The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-02-26
ROOSEVELT URGES
PERMANENT BODY
OF WATERWAYS


~ tCoattaaed from First Pass.)
that the various uses OF waterways
are now dealt with by bureaus scat
tered through -four federal depart
ments. He recommends that congress
provide some administrative machin-
cry for co-ordinating the work OF the
various departments as II relates To
waterways T
The president repeats a former
statement that the national policy
hitherto has been one of almost un-
restricted disposition and waste OF
natural resources and emphasizes the
necessity for conserving these assets.
The president. In closing, recommends
that adequate funds be provided, by
bond issue IL necessary. for the inn
provement OF the inland waterways,
that the work may be no longer de-
layed and adds that there Is urgent
need for prompt and decisive action.
The personnel OF the inland water
ways commission Is as follows: Hon.
Theo. f. Burton. chairman: Senator
Francis q. Newlands, Senator VIM.
Warner. Hon. John II. Bankhead, Gen.
Alexander Mackenzie. w. ]. McGee,
II. II. Newell. Clifford Pinchot and
Hon. Herbert Knox Smith.
The Recommendation
Among the commissions recon,
imendations are the following:
We recommend that hereafter both
local and general be>nefts TO the people
shall be fully considered In any such
plans for the Improvement OF navfga-
ton In inland waterways, or for any
use or these waterways In connection
with Interstate commerce.: and that
shall co-operate with states, munt-
cipalitfes. communities. corporations,
and individuals with view to an
equitable distribution OF costs and ben
We recommend that any plans for
Improving the inland waterways shall
take account Of the present and pros
waterways. and shall aIsosrtain 70 Tar
as may be whether such waterways
when Improved will be effectively used
IN the face OF railway competition; and
that the relations between railways
and WATERWAYS be further examined
with the purpose OF devising means OF
rendering the two systems complement
fair division of traffic that rates and
management may be co-ordinated eoo-
nomicaily and with beneht to the coun-
try.
Protection from MOnOpOltes.
We recommend that hereafter any
plans for the use OF inland waterways
In connection with interstate COM
meroe shall regard the streams OF the
country as an asset of the people. shall
take full account of the conservation
OF all resources contested with run
ming waters, and shall look to the pro-
lection OF these resources from monop-
oily and 70 their administration In the
interests or the people.
We recommend that tho congress be
asked to make suitable provtaion for
improving the inland waterways OF the
With the ess SsonIs as
termined by competent authority; and
We Suggest that such provision meet
these requisites, viz: expert framing OF
ity and coordination of plan and work;
expert Initiative In the choice OF pro-
Jects and the succession OF works; free
dom dom IN , seleotlon OF projects IN accora
the widest opportunity for applying
modern business methods.
A. to Liquidation.
We recommend that the congress be
and proper development OF existing
public services connected with water
ways. and we suggest that such en-
actment might provide that the presi-
dent OF the United States be author
ICED, with the advice and consent Of
the senate. to appoint and organize a
national waterways commission 10
bring into coordination the corps of
engineers or the army, the bureau of
soils. the forest service. the bureau or
corporations, the reclamation service,
and other branches OF the public SER
vice insofar as their work relates to
inland waterways. and that he be au-
thorized to make such details and re-
quire such duties from these branches
OF the public service in connection with
navigab1e and source streams as are
not inconsistent with law: the said
commission to continue the investiga-
ton OF all questions relating to the de-
velopment and Improvement and util-
ixation or the inland waterways OF the
country and the conservation of it's
natural resources related thereto. and
to consider and coordinate Herewith
all matters Of irrigation. swamp and
overflow land reclamation. Qualification
and purfncation OF streams. prevention
of soil-waste. utilization of water
forests, regulation of flow and control
of floods. transfer facilities and sites
and the regulation and control thereof,
and the relations between waterways
and railways: and that the commits
sion be empowered to frame and rec
ommend plans for developing the wa
-terways- and utilizing the waters ana
an authorised by, congress to carry out
the same, through established agen-
cies when such are available, In co.
operation with states, municipalities.
communities. corporations and individL
uais In such manner as to secure them
an equitable distribution OF costs and
bouedta