Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-12-09

Washington, Dec. 9.-With up-
wards of nearly 1000 delegates in at.
tendance, coming from nearly ever,
state and territory In the Union. the
fifth anual convention Of the Nation
al Rivers and Harbors Congress was
opened today. The chief purpose OF
the gathering is to urge the govern
B men to make provision annually for
river and harbor work and carry II
forward on systematic scale. in
stead OF leaving the river and har-
Dor bill as pork barrel measure
with which to dump few nnllionf
into congressional districts where It
will do the most good on the eve Of
an election.
President Joseph e. Ransdell Of
Louisiana called the gathering to or
der. The business sessions " the
convention will continue three days
and papers and addresses will be pre-
sented covering practically every
phase OF the subject by men familiar
With the problem Of inland water
ways. An elaborate program OF en-.
tertainment has been arranged Tor
the visitors.
: The congress will discuss water.
way projects and harbor improve
ments In all parts OF the country.
Particular attention will be given.
however, to the plans for deepening
and improving the Ohio and Mtssiss-
ippi rivers for commercial naviga-
tion. Another leading subject Of dis
cussion will be the development OF
the proposed inside passage along the
Atlantic coast. 20 that war ships.
scattered at different Atlantic sta
tions. could run under shelter to
rendezvous.
Foremost among the sch sduled
speakers at the congress are Andrew
Carnegie, Ambassador Bryce Of Great
Pritain. who will present review Of
the waterways and canals OF the
Cnited Kingdom and their relation
to trade and commerce; Ambassador
Nabuco Of Brazil. Major j. A. Ock-
erson Of the Mississippi river COM
mission. Governor w. F. Frear OF
Hawaii. Secretary OF the Interior
Interior GARFIELD, Horace Mcfarland,
preident OF the National Civic Feder-
alton: Governor N. B. Broward of
Florida. who 10 president OF the Ma
tional Drainage association; Admiral
c. M. Chester. who was delegate to
the International waterways conven-
tion recently held in st. Petersburg,
and President Samuel Gompers of the
American Federation of Labor. who
will discuss "Labor's Interest in
Waterways DEVELOPMENT
The initial session today was CIV
en- over largely to welcoming the
euests. and organization When this
had been accomplished Secretary J.
+. Ellison proceeded to read the Of
ncial call for the convention. The
call was IN part a. follows:
The Improvement of the water
ways Of the nation, which this ma
tional convention will discuss and
advocate. means increased and cheap
ened transportation facilities for the
producers and the consumers. and
there Il no question before the Am
erican people more worthy Of their
serious thought and consideration
than the proper development and ut
ilisation Of these natural and eco
nomic channels Of transportation.
The National Rivers and Har-
oors Congrsss advocates a policy. not
project; Il represents no particular
section or project: but it Is the d.
rect representative Of all sections
mat have : meritorious claim for the
Improvement Of ! river. lake. .
narbor or canal. This national or
eanixation-with delegates from ev-
cry part Of the Union-in national
convention assembled. will advocate
and stand for ! broad. liberal. COM
prehensive policy for the improve
ment by the federal government Of
al waterways that have been exams
.ned and favorably reported upon by
me United States Army engineers.
and by them recommended to the
congress Of the United States wor-
my improvement for the benefit Of
tne commerce Of the country.
The platforms of the two great
political parties have uneauivocally
lndorsed ana declared for the Inn
provement Of the waterways of thel
sountry, and by this declaration have
rs.1scIically Z. approved the platform OF
me National Rivers and Harbors
Soneress The Improvement Of our
ser and harbors ID thus taken out
= 'ne political Aeld and placed on