The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-18
Senator NsW|aRds Urges SptRd-
 ing of $5OO,OOO,OOO
IMMENSE PLANS INVOlVEB
Scheme For Expendlng $5o,ooo,ooo a Year Is Fully Outlined, But ob- jections Are Raised By Other
 Members of the Senate.

Washington, December 17.-senatof Newlands addressed the Senate today on his bill for the appointment of perma- nent inland waterways commission.
 'The most important feature of the bill," said MT. Newlands, Ifs the crea- ton of an inland waterways fund to be used both for investigation and con struction. The sum of s50,000,OO0 Is by the bill reserved and set aside as such fund and the President is authorized whenever the fund is reduced below s20.- 0O0,000 to make up the deficiency by is- suing and selling bonds up to the amount of s5O,O0O 900. Thus the fund is always kept full even though Congress should fail to make appropriations. The Presi- dent is authorized to make examinations and surveys for the development of the inland waterways of the country and for the connection of such rivers with each other or with the great lakes by connect ing canals and by coastal canals. In or der to enable the President to make such examination and to construct feasible works, he Is authorized to appoint an inland waterways commission and to bring in coordination herewith the serv- ices of experts in various departments of the government service. The conn mission is required to make reports to the President and Congress or to either body of Congress whenever information is required.
 Administrative Matters.
 Tt will be observed" said MT. New lands, that the initiative both as to ex- animation and as to actual construction, Is put in the hands of the executive department as an administrative matter. It is clear that the Judgment of a board of experts will be very much better | than that of Congress upon such mat l ters and that much delay and confusion will be saved by authorizing the prompt l initiation of the work. Otherwise, we shall have differences of view, both in committees and in Congress itself. as to the details of the work, as to the rela- tive importance of the projects and sec tional differences will arise. only to be compromised by concessions, harmful to this great enterprise. Congress should exert the full power of examination and of criticism, of course. It has the power at any time to change the organization or to stop the work All these powers can be used whenever wise and necessary but the main purpose is to carry on with out interruption the work In business like way, just as a private corporation would and not to impair the administra- tion of the work by unnecessary legisla- tive restraint.
 Equitable apportionment," said MT. Newands among the several waterways systems of the country Is enjoined by the bill. It is intended that work shall be commenced contemporaneously among the different sections of the country, in order that no section will feel that an- other section is favored at It's expense"
 Senator Newlands declared that he ex- poets the government to expend at least $50, GOO GOO annually during the next five years on the inland waterways and was interrupted by Senator Beverldge, who said:
 ''rhe senator does not mean that, hope"
 Whole Country To Profit.
 Senator Newlands: "Yes. sir; that is my individual view. In the next ten years the United States should spend at least $500.0O0,OO0 in the Improvements of inland waterways. I think the government should enter Into this work in every sec- tion of the country; on the Pacific coast, Atlantic coast, gulf coast, along the Mis- sissippi river and It's tributaries. I wish to say that as my sentiment to the peo- pie of the United States.
 Senator Teller interrupted to ask in respect to one section of the Newlands bill, whether he intended to maintain the right of the general government to con- trol the waters of the Mississippi river.
 MT. Newlanus replied that under the interstate commerce clause of the con stitution, the nation has control over these rivers for the purpose of navigation and the states themselves can do nothing to these rivers that interferes with navi- gation without the consent of the na- ton.
 MT. Teller replied that the supreme court of the United States has passed upon these questions 30 times In the last 60 years, and 1t had maintained that the nations right over the rivers relate sole ly for navigation and 1t cannot utilize the water for establishing water power and electric light plants. He hoped that the senator from Nevada would not in- volve this question with matters that would jeopardize his bill as he was earn estly desirous of seeing legislation on this fr,oYt nj qnbiQct