Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-11
FIFTY MILLIONS FOR RIVERS
National Association Wants Congress
to Make Annual Appropriation.
RANsDAIL AGAIN PRESIDENT
Convention Passes Resolution Asking
States and municipalities to
Conserve Dock and Land
ing Facilities.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1O.-What IL de-
clared by its officers to have been the
most successful convention of its kind ever
held came to an end today whe the Ma
tional Rivers and Harbors congress ad-
journed after a three days session. Repre-
sentative Joseph E. Ransdell Of Louisiana
was reelected president at the morning
session and Captain j. f. Ellison Of Gin
cinnati YVES returned to office as secre-
tary and treasurer. Vice presidents to rep
resent states were also named.
The new board OF directors met imme-
diately after adjournment and took up the
question OF the date and place for the next
convention. Toledo, o., and one or two
other cities sought to have the delegates
meet elsewhere than in Washington in
1910, but the directors pointed out that the
most suitable place is the national capt.
tai and that the convention should be held
eoincident with the converting Of congress.
The matter was put over to a later date.
II was declared at the close Of the meet
ing, however, that a great majority OF the
board is opposed to any change in time
and place for the holding of the annual
convention.
New Department for Waterway.
The congress declared through its resolu-
lions for a new department for the treat
ment Of waterways improvements by reg
ular annual appropriations; for the speedy
completion Of waterway projects now under
construction, to be paid out of current rev.
enues, II possible, otherwise for the sale
Of ponds
The resolution also called on states and
municipalities TO preserve and protect their
dock and landing facilities, without which
the improved channel would be crippled in
its usefulness.
Prof. Emory r. Johnson OF the University
Of Pennsylvania, making a report on his
inspection of European waterways, said
that on the continent Of Europe It was The
policy Of the government to regulate rail-
roads from making their destructive war
fare upon W waterways. This, he said.
would ave TO be done by the United States
James e. Smith OF st. Louis. chairman
Of the committee on resolutions, reported
that the resolutions would 90 to the presi-
dent and congress as a report from a great
business organization. He believed, fur
ther, that the great waterways OF the
country should be developed before DREAD
noughts'' need be built to fight imaginary
foes.
Resolutions are Adopted.
The resolutions were unanimously adopted
and a committee appointed TO present them
TO thu president, the vice president and the
speaker OF the house.
The resolutions make an appeal to con-
gress for an appropriation OF $780, 600, 900 for
river ana harbOr work, and $50, O0O, 900 e.
nually for ten years thereafter; express the
belief thai the rivers and harbors bill should
be placed on an equal footing with the
other great appropriation bills and condemn
what Is declared to be the present method
OF appropriation, whereby the river and
haTbOr bill carries only what may remain
after the other budgets have been au-
thoriEed.
1t is declared that unless the waterways
OF the United States are so improved as to
provide the proper transportation facilities
this country eannot hope to increase ita do
nestle as It should, or to take
advantage Of the opening OF the Panama
canal in order to compete with the markets
Of the world.