New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-08-11
BURTON ON WATERW AVS
Reasons for Quitting House Com
mittee-Work for Commission.
From The Tribune Bureau

From The Tribune Bureau
Wa sbington Aug 10-Representative Theodore
E. Burton, of Ohio head of the Inland Water
ways Commission which is devising a great sys-
TEN of WATERWAYS improvement for the entire
United States has come here to confer with
Senator-elect Bankhead and other members of
that body in regard to the trip down the Mis-
sissippi with President Roosevelt the first week
in October.
Since the commission was appointed In May
only few preliminary meetings have been held
for the purpose of perfecting an organization
and distributing the work. The individual
members. however. have been rl!tting in much
time on the problems that will come before
them a body. and now about ready to
hold meetings during the next few weeks and
accomplish definite results that may he put into
practical effect next winter by the national
legislature.
Mr.. Burton will devote most of his attention
TO the work tina; lies before the commission. as
is indicated by his announcement that he will
not in any circumstances again be chairman
of the Rivers and Harbors Committee. in which
place he has been practically in control of
waterway improvements for several years In
fact. he named head of the new and much
more important commission because of his
perior knowledge OF the problem.
Speaker Cannon will probably not consent
readily TO this move of Mr.. Burton. and.
in fact. he is already understood to have voiced
his opposition 10 il.
Mr.. Burton said to-day that the primary rea-
son for his intention not TO accept the chair
manship OF the committee for another Congress
was his desire devote greater share of his
time to the service of his constituents. whom.
he saws he has been compelled TO neglect be-
cause Of his duties as head of the committee.
He is also deeply interested in Secretary Taft's
candidacy for the Presidency. and Will give
much of his attention during the next few
months TO political affairs.
The craftsmanship of the Rivers and Har-
hors Committee he said. lis not easy task
The Incumbent must stand against a pressure
of iniudiciouS and eXtravagant improvements
which TO some persons would seem almost
overwhelming. Even in private enterprises there
is always danger that extravagant enterprises
will be entered upon ia the construction or
canals. railways other agencies of transporta-
ton although those who undertake them must
nav the cost themselves. and must also In the
tort,, Of instances convince bankers that the
enternrise is one on which they may safely
lend money.
.Tt Is easv TO see how very different the sit
uatfon is when project is advocated not
q dollar of the cost Of which is to be paid by
those who advocate II. but all TO come from
the national treasury. For a considerable time
We have been spending only s2oco'co or 30
100000 per annum but the projects PreSsen
upon the Rivers and Harbors Cominit'ee are 50
largo and so rapidly increasing that can
hardly state the amount involved IL IS Ger
tainlv not less than S300e0o.OD"
ono ,,nnleasant feature of the position. he
added had been a lack Of general understandings
80 the work of the committee or the policy OF
Tho government He expressed his intention 70
accent several invitations for the delivery OF
nubIic lectures IN universities ana ELSEWHERE
,,Itb a view TO adding 10 the information OF the
public on the subject -.
No one could tell he said, what degree or I'M
nortance the Inland Waterways Commission
-rouId assume but it's recommendations "ouih
certainly carry great weight
n ta nrobable that the elevation or MI BANK
haad m the Senate thus leaving three Senators
and one Representative as members OF the com
,,Iss,or will result in Its increase by appoint
,a,,t IF the President, of two additional lnelh-
80 From, the House. Mr.. Bankhead has oeeh
= ,,,er,her Of the committee several years aho -
thoroughly acquainted with Internal improve
vents Instead of appointing member OF inc
ITo,sa i, his place, the President VIII no uoupt
sasire m retain his services, which are "iIhouI
- .nd increase the total membership OF the
,ynissfon which now includes RepresehtatiVo
p,,r+on Senator elect Bankhead Senators war
nor Of Missouri and Newlands, OF Nevada
r1ra5erick H. Newell. director or the reciaiia
49,, serxice: Clifford Pinchot, chief OF the TOT
sstrv bureau; w. Knox Smith Commissioner Oh
8 .tan.. General Alexander Mckenzie,
chief of engineers. and W. j. MccTee' secre'ah y