Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-18
NE WLANDS
TALKS FOR
WATER WA US
ASKS GOVERNMENT TO SPEND
S50,00o,0o0 YEARLY
FUND FOR INVESTIGATION AND
CONSTRUCTION
Nevada Senator Speaks at Length
on Plan for Development of
country's Natural Re-
sources

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.--Aside from
the appointment of committees. wnich
took place at the beginning Of today's $
session of the senate, the need OF I'M
provement in the inland waterways OF
the United States was the chief subject
in that body today. Senator Newlands
of Nevada spoke for two hours on his
bin providing for the appointment Of an
inland waterways commission, and for
the DEVELOPMENT of Inland waterways OF
the country.
The senate adopted the resolution OF
Senator Dick, extending the time allowed
the militia of the several states, terri
tories and the District of Columbia to
conform to the provisions of the act OIL
June 81, 1903, which was necessary in
order that the militia of the several
states might take advantage of approprl-
ations that have been made.
The resolution of Senator Culberson-~of
Texas directing the committee on finance
to investigate the causes of the present
financial stringency and to recommend
means for its relief was allowed to lie
on the table and 1t viii be the subject
of remarks by Mr.. Culberson a t some
future time,
Senator NewIands addressed the senate
at length on his bill for the appointment
of a permanent nlaid waterways COM
mission.
FIFTY Million Dollars Annually
'The most important feature OF the
BILL said Mr.. Newl ands lis the creation
of an inland waterway fund of s50,O0ooo0
10 be used both for investigation and con-
struction.
"The president is authorized to appoint
an inland waterway commission to make
examinations and surveys for inland
waterways and for the connection OF
rivers with each other with the great
lakes with connecting canals, and to
bring In coordination Herewith the serv-
ices of experts In various departments of
the government service.
.'It will be observed that the initiative
is put in the hands of the executive de-
partment as an administrative matter.
1t is clear that the judgment of board
of experts will be. very much better than
that of commissions, and that much de-
lay and confusion will be saved by au-
thorizing the prompt initiation of the
work.
otherwise we shall have difference OF
views, both In committee and In con-
gress itself, as to the details OF the
works, as to the relative importance of
the projects and differences will arise
only to be compromised by concessions
harmful to this enterprise.
Congress should exercise the fullest
power OF examination and: criticism; of
course it has the power any time to
change the organization or to stop the
work. All these powers should be exer-
cised whenever wise and necessary, but
the main purpose of the bill Is to enter
upon the work in businesslike way
Just as a private corporation would do,
and not to impair the proper admins
tration of the work by unnecessary legis-
lative restraint.
Equitable apportionment," said Mr..
Newlands, among the several water
ways systems of the country is enjoined
by the bill. 1t is Intended that work shall
be commenced contemporaneously among
the different systems so that no eection
may feel that another section is favored
at its expense"
Senator Newlands declared that he ex-
poets the government to expend at least
$50, 100000 annually during the next five
years on the inland waterways and was
interrupted by Senator Beveridge, who
said:
1.-THE senator does not mean that, /
hope"
Eyes. that is my individual view. Ir
the next ten years tho, United States
should spend at least s500,000,000 in
the Improvement OF inland waterways.
think the government should enter into
country on the Pacific coast, Atlantic
coast, Gulf coast, along the Mississippi
river and Its tributaries ! wish to say
that is the sentiment Of the people of
the United States"
Senator Teller interrupted to ask wheth-
er Senator Newlands intended to main
taip the right of the general govern
ment to control the waterways of the
Mississippi river.
Mr.. Newlands replied that under the
interstate commerce clause of the con-
stitution the nation has control over
these rivers for the purpose of naviga-
tion and the states themselves can do
nothing to these rivers that interferes
with navigation without the consent of
the nation.
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 is maintained that
the nations rights over the river relates
solely to navigation and 1t cannot utilize
the water for establishment of water
power and electric light plants. He hoped
that the senator from Nevada would not
involve this question with matters which
would jeopardize his bill, as he was
earnestly desirous of seeing legislation
ON this important subject.
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