Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-08
President Recognizes Importance
OF Establishing a Far.reach-
ing Coherent Plan.
COMMITTED TO NO POLICY.
He VIII Have to Consult With Lead.
ers In Both Houses OF
Congress.


Welt told the delegates to the National
Rivers and Harbors convention. who
called on him at the White House to-
day, that he would consult with the
| leaders In Congress and expressed the
! hope that something definite and effeo-
tive could be done In the way of in
creased appropriations for the inn
| provement Of the nations waterways
| Albert Bettinger OF Cincinnati, the
| spokesman for the convention. ad-
vanced the proposition that the nation
| al waterways made efficient by the aid
| OF the government would not only sup
ply the deficiency of transportation IA
cilities present and prospective, but
would so equltably and naturally rcgu-
late freight charges as TO be most con-
ducive to continued prosperity. He
told the president that the convention
suggested regular annual appropria-
atoms Of not less than $50, 900 to re-
place the hitherto desutory and in
adequate appropriations for the i'm
provement OF the waterways and to
place their prosecution on a business
basis insurlng their completion within
reasonable length of time.
The president, after expressing his
pleasure at meeting the members of the
delegation, said
II have come to feel a growing sense
of the Importance of establishing far
reaching coherent plan for the general
Improvement Of the waterways Of the
country. | was first led to consideration
of that plan by considering another
plan with waterways but in connection
with preparing the land at the head OF
the river TO produce the harvests that
later In part should be carried on the
rivers lower down--that Is, in connec-
tion with the irrigation policy. In which
] so strongly believe as vital TO the well
fare of the Rocky mountain and ada
cent states. Just as | feel that the
national government should concern it.
self with utilization of the water OF
rivers IN their sources, where the coun-
try Is dry, so | feel the national gov
eminent should concern itself with the
proper control and utilization OF the
water lower down in the rivers. where
they are fitted to be the great arteries
Of communication. l have had 1t
brought strikingly to my attention but
recently how much We suffer at present
because OF the inadequate transporta-
ton facilities of the railways for NOV
Ing the great crops Of this country. We
need and must have further facilities
for transportation, and as has been
well pointed out, one OF the effective
methods of affecting railway rates is TO
provide for a proper system OF water
transportation,
1T would not be possible for me to
enter Into any discussion of the details
of your plan until have spoken with
some of the leaders of the two houses
of Congress. | shall consult with them
at once, and trust that something def
mite and effective can be done along the
lines that you mention. You under
stand. gentlemen, l could not off hand
commit myself TO the details OF any
policy without taking into consideration
what the feeling of the coordinate
branches would be. and must be guided
largely by their views. | am sure that
you Will find there the genuine patrio-
tic purpose to do what Is best for the
interest of our common country"
The unanimous adoption of the reso-
luton urging Congress to appropriate
annually not less than 5000 900 for the
Improvement of rivers, harbors and wa
terways, commencing with the present
session and the appointment Of a COM
mittee OF Is delegates, headed by D. K.
Francis, to present the sentiments OF
the convention TO the president and to
Congress. concluded the business pro-
ceedings of the body today The con-
gress has an organization embracing So
cities and % states, or l6l separate as
sociations, with a membership OF 2.70s
individual members.
Among the speakers today was p. j.
Van Lobensels of San Francisco.
j. n. Teal of Portland. Or, chair
man of the committee on resolutions,
brought In the platform report, which
was adopted by rising vote. The re-
port In part follows:
Present conditions demonstrate that
transportation facilities are totally in
adequate for the prompt and economic
al transportation OF the products of the
country. Within the last 10 years the
tonnage moved by railroads has in
creased AZ per cent, while during the
same period railway mileage has in
creased only 90 per cent. Hundreds of
millions OF dollars are lost annually TO
our farmers and other producers by the
failure OF the national government to
provide the assistance which properly
improved natural waterways win give
In increased facilities for transporting
freight. The opening OF the Panama
canal, which will so greatly increase
our facilities for trade with the orient.
and the awakened development OF clos
er business relations with the South
American republics. emphasizes the
question OF water transportation as one
of the national and international i'm
portance
''rhe time has now arrived when the
United States With greater natural adj
vantages must also recognize the func-
ton OF the waterway system in the eco
nomic development OF this country"
The delegation headed by Mr. Fran
els, after their Visit to the White House
ha