The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-02-07
Rivers and Harbors Approprla-
iion Bill Well Considered.
CONTAINS VERY LITTLE PIE
Former Rooklessness and inoonsisten. .
ey Of Congress In Approprlating
Money Tor improvements Has
Been peplaeed.

WASHINGTON, Feb. o.-~~Two now
records were established Ia Congress
this week when the Rivers and liar.
born Eill was reported out Of commit"
tee. In the first place. tho measure
carries close to $4,000. 900 for water"
way improvements. the greatest ~
mount ever appropriated by any Con
greaa for this work, and second. itH
construction proved eonclusvely that
tho day a gone when this legislation
can bo considered In the light Of
pork measure. or all the nppro"
pflntion bills offered a, The present
session, none has been drawn up with
such fainHtnklng care or with huch
searching inquiry into the merits or
each particular scheme 10 be- benefited,
The history Of the labofu Of the Com
mitteo on Rivers and ilarbofH. with
It's nub-committeeH would III vol
umes. ana thousands Of pages would
have 10 be- devoted to the expert tea"
timony given on tho various Improve
ment projects.
Naturally. In the npportIonmcnt of
such large sum of money. there Is
considerable discomfort IN certain sec
lions congrcaHmon who always have
been remembered by "A slice or the RI
vura and hnrborn fund. are wroIh be-
cause their districts are not sharing
In the present bill. In the past Il has
not been an unusual thing for Con.
grcas to vote money for the Improve
inen," Of creeks and mountain streams
nnvigahle. aA Il Congregational wit puts
II, only for light draft water fowl.
founders and nat iish," II is being
borne In on The complaining ones that
commerce has taken the rivers and
hnrbors measure out u the realm Of
party politics,
The present measure carries for i'm
provements In every section Of the
country, Tho important commercial
ports on the seaboard arc given big
slices for britermcntH while increased
sums are to be expended upon the riv"
ors Of the interior. Provision, 100, In
made for bctterment work In the past
that ,hey saved In the last shipping
season upward OF 1905 5000. 900 In freight
charges 10 shippers This vast sum is
the difference between what shippers
would have been compelled to pay IN |
tolla TO the rail lines and the trans
portation tolls by boat
Congressman Joseph II, Rnnsdell OF
Louisiana. who M president Of the
National Rivers and Harbors Congress
has led tho fight for proper recognition
Of the Importance OF waterways i'm
provement. IN being congratulated on
his success by his fellow members.
Hia organization has urged. In season
and out, that an annual appropriation
OF $50,000.000 be made. 80 that the
work Of developing the rivers and
harhors Of tho country may go forward
steadily II Is recognized that spas
modlc efforts In making naNgable the
rivers and harbors will be Of little
benefit to commerce, and that funds
must be appropriated TO permit Of a
steady and intelligent prosecution of
the important work The fact that the
railroads have confessed their inabil-
ity to keep up with the transportation
demands Of the country has shown the
government the logic of the demand,
The necessity, however, for keep
ing this great question alive and fore
Ing 1t upon the attention OF Congress
has caused the Secretary OF the Nat
ional Rivers and Harbors Congress,
]. +. Ellison of Cincinnati, to issue n
call for greater membership. This
call has been received by government
officials here and the organization has
their heartlest endorsement.
Have you got your $l4O0 In perso-
nal property and cash, and your $500
worth OF real estate? II not, you have
either been cheated, have been pro-
fllgate, or else the bulbous-browed
In the United States Cen
sus Bureau has slipped n cog some
where In his figures. This government
sth tistIsian has figured out to his
satisfaction at least, that the United
States Is the wealthlest country In the
world and in consequence the people
nre the most prosperous and the hap
piest.