The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1908-02-14
NEWELL BILL
THE SOLUTION
Under Its Provisions Snake
River Dam Can Be Built
$50 CLAIM WALLUlA MEN
URGE ITS PASSAGE IN oPPosI-
TIoN TO CONGRESSMAN JONES'
MEASURE.


Wallula Commercial club the States
man yesterday printed in full COM
munication sent to the United States
senate and house of representatives in
which it was urged that the Jones BILL
authorizing the Benton Water company
to construct dam across Snake river
at Five Mile rapids, be not passed or at
least delayed until the government can
make an investigation of the proposed
Improvement with the end in view of
the government constructing the dam
and thereby keeping it under federal
control for the benefit of the public at
large as against any private corpora
ton.
Inasmuch as there appears to be con-
siderable difference Of opinion over the
merits Of the Jones bill the Statesman
cheerfu1ly gives space to the views Of
persons either for or against the bill
in the belief that in these discussions
many points that might otherwise be
overlooked, may be brought to public
notice. The Wallula Commercial club
and others who are not members are
against the Jones bill, in that it pro-
vides for giving the Benton Water
company perpetual franchise for
something which it is asserted should
at large.
Members of the Wallula club are
greatly interested in the Newland's
bill, providing for an Inland Water
way Commission" introduced in the
senate, December Is, 1907, by Senator
NeWlands of Nevada. who fathereI the
great reclamation work now being
prosecuted by the federal government
The Wallula club believes that under
the provisions of the Newland's bill the
construction of a dam at Five Mile
rapids is possible and at the request
of members of that club. the States
man today prints the bill in full. which
is as follows:
The Inland Waterway Commission Bill.
A bill Is. 5000 providing for the ap-
pointment of an inland waterway
commission and for the Improvement
and development of the inland water
ways of the country, with view to
the promotion of transportation be-
tween the States and with foreign
countries.
Be it enacted, etc. that special
fund shall be established in the treas
ury. to be known as the finland wafer
way fund to be used in the examina-
ton and survey for and the develop
ment of the inland waterways of the
country; and the sum of $50, 900 is
hereby reserved. set aside, and appro-
priated as such fund
Sec. 2. That the president of the
United States is hereby authorized to
cause to be made examinations and
surveys for the development of the
inland waterways of the country, in
cluding the Great Lakes, the Mississip-
pi river and its tributaries the naviga-
BILE waters of the Gulf of Mexico and
their tributaries, the navigable rivers
of the Atlantic coast and their tributa-
ries, the navigable rivers of the Pa
cific coast and their tributaries. and
for the connection of such rivers with
each other, wherever practicable and
desirable, by connecting canals and by
coastal canals, with view to the pro-
motion of tranSpOrta ton between such
rivers by vessels of a standard draft:
and to investigate all questions relat-
ing to the development and improve
ment of the inland waterways of the
country, with view to the promotion
of transportation; and to consider and
coordinate the questions of irrigation.
swamp-land reclamation, Qualification
of streams, utilization of water power.
prevention of soil waste, protection of
forests, regulation of flow, control of
floods. transfer facilities and sites
and the regulation and control thereof.
and such other questions regarding
waterways as are related to the de-
velopment of rivers, lakes, and ca
AettS IOi thC Pun pooc VI COLiiIloTcS-
Sec. 3.-That in order to enable the
president to make such examinations
surveys, and Investigations and to con-
struct the works provided for by this
act, he is authorized to appoint an in
Hand waterways commission to be COM
posed of $500. members, and to bring
in coordination Herewith the corps of
engineers of the army, the bureau Of