waterway, to which the Mississippi val ley states have already given their ap- proval and to which the state of Illinois and the sanitary district of Chicago are committed as a matter of policy, and by great financial expenditures already made"
 The resolutions were received with ap- plause and on motion of General Catch ings were unanimously adopted.
 On the motion of J. N. Luce It was unanimously agreed that a committee should be appointed to memorialize both houses of the congress with the resolu- tions as adopted
 President Scott then introduced Hon. Charles s. Fairchild of New York say ing he had been a member of the of- ficial cabinet of one of the country's greatest presidents. Great applause greeted the reference to ex-President Cleveland.
 Mir Fairchild said (when the opportun- ity was presented by the dying away of the cheers) that the federal government was doing much in all directions
 Ut has taken up the problem of irri- gation" he said. Long ago it aided in the building of the rans-contlnental rail- roads. But this levee cause appeals to the general government on vastly higher grounds than any other ever given con sideration by 1t. The government is about to spend a vast sum for tho bui,d- ing of an isthman canal But I believe the Ievee proposition, if carried out will be of even greater value"
 Richard H. Edmonds, editor of tho Manufacturers Record. followed MT. Fairchild.