The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-12-09

At One of the Most Notable
Gatherings in the His
tory of the Country

1 WASHINGTON. D. C.. Dec. p
4 One OF the most notable gathering
/ ever assembled IN the history OF thi
country in the Interest OF kyaterwa,
deveIopment was called tn order to
dag when the National Rivers nnt
HRrbors Congre@s met in ANNA
convention here.
Senator'S, Representatives. dfplo-
mats, captuins of finance. governors
Of many states and Others high II
official life were present, when Rep
reseutat iHe RansdelI. OF Louisiana
PRESIDENT OF the congress. called tho
congress TO order
Features OF the program were adj
dresses By Vice President Fairbanks
and Ambassador Bryce. of Greai
Britain.
The need OF some immediate leg
islation looking TO the Improvement
of the waterways of the country was
the keynote of the address OF Presi-
dent Ransdell. Mr.. Ransdell as
serted that the time has come fog
decided action. He said that the
Congress has been passing resclu-
tlons and doing educational work for
the past three years and that the
time Is now ripe to see some results
of this work.
II am convinced he declared
that we should insist in the strong
est manner both in the resolutions
OF our convention and elsewhere up-
on the prompt passage OF a large
river and harDor bill at this session.
OF Congress, and upon the committal
of Congress 10 broad, liberal pol
icy of waterway improvements and
an annual river and harbor bill car
rying not less than $50. 100000.
There have been innumerable ex-
pressions." the speaker continued,
lin approval OF our policy by the
most advanced statesmen. publicists,
and thinkers In the Union, and II
any man of note has disapproved of
It have no knowledge thereof.
Practically the entire press of the
land has favored us and thousands
of articles in explanation and advo-
cacy or our cause have been pub
Iished in every part of the country.
And yet" he declared, the
definite results we have in view
seem still far from attainment IA
spite of the fact that we advocated
with all our forca a bill for rivers
and harbors at the last session OF
Congress- and that there was not oEc
dissenting voice against its passage
in either house, the session closed
without passing the bill and we
have no positive assurance of better
treatment at this session
Mr.. Ransdell declared that the
evidence in favor OF improved water-
ways has been especially marked
durnG~the past twelve months. IN
speaking of President Roosevelt's e.
forts la this direction he asserted that
Mr.. Roosevelt is the first PRESIDENT
to give Special attention to this sub
ject and advocated it forcsfully IN
messages to Congress. He mention
ed the fact that both of the leading
political parties, as well as most of
the others. declared in thei- plat
forms in favor of improving oufI
waterways on liberal aud compfe-I
hensive lines and that at E"eat
many conventions many Of our!
brightest men have declared in favor
of the same policy and insisted upon
its immediate adoption by Congress.
He suggested that every man L
the convention should constitute
himself committe of one TO con-
fer with his senators and representa-
tlves and when he returns home IN
duce his friends to do likewise. de
tldEiUk IudA lnuS Tue pEto6il = ~ /
public opinion would become irresis-
tfble and before the close of this
session there would he at least q
good start made on the desired leg
islatlon."
He spoke in favor OF the immed-i
late adoption of some of the most I'M
portaur waterway projects which
have been approved by the United
States Engineer Corps, with author
ity To carry these projects through
at a fixed ratio per annum of their
total cost. and urged an authorized
hood issue of $5O.OOO.0OO per year,
for ten years. He recommended incl
creation of n commission OF nine
members to study waterways an !
suggest to Congress plan for I'M
proving them; also the prompt pass
age OF laws to prevent unfair dis
by railways against car
rlers by water and that proper ter
minal facilities he provided for COM
mon use by all carriers. i
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nDVr,C-ERHT