Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-10
Promoters Are Told They Are in
Condition to Show Congress.
OTHERS TOLD TO KEEP BUSY
Men from Mississippi Association
Given Encouragement.
CALL ON CANNON AND SHERMAN
Speaker is Not Enthusiastic, bot
says Project VIII Receive Care
full Consideration from
Congress.

WASHINGTON. Dec s.-Assurances that
steps Of an important character toward the
development Of a system Of waterway i'm
provement in the heart OF the country
would be taken by the present congress
were given By President Taft TO delega-
t-cns which he received in the east room
uf the White House this afternoon To
perhaps 800 committeeman. representing tie
Ohio Valley improvement association, the
president promised to bring what influence
he could in favor Of the Improvement Of
the Ohio river and later to the committee
OF 500 from the New Orleans lakes to
gulf deep waterways convention. he sail
that Something is 6Oing." and that the
interest Of those in congress who here
tofOre have turned cold shoulder to the
entire subject of waterway improvement
had been aroused
Ohio Proposition Good.
Mr.. Taft expressed to the Ohio dele
cation regret that his remarks before the
rivers and harbors congress yesterday had
cast a wet blanket" over the convention
and said that he had only intended TO
help the gathering along by pointing out
the practical method Of accomplishing the
| object desired.
When you approach congress with a
proposal for the issuing OF bonds" argued
the president you are going to arouse
great opposition. which rise up and de-
mand why, and they will demand an
answer not in general expressions. not IN
resounding oratory, but they will want
facts and estimates and a statement of
something definitely useful into which they
/ are going TO put the money which they
may even have 20 borrow in order to carry
through the enterprise. You in The Ohio
valley have an enterprise In respect TO
which you can give the sufficient answers" :"
The object OF the visit Of the Ohio valley
delegation 70 the White House was TO
enlist the presidents support for a nine
foot channel from Piteshurg to Cairo all
/ the year round. Its spokesman was
Alexander Dempster Of Pittsburg The
presidents response was to those in the
delegation most encouraging
MasNissipPi River Committee.
-Four governors and two ex-governors
headed the committee of 500 which had been
| charged by the New Orleans convention TO
present to the president resolutions asking
for a fourteen-foot channel for the Mis-
sissippi river
! They were Governor Ansel Of South Caro-
lima, Sanders OF Louisiana. Deneen Of Ini-
nois and Hadley Of Missouri, and former
/ Governors Francis Of Missouri and McAdil-
Ian Of Tennessee. and for each one the
president had a hearty greeting. Governor
, Deneen presented the resolutions. and the
president replied. saying, in part
I hope that We are AL engaged in a
work in which we stand shoulder to
| shoulder without respect TO a particular
locality, and that II you gentlemen who
-
find that your view may not be entirely
met and that your particular project may
not be the first one taken up in a sub
stantial way. it will not prevent your vel
coming a step by congress- that, when
taken. means the embracing Of every I'm
provement that ought TO commend itself
70 those who are familiar with congress
Cannon and sherman.
Earlier IN the day the committee invaded
the capitol and paid visits TO Vice Presiden'
Sherman. Speaker Cannon. Senator Frye
Of the senate committee on commerce and
Representative Alexander OF New York
chairman Of the house rivers and harb0r,
committee. From none Of these leaders
did the committee receive much encourage
ment
Vice President Sherman contented him
self with shaking hands with the commit
} tee Speaker Cannon said rather potntedll
that IL was one thing 20 propose and
another TO select from host Of projects
and legislate for their Improvement ~
the same time he said he had no doub
that the project represented by the com
mittee OF middle west business men woult
receive careful consideration from the com
mittee on rivers aRd harbors. He said n
had voted for every river and harbor bll
since 1858. whether his party was in powe
or not