The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1908-06-22
.BARBER EXCORLA7ES
CONGRESSMAN BOWERS

of the wharves. and possibly he would
allow other railroads to come in and
use the docks that are contemplated.
The government, if 1t passes this bill
Will assume control of the channel and
the basin. There Is nothing to pre-
vent Mr.. Jones or his successors from
charging q wharfage that might be
practically prohibitory, and in fact
making monopoly of the harbor, in
spite of the improvements made by
the government. Would you not think
1t possible that Mr.. Jones, by some
deed of conveyance or something of
that nature, should give the public a
permanent right and privilege to the
use of some portion at least of the
ground or dock room and wharfage
for use hereafter in years to come?
In order to give you fair understand
ing, 1t would seem to me that we are
in measure, improving private prop
erty. We are in measure making
that private property valuable, and
there ought to be at least some securi-
| ty for the freedom of the public use
hereafter and some guaranty the rail-
roads that might occupy terminals at
this point. If we take this matter
over and assume control of it, we can
not release it. We are making perma-
nent legislation; and before it is done
and before we act. it seems to me at
least that Mr.. Jones. or some one
acting for him, should secure the pub
lie for the future. You seesthe position
that | take, and would Like to hear
from you on that line. So far as Mr..
Jones is concerned, having met him,
have every confidence that during his
life time that condition of affairs might
continue to exist. But we have no
business to make appropriations upon
the mere strength of his good will.
The committee owes this duty to the
public and to the State of Mississippi
to provide that there shall be no hind
rance placed in the path of the prog
ress of the state, and those wno in
| tend or wish to use this harbor in the
future, and the committee, in order to
be wise and to discharge that duty To
the public, ought to see to it in adj
vance that while Mr.. Jones is alive
and can, by proper deeds of convey
ance, secure the public for the future,
he should do SO. The committee. it
seems to me, ought to take that into
consideration.
Mr.. Neville-I do not see how he
could provide for the future against
any contingency, If such contingency
as you contemplate or inquire about,
should arise; but the law of eminent
domain is sufficient in itself to meet
any such conditions, should they arise
and to give any corporation access
to that harbor should such CONTINGENCY
arise.
The Chairman-The committee
would be very averse to giving any
improvement to a harbor where the
result would inure to the benefit of
any corporation or individual and
where the only way in which others
could derive access to it, would he by
the right of eminent domain. We
have too many projects for the i'm
provements of rivers and harbors fci
US to be justified in making an I'm
provement such as this at the present
time. Suppose that a person wanted
a dock of his own in that harbor-ar
individual-would he have right o.
: eminent domain in your state?
Mr.. Neville-I do not think so.
II The Chairman-It would be only I
railroad company which would have
It?
/, Mr.. Neville--A corporation.
} The Chairman-They would have /
for the acquisition of the terminal.
( would they not
3 Mr.. Neville-Yes.
e The Chairman-According to som