The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-18
Nevada Senator Urgent.
" Argues for Expendi,
ture of Fifty Millions.
WARNS OF
REVENUE DEFICIT
Member OF One Branch Advo-
Gates Large New Annual Ap-
opropriation, and Member Of
Other Points Out Ne
cessity of Reducing
Demands.


Senator Newlands. of Nevada. to-day
addressed the Senate on his bill for
the appointment OF permanent In
land Waterway Commission. He statea
that the agitation relating to deep wa
terways 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 improve
ment of all the navigable streams o.
the country. and a demand upon the
part of every section that q broad
and comprehensive plan should be in
auguratcd which would embrace, fair
ly and proportlonate1y, every part of
sponse to the genera demand, had ap-
pointed an Inland Waterway Commits
sion for the purpose OF looking into
the matter and making report and
recommendation which. ii acceptable
to him, he would present to Congress
for its action The 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 problems of every section
of the country. and was now engaged
In preparing their report to the Pres
ident.
FIFTY Millions Per Year.
Senator Newlands declared that he
expects the government to expend a.
least S50,000,nO0 annually during the
next five years on the inland water
ways, and was interrupted by Senator
Beveridge, who said: The Senator does
not mean that. hope.
hat ts-
Individual view. In the next ten years
the United States should spend at least
$500, 900, 200 in tho Improvement of In
land waters. 1 think the government
should enter into this work in every
/ section of the country-on the Pacitiga
Coast, Atlantic Coast, Gulf Coast. along
the Mississippi River and It's tributa.
ries. l wish to say that is the senti-
ment of the people of the United
States
Senator Teller interrupted to ak In
respect to one of the sections of Mr.
Newlandss BILL whether he intended
to maintain the right of the general
government to control the waters OF
the Mississippi River.
Legal Question Involved.
Mr.. Newlands replied that under the
interstate commerce clause OF the Con-
stitution the nation has control over
these rivers for the purpose of navi-
cation, and the States themselves can
do nothing to these rivers that inter-
feres with navigation without the con-
sent OF the nation.
Mr.. Teller replied that the Supreme
Court OF the United States has passed
upon these questions thirty times in
| the last sixty years, and 1t had main
| talned that the nation's rights over
the rivers relate solely to navigation
and 1t cannot utilize the water for
establishing water power and electric
| light plants. He hoped that the Sem
Y ator from Nevada would not involys
I this question with matters that would
teopardize his bill. as he was ear
nestly DESTROYS OF seeing legislation
! on this important subject.
Extends Time on Dick Bill.
The Senate adopted the resolution
of Senator Dick. of Ohio. extending
| the time allowed the militia OF the
severa! States. Territories and the Dis
| trict of Columbia to conform to the
! provisions of the act OF June 81. 1908.
which was necessary in order that the
militia of the several States might
take advantage Of appropriations that
| have been made.
The resolution of Senator Culber-
son. of Texas, directing the Committee
J
| of the present financial strngency
and to recommend Immediate means
for It's relief was allowed to lie on the
table, and it Will be the subject of
/ remarks by III. Culberson at some
| futuro time.
Tlllman on Prohibitions.
Tho subject of prohibition was raised
by senator Tillman. who introduced
resolution instructing the Committee
| on Finance to consider and report
whether 1t is practicable for the ma
1 tional government to discontinue the
issuance or permits to retail liquor
| dealers in States. counties or munich.
palities where local option prevails,
prohibiting the sale OF liauor,"
Senator Allison suggested that tha
government merely collected q tax On
liquor and does not control it's sale.
Mr.. Tillnan raplied that tho govern
| ment always collects the tax where
\ the State issues permit for that
purpose. The resolution was adopted.
Senator Latsmer introduced a bill
4 To extend the provisions OF lhs na-y
tioaal reclamation act TO the drainage
i OF swamp and overflowed lands.
/ The Senate adjourned at a;53 o'clock.