The Washington times., 1906-07-23
BURTON DEFENDS
HIS COMMITTEE
Calls the River and HarbOr
Money Necessary.
GREAT CARE EXERCISED
Multiplicity of Surveys and Reports on
Cost Before Appropriations
Are Authorized.
EAT CARE EXERCISED

Chairman Theodore f. Burton. Of the
Rivers >and Harbors Committee, has
come to the defense Of Congress, and
particularly OF his committee against
the charge that river and harbOr appro-
priations are in the nature Of pork
barrels. In a statement on the eve Of
his departure for Europe. which was
made public here today. Mr. Burton
says that appropriations for this pur-
pose are guarded more carefully than
any others made by Congress, and that
they should be much larger than they
have been In ths past.
He indOrses the work OF the Nation
al Rivers and Harbors Congress, which
is striving for annual Congressional ap-
prOpriatiOps OF $4,000. 600 for river
and harbor Improvement.
"One OF the least gratifying features
In having 10 do with river and harbor
Legislation" said Mr.. Burton, 'is the
prevalence of numerous misapprehen-
sions firmly seated IN the popular mind.
and which II Eeems are almost inlnossi-
bic 20 dislodce. One is that a division
OF spOils IS made among the members.
In brief. the bill is known as a pork
barrel On the contrary. no appropria-
tiOn bill is quite so carefully scrutin-
ICED and the merits Of he different
projects OF objects Of appropriation
quite 50 carefully scanned.
Hits Another Bill.
For instance. public building bill
is introduced containing appropriations
for numerous public buildings These
buildings. most OF which are no doubt
very necessary. are provided for with
or without requests for information
from the executive departments Of the
Government. 8nd without any prior de-
mand from Congrss for an examination
OF the magnitude Of the interests 70 be
subserved or the deslrability cf tho
building.
"On the contrary, before an appro-
priation is made fer q river or harbor
Improvement there must be a prelimi-
nary examination and survey OF the
locality. and that. too. in pursuance of
an express act Of Congress. As a result
there is a delay usually amounting TO
rot less than two years after the
project is presented TO Congress for
It's consideration before an appropria-
tion can be made. In the meantime. an
engineer makes a preliminary examina-
tion, going over the locality and re-
ii is worthy Of improvement.
The engineer who makes a detailed
survey also reports, after having in
formation of the cost. whether the
benefits TO be derived from the improve
ment are commensurate with the
cost His report again goes TO the
board OF review, and not until they ap-
prove or disapprOVe the project Is il
In a position to be considered by Con-
gress. ---a
Too Many Surveys.
"One chief defect OF the system in
the past has been the unlimited multi
OF review was created In 1902 il was
very much easier 10 secure favorable
recommendations on both preliminary
examinations and surveys. This was
not due so much to any carelessness on
the part Of the engineers as TO the diff
ferent standards of merit which they
observed. The object sought in the
creation OF the board was most of all
to secure uniformity. It's members
have also been very careful in recon-
mending projects.
Under the bin Of 1892. in a list of
hfty-three orders for examination and
survey Of rivers and harbors projects
only TWO were recommended. Under
the later bill OF 1905. in a list OF ffty-
one surveys. only one was recommended,
and that in a qualified manner.
Before this board was created, orders
for surveys and favorable reports Wert,
very numerous. and as a result a sDe-
cial feature of the present situation was
created, namely, total OF projects un-
der consideration well in excess If
SSOo,OO0.OOO. and that, too. with an aver
age expenditure or only s20,000.O00 a
wear