New-York tribune., 1909-12-10
TAFT PLEDGES AID
TO WATERUATS MEN.
But Leaders in Congress Giue
Them Little Encourag cement.

washington. Dec. 9.-Assurances that
steps OF an important character toward the
development OF a system OF waterway i'm
provements in the heart of the country
would be taken by the present Congress
we're given by President Taft to deiega tons
he received this afternoon To delegates
representing the Ohio Valley Improvement
Association the President promised 10 rse
what influence he could in favor Of the i'm
provement OF the Ohio. and 20 the commit
tee OF five hundred from the New Orleans
Lakes 10 Gulf Deep Waterways Convention
he said that something was doing" and
that the interest OF Congressman who here
tofore had turned cold shoulder 10 water
way Improvement had been aroused
Mr. TAFT expressed to the Ohio delegation
regret that his remarks before the Rivers
and Harbors Congress yesterday had cast
wet blanket" over the convention. and
said he had only intended 10 help the gath
ering along by pointing out the practical
method OF accomplishing the object desired
He said that he had been assured by mem
bers Of the committees which have such
legislation in charge thar waterway i'm
provement would receive earnest cousidera-
ton at the present session
Earlier in the day the committee invaded
the Capitol and paid visits 10 vice-President
Sherman. Speaker Cannon. Senator Frye. Of
the Senate Committee on Commerce. and
Representative Alexander. of New York
chairman of the Rivers and rarbors Com
mittee- From none OF them did the COM
mittee receive much announcement.
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS
An experience meeting. in which more
than a dozen delegates 70 the National Riv-
ers and Harbors Congress told what they
thought about the policy of improving wat
erways. characterized the session Of that
organization to-day.
One OF the strongest pleas for national
Improvement Of the waterways was made
by Secretary Nagel Of the Department Of
Commerce and Labor. who declared that
the very nature OF interstate navigation
made the national government responsible
for providing suitable watercourses. With
out making a direct reference 70 a bond
issue, he suggested that whatever was 20
be done should be accomplished in a way
TO assure the prompt completion of com
prehensive project.
Representative ]. Hampton Moore. presi-
dent of the Atlantic Deeper Waterways
convention. caused an unusual degree OF
enthusiasm. He showes how the East had
been outstripped by the Middle and Far
West in transportation facilities. which in
the car shortage OF 1906 and 1907 caused the
people Of the East TO awaken 70 the needs
OF the inland passage along the Atlantic
coast
Senator Burton, OF Ohio. who avoided
taking issue with those who advocated
bond issue. reminded them that he had
couple of "don'ts'' for them 70 remember.
He warned them not 10 allow sectionalism
to enter into their efforts for waterway
Improvement and cautioned them against
abusing the Rivers and Harbors Com
mittee
J. A CuIlinan chairman OF the New YORK
Canal Commission. indicated his dissatis-
faction with what the national govern
meut had dcne for waterway improvement
by showing that while Congress had ap-
propriated s4o.OOO.OOO for such work in New
York the state itself had appropriated
$3.50 900 for that purpose
Herbert Knox Smith. commissioner OF
corporations. suggested the wisdom OF
providing that communities 10 be benefited
by waterway improvements should fur
nish suitable terminals.
Addresses were made by President Cam
eron OF the Farmers National Congress.
Ex-Governor McNIinin OF Tennessee. Frank
c. Allen, OF Illinois; William c. Fits, Of
Alabama; DR.. 2. J. Crowell, OF New York;
2 ". Johnson, Of the United Commercial
Travellers OF America, and Representative
Small. OF North Carolina.