Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-17
FOR A SYSTEM OF WATERWAYS
SENATOR NEwLANDS FAvoRS A
PERMANENT COMMISSION.
Addresses the Senate on His Bill to
Provide q Fifty Dollar
Fund and for Sale of Bonds.


Fund and for Sale of Bonds.
Senator Newlands today addressed the
Senate on his bill for the appointment of
a permanent inland waterway commits
sion. He stated that tn, acitation relat-
ing to dep waterways from st. Louis to
the gulf and from the lakes to the gulf
had reached such proportions as to bring
about a movement for the improvement
of all the navigable streams of the coun-
try. and a demand upon the part o. every
section that a broad and conprohe nsive
plan should he inaugurated which would
embrace. fairly and proporticnate,y, every
part of the country: which would create
busness-like administration with refer
ence to both examination and cons.ruc-
ton: and which would provide an ade-
quate fund for continuous and uninter-
rupted work. The President. in response
to the general demand. had appointed an
inland waterway commission for the pur-
pose of looking into the matter and making
report and recommendation which. If &C
ceptable to him. he would present to Con-
gress for its action. This commission had
been at work. for some months: had
through the action of either all or a part
of its members taken up the study of
the problem OF every section of the coun-
try, and was now engaged in preparing
their report to the President.
Following the Reclamation Service.
Continuing. Mr. Newlands said: at has
been thought in the past that our govern
ment was incapable of entering upon any
great constructive works. This belief
has been entirely disproved by the great
works begun and cont, nued under the
direction of the reclamation sarvic. and
the Panama canal service. In the legis-
lation inaugurated for these public works
Congress very wisely gave a free hand
to the executive. with the result that by
process of evolution graat admmistra-
tive organization has been built up in
each service. that has been conduct ed on
thoroughly busincss-l.ke principles. My
aim in this bill has been to follow that
beneficent legislation. by putting the
whole responsibility for the development
of the WATERWAYS of the country upon thu
executive. whoever he may be. conscious
that we will never have a dishonest exec
utive and that his highest pride will be to
carry out successfully and economically
the great charge intrusted to him.
Inland Waterway Fund.
THE most important feature of the
of an inland waterway fund, to be used
both for investigation and construction.
The sum of S5OO0O,OOO is by the bill re-
served and set aside as such fund and the
President is authorized. whenever the
fund Is reduced below S20.000,GO0. to make
up the deficiency by issuing and selling
bonds up to the amount of S!O.H0.OOO
Thus the fund is always kept full. even
CHI foi To 10 n
propriations. The President is authorized
to make examina tons and surveys for
the development of all the inland water
ways of the country and for the conn &C.
ton of such rivers with each other with
the great lakes by connecting canals and
by coastal canals. In order to enable the
President to make such examination and
to construct feasible works he is author
lied to appoint an inland waterway COM
mission and to bring in coordination wit
the scientific services of tn, country, such
as the Corps of Engineers of the army.
the bureau of soils. the forest service, the
reclamation service and the bureau of
corporate and to appoint such experts
and board or boards in conn Hction there
with as he shall deem advisable: and to
fix their salaries until the same shall have
| been fixed by CongresA The commission
| is required to make reports to the Pres
| ident and to Congress. or to either body
OF Congress, whenever information Is re-
quired.
Initiative With Experts.
at will be observed" said Mr.. New
ands. that the initiative. both to ex
| .mination and as to the actual construc
ion. is put in the hands of the executive
| department as an administrative matter
| It is clear that the Judgment Of board
| If experts will be very much better than
| nat of Congress upon such matters. and
that much delay and confusion will be
| saved by authorizing the prompt initja-
| lion Of the work. Otherwise We shall
| have difference of view both in commit
| tees and in Congress itself as to the de-
| 'aiIs OF the works. as to the relative i'm
portance of the projects. and sectional
differences VIII, arise. only to b. COM
promised by concessions harmful to this
| treat enterprise Congress should exer-
| Else the fullest power ofaeXamin alton ard
| Of criticism. OF course, II has the power
at any time to change the organization
or to stop the work. All these pow rs
| should be exercised whenever wise and
| necessary. But the main purpose of the
| "esslike way just private corpora
| ton swould do and not to impair the
| roper administration of the work by I'M
| necessary legislative restraint.
| Equitable apportionnent." sid NJ
| Newlands. among the several waterways
systems of the country Is enioincd bv the
| bill. 1t is intended that work shall be
| "onm anced conte'nporan aously among
| ire different Systems Of the country, so
| hat no section NAV feel that another sec
| tion is favored a. its e%pensr."