Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-12-18
NEWLANDS ON WATERWAYS
Address to Senate on Bill for Per-
manent Commission.
TO AVOID CONFUSION AND DELAY
Intention II Also TO Prevent Discrim-
tnatISn Between sectiOns---Teller
and BeveridEe Ask
Questions.

WASHINGTON, Dec. Ex-senator New
lands addressed the serate today on his
bill for the appointment of a permanent in
land waterway commission.
''The most important feature of the bill,
said Mr.. Newlands, 'is the creation of AM
inland waterway fund of S50,O00,0OO to bel
used both for investigation and construc-
tion. The president is authorized to APP
point an Inland Waterways commission tol
make examinations and surveys for the de-
velopment of all inland waterways and for
the connections of rivers with each other
or with the great lakes by connectngI
canals and to bring in coordination there
with the services OF experts In various de-
partments Of the government service.
VIII. Avoid Confusion.
ut will be observed" said Mr.. Newland,
that the initiative is put in the hands of
the executive department as an administra
tive matter. It Is clear that the Judgment
of a board Of experts will be much better
than that of congress and that much delay
and confusion will be saved by authorizing
the prompt Initiation of the work. other
wise we shall have difference of view both
in committee and in congress itself as to|
the details Of the works, as to the relative
Importance of the projects and sectional
differences will arise, only to be compro-
missed by concessions harmful to the great
| enterprise Congress should exercise the
| fullest power Of examination and of criti-
cism; of course It has the power any time
to change the organization or to stop the
work. All those powers should be exercised
! whenever wise and necessary; but the main
| purpose Of the bill is to enter upon the
work in a buslness-like way, just as pri-
vate corporation would do. and not to inn
pair the proper administration by unneces-
! sary legislation restraint.
No Discrimination between Sections.
Equitable apPortionment," said Mr..
| Newlands "among the several waterway
systems of the country is enjoned by the
bill. 1t is intended that work shall be
commenced contemporaneously along this
line so that section may feel that an
other section is favored at its expense"
Senator Newsands declared that he ex-
poets the government to expend at least
$5O,0OOOOO annually during the next Ave
| years on the inland waterways and was in
! terrupted by Senator Beyeridge who said:
THE senator does not mean that, hope.".
Senator Newlands: "Yes that is my in
dividual view. In the ten years the United
States should spend at least S5OOOOO.O0O in
the Improvement of inland waterways.
think the government should enter into
| these works In every section of the couu-
/ try. on the Pacific coast, Atlantic coast,
4 gulf coast, along the Mississippi river and
its tributaries 1 wish to say that is the
sentiment of the people OF the United
States"
luestiOn by MIR. Teller.
Senator Teller interrupted to ask whether
Senator Newlands intended to maintain the
right Of the general government to control
the waters of the Mississippi river.
Mr. hat In
terstate commerce clause Of the constitu-
ton 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 navigation without the
consent of the nation.
4 Mr. Teller rejoined that the supreme court
OF the United States has passed upon these
questions thirty times in the last sixty
years and 1t had maintained that the ma
tons rights over the river relates solely
for navigation and cannot utilize the water
for establishing water power and electric
light plants. He hoped that the senator
from Nevada would not involve this ques-
tion with matters that would jeopardize his
bill. as he was earnestly desirous of seeing
legislation on this important subject
Liquor Resolution by TiIIman.
Senator Tllman today introduced a reso-
luton instructing the senate committee on
finance to report whether it is practicable
for the national government to discontinue
the issuance of permits to retail liquor
dealers In states, counties or municipalities
where local option prevails, prohibiting the
sale of liquors"
Senator Allison suggested that the govern
ment merely collected tax on liuuor and
does not control its sale.
Mr.. Tillman replied that the government
in collecting the tax permits the sale of
liquor and issues a permit for that purpose
The resolution was adopted