Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-09-11
government Commission After
Extended Powers Which Con-
gress Will Oppose
MEETING TO BE HELD SOON
Commission Proposes to Exercise Con-
troll Over All Waterways of the
7 Country Politics in National Cap
itaI Quiet at Pressnt-Wssh'nston
News.

Washington, Sept. 10.-F'ar- reach
ing in scope and purpose, the first
meeting of the inland waterways COM
mission, which viii assemble in ST.
Paul on the 9th of this month, prom
ises important developments.
No movement having for it's object
as complete change and alteration III
existing conditions starts out under
more favorable auspices; the president
of the United States being the leading
sponsor OF the plan to establish aper-
manent commission having functions
and prerogatives conferred upon 1t by
congress.
1t is not generally understood that
the ultimate aim and intent of the pro-
moters Of the inland Waterways COM
mission is to assume the responsible
ties and powers now possessed by the
committees on rivers and harbors OF
congress.
But Judging from the public utter
ances Of the leading members of the
commission, it is not only intended TO
take over the functions of the con-
gressional committees, but also to es-
tabish a governmental control ana
supervision over the waterways or the
United States, similar to that exer-
cised, now by the United States re-
clamation service and the national bu-
rea,l of forestry
That this proposal, if advanced by
the inland waterways commission, VIII
be vigorously opposed in both branches
of congress is foregone conclusion.
At the last session of congress when
the chairman Of the committee on riv-
ers and harbors-and the present
chairman of the inland waterways
commission, presented a report in ia
vor Of passing his bill to create "a
commission to consider and recon-
mend legislation for the Improvement
of rivers and harbors of the United
States" there was immediate oppose
ton by Congressman Dalzell and Con-
gresham Rainey. But no sooner mad
congress adjourned when President
Roosevelt named the present commits
sion.
Theodore E. Burton, author of the
measure, is conceded to be. without
question, the best posted man In con-
gress on the subject of rivers and mar
bors. He opposed successfully the ap-
preparation for the Chicago drainage
canal. which would bind congress to
eSpend s31 loo, 900 for this great pro-
ject.
In fact the Burton bill establishing
the commission he proposed was the
outgrowth of what many call the per-
nicious and dangerous system which
has prevailed in congress for many
years--that of making combinations
between different localities for the pur-
pose of securing large congressional
appropriations for government work on
rivers and harbors.
| The Chicago-St. Louis commercial
interests converged in Washington last
winter and, with a press bureau and
other powerful Influences, sought to
secure the passage of an amendment
to the annual river and harbor bill ap-
propriating a cool $3,000,000 for the
construction of navigable water way
from the south end of the channel of
the sanitary district Of Chicago via the
Des PLANES and Illinois river to the
mouth of the latter, and then chan
mel from the mouth of the Illinois to
ST. Louis, provided that the secretary
of war be authorized to make con :
tracts for completion of such work in
the sum of $2S,000,000.
The sChicago-St. Louis contingent
made a combination with Pittsburg