Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-12-11
NATIONAL RIVERS AND HARBoRs
CONGRESS BEFORE ADJOURN
ING TODAY PASSES REsoLU-
TloN MAKING THIS DEMAND.
TAFT SURE THAT
CONGRESS WILL ACT
PRESIDENT TELLS DELEGATION
THAT LEGISLATION FOR MIS-
slsslPPl AND OHIO RIVERS
WILL SOON BE TAKEN UP.

Washington, Dec. 10.-Congressma
Ransdell was reelected as president
and j. F. Ellison of Cincinnati as sec
retary at the closing session of the
Rivers and Harbors congress here to-
day. The congress declared for the
creation of new department for the
treatment Of waterways improvements
and for the speedy completion of wat
erway projects now under construc-
ton, to be paid out Of current reve-
nues if possible, otherwise for the sale
of bonds.
The resolutions adopted appeal to
congress for an appropriation of $780,
100000 and S50,0Oo,0OO annually for
ten years thereafter for river and
harbor work, express the belief that
the rivers and harbors bill should be
placed on an equal footing with other
great appropriation bills, and condemn
the present method of appropriations.
President Taft yesterday afternoon
gave assurance that steps of an i'm
portant character toward the develop
ment of system of water way i'm
provement in the heart of the country
would be taken by the present Con
gress. These assurances were given
! to delegations which he received III
the east room Of the White House this
afternoon.
Four Governors and two ex-Gover.
nors headed the committee Of five hun
dred, which had been charged by the
New Orleans convention to present to
the President resolutions asking fo1
fourteen foot channel for the Miss
issippi. They were Governors Ansel o1
South Carolina, Sanders Of Louisiana
Deneen of Illinois, Hadley of Missouri
/ and former Governors Francis of Miss
/ ouri and Nc MILAN of Tennessee, and
for each one the President had a hearty
greeting.
Replies to Deneen Address.
/ Governor Deneen presented the re
solutions and the President replied il
part:
/ II hope that we are all engaged il
i a work in which we stand shoulder tt
shoulder, without respect to partic
ular locality, and that if you gentle
men who are interested in a par
ticular improvement find that you
view may not be entirely met and tina
your particular object may not be thu
first one taken up in a substantial
way it will not prevent your welcoming
step by congress that when take1
means the embracing of every i'm
provement that ought to commend
itself to those who are familiar will
congress"
To perhaps three hundred commit
teemen representing the Ohio Vale.
Improvement association the presiden
promised to bring what influence h
could in favor of the improvement O
the Ohio.
| valley delegation to the White hous
was to enlist the presidents supper
for nine foot channel from Pittsbur
to Cairo all the year around.
Ohio Also Favored.
/ Mr.. Taft expressed to the Obi
], delegation regret that his remarks be
fore the rivers and harbors congress
yesterday had cast "wet blanket
: over the convention, and said that b
= had only intended to help the gathel
t ing along by pointing out the practice
. method of accomplishing the obiec
desired. when you approach congress
with a proposal for the issuing {
bonds" argued the president, "you ar
. going to arouse great oppositio
which will rise up and demand why
a and they will demand an answer nc
d in general expressions, not in resount
. ing oratory, but they will want fact
; and estimates and statement {
: something definitely useful into whic
e they are going to put their none.
t which they may even have to borro7
r in order to carry through the ente
n prise You in the Ohio valley have a
9 enterprise in respect to which you ca
give the sufficient answer"
Mr.. Taft said he had been assure
by members of committees whic
have such legislation in charge tn;
the whole matter of water way in
: provement would receive earnest COZ
sideration during the present sessisl
J. Rock Island Official Promoted.
d Omaha, Dec. 10-G. S. Pentecos
Z, division passenger agent of the Roc
! Island has been appointed assistal
g general passenger agent of the roc
with headquarters at Kansas City.