The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-02-07
American People Beet Congress
From Al Quarters
NEED FOR CHEAPER RATES IMPEls
NEVER BEFORE HAVE THE Y. S.
LAWMAKERS BEEN PETi.
TONED so KEENLY.

p; - w IL ~, TCO.
Probably never before in tn history of
/ any one piece of legislation has con-
gress been petitioned for it's passage
| by so many states, as has been the
case with the rivers and harbors bill.
This week strong expressions of opin-
which State Governor Deenen devoted
much space in his message to the
subject of waterways development.
In addition the Missouri legislature
adopted a resolution urging greater APP
propriations for the Mississippi river
and declaring that the four million
people of that state are eager for the
development of the stream.
Undoubtedly the strongest document
received was resolution adopted by
the legislature of Arkansas, and passed
unanimously by both the house and
senate, in which the petition of the
| national rivers and harbors congress
was heartily endorsed. This petition
asks for the annual appropriation OF
$50, 100000 at the hands of the govern
! ment for the improvement of the rivers
and harbors Of the country. The Ar
kansas solons displayed the broad
spirit that is animating congress, by
refraining from asking for any especial
appropriations for development within
the confines of their own state. They
recognize that the work is one of ma
tional Importance, and, with an AIDE
quate appropriation each year. they
feel assured that the rivers of their
own commonw ealth ate certain even
! tuaily To rs ceive inst share.
Developed Scientifically.
Congressman. Joseph E. Ransw"i q
Louisiana, who is president of the Ma
! tional rivers al harbcrs congress. l.;.>
declared that the organization will
bring al! it's influence to bear to gain
the roiut to which it is pledged. He
contends that with an expenditure of
$50, 100000 annually the rivers and har-
bors of the country will not only be
developed scientifically and quickly
| but their development will increase
greatly the commercial activity of the
United States, and as a consequence,
| foster the national prosperity.
! To the end that the influence of the
! organization be increased, ]. F. Eli
son of Cincinnati. Ohio, it's secretary,
has just issued a call urging every
river improvement association, COM
mercial organization, city, town, state.
and individual interested in the ques-
ton, to become members of the nation
al rivers and harbors congress. 1t is
hoped that this call will be responded
10 enthusiastically and that the attend
ance at the next convention will es-
tablish a record. At the last conven-
ton held here in December, delegates
were present from 80 states, two terri
tories and the District of Columbia
while the governors of IA states and
the mayors of 26 cities sent represen-
tatives.
1t is recognized here in Washington
that the need for an additional system
of transportation in this country is
urgent. The congestion of traffic on
the railroads, resulting in coal famines
in the northwest and financial suffering
in the midst of plenty, has opened the
.eyes Of congress to the fact that some
thing must be done to supplement the
existing channels of commerce Nat
urally, attention is focused on the wat
erways of the country for the United
States will have the most magnificent
system of rivers and harbors of any
nation in the world once they are de-
velOped.