The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1908-04-10
LOOKS BRIGHT FOR
WATERWAYS BILL
BELIEVED THAT CONGRESS AT
SUMNER SESSION WILL MAKE
BIG APPROPRIATION.

the most striking changes in congress,
and it is more apparent in the sixtieth
congress than in any of it's predeces-
preparation bills are considered and
framed. There is no mint of the old
measures now can be designated as
the pork barrel" The day when public
ment has passed
| In none of the appropriation bills
and harbors measure. 1t is true there
will be no bill of this kind at this ses
I made for a liberal appropriation when
congress reconvenes after the summer
members of the rivers and harbOrs
| committee are not idle. They are care
IIully CONSTRUCTING lHe piOpOStu CAptHNti-
lures to be made.
Education Lighters Work.
mittee has been lightened to a very
great extent by the educational in
fluence of the national rivers and har-
bors congress. This organization has
adopted as it's motto, "A Policy and
Not Project" and breaches the
folly of the struggle Of local interests
to grasp the biggest plums. 1t believes
in the government expanding not less
than $50,OOO,OOO annually on the work
of rivers and harbors development, but
it refuses to say where this money
shall be spent.
The lack of logic exhibited in the mad
scramble for appropriations on the riv-
er and harbor bill is set forth in Sena-
tor Knox's recent speech in Pittsburg.
Senator Knox said:
NO subject of national policy has
beer more distorted by partial views,
more diSfigured by misrepresentation, or
more dwarfed by the conflict of local
Interests than the governmental work
of improving our harbors and water
ways. ard yet upon no other one fac
tor does the future expansions of COM
nerce so largely depend.
ITO one element the appropriations
for thai purpose appear but as a di-
vision of spoils. BY each particular sec
ton its own improvements are regarded
as legitimate national claims. while
those OF other sections may seem to be
Exaggerated and greedy.
Cast Aside Local JeaIous;es.
THE stage has been reached when
local jealousies should be cast aside,
and these limited and partial views en-
larged tC the perception that whatever
expenditure is necessary to bring to
it's utmost economic capacity every
harbor capable of commercial utility
and every river able to furnish a
route fer industrial or agricultural pro
duets and material. is the most re-
munerative investment that can be
made with national funds
The use of the word investment by
Senator Knox is regarded by waterway
enthusiasts as most happy. They have
contended always that money expended
in internal improvements is not wasted,
las in building battleships or equipping
armies hut will return high interest in
the gu;se Of lower freight rates and
Increased commerce.
Subject Receives Much Attention.
The general subject of waterways
Improvements is receiving greater at
tention with every passing month. The
bill providing for Legislative sanction
ito the organization of the Inland
the hands of congress. and its passage
is expected. President Roosevelt is
, deeply interested in the metter of
such improvements. and he is espe
cially anxious that a. board of trained
men be created to give the problem
the attention it's importance to COM
lmerce demands.
!