Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-02-28
THEIR TROUBLE
FOR NOTHING
Conference Report Accepted
On Rivers aud Har=
bOrS Bill

Reported rivers and harbors bill
may be delayed so long in conference
as to be defeated. Immense IMPORT
ance to Northwest that bill be passed.
Use every means you can to aid its
passage"
The above telegram was last even
ing sent to Senators Hepburn and Du-
boise by President John o. Bender Of
the Commercial club The sending
was prompted by the receipt of the
following letter by Mr.. Ben
der from Joseph N. Teal of Portland,
president of the Open River associa-
ton:
From information received here 1t
appears that the rivers and harbors
bill which passed the house some
time ago has been amended in the
senate and is now in the hands of a
committee for agreement
and report AS congress adjourns
March 4, there is imminent danger
that unless this bill is reported back
promptly it may not have time for
consideration or may fail to pass. 1t
will be a public calamity so far as the
Northwest is concerned if this bill
does not pass. I would therefore sug-
gest that yeu at once wire both Of
your senators In congress and we will
do the same"
Colonel Roessler Explains.
Enclosed was letter from Lieuten-
ant Colonel S. w. Roessler, of the
corps Of engineers who have charge of
the government work in the North
west, which reads as follows:
Speaking generally Snake river is
swift water stream and contains
numerous rapids many Of which are
diff1cult for boats to stem. To provide
slackwater navigation by canaliza-
proving the river II there were enough
ton would be the ideal method Of Inn
navigation to justify it. Partial can
alization of any isolated point by a
power company would be beneficial
locally provided;
Suitably Locate Dam.
First, that the dam was suitably To-
Gated and that locks OF amp2e dimen-
sions such as those now under con-
struction at Cello were provided with
good approaches to them from above
and down streams; second, that all
navigation Of every description were
guaranteed prompt and free passage at
all stages of the river: third that
provision were made for the acquisi-
ton of the locks and dams and all
power rights therein by the United
States at actual cost of construction
should the United States find 1t neces-
sary to purchase in the interest of
navigation.
ConditionaIIy Favors Bill.
Representative of the company
which proposes to build az five Mile
rapids have not yet submitted plans
upon which I could express an opin-
ion. That, however, is a matter of
detail that does not affect the prin-
ciple involved. If the act of congress
is so worded as to leave full discre-
ton with the secretary of war to die
tate the conditions there occurs to me
now no good reason why the bill
should not pass. l saw a draft Of the
proposed bill and it did not include
the word locks nor touch upon the
question of free passage of boats or
any of the other conditions mentioned
above"
Telegraphic dispatches from Wash
! ington last night are to the effect that
the conference report on the rivers
and harbors bill has been agreed to
which means that it will pass this SEES
sion of congress unless something I'M
usual and unexpected happens