The Washington herald., 1909-03-15

Senator william p. Frye, OF Maine.
chairman of the Committee on Commerce
Tor nearly quarter OF century. has the
unusual distinction Of being the oldest
member OF Congress in continuous serv-
ice. having entered upon his national leg
islative career at the beginning Of the
.Forty-second Congress. March 4. 1871.
Only one legislator. now in Congress.
was there when Mr.. Frye began Congress
siOnal life. his colleague. Senator Eugene
Hale. OF Maine, who was elected 20 the
Forty-frst Congress. antedating him two
years.
From the time Of his election as Repre-
sentative TO the Forty-second Congress
until now. Senator Frye has continuously
served his state. while on the other hand
Senator Hale, although entering the Sen
ate ten days before Senator Frye. was
out OF Congressional life from the close
OF the Forty-ffth Congress for one term.
succeeded Hannibal HamIIn.
He entered the upper branch in 1881.
when he succeeded Hannibal Hamlia.
Mr.. Frye coming from the House to the
Senate as the successor Of James G.
Blaine. who resigned the Senatorial toga
10 become GaTfelds Secretary OF State.
on March IS. ISL
Senator Frye has been chairman Of the
Committee on Commerce for nearly TWEEN
ty-fve years, in which time he has had
charge OF many river and harbOr bills ag-
gregating hundreds Of millions OF dol
lars looking 10 the Improvement OF the
waterways OF the United States
He is the father Of the continuing con-
tract provision. which made its first ap-
pearance in the river and hsrb0r bill in
1876
I'm 1876 I entered on a new method 81
treating waterways" said Senator FRYE.
In reminiscent mood. made absolutely
necessary where improvements had been
authorized by legislation. by introducing
that year the so-called continuing con-
tract system. which I believe time has
more than vindicated
Galveston Harbor would never have
I been improved under the old method Of
cash appropriations. for much OF the
work would have been washed away be-
fore other appropriations could be made
20 hold what had been done. Likewise
the channel through the Lakes would
never have been realized had IL not been
for the continuing contract which made
rs completion possible In half the time
and al half the cost. for. as ] remember
( the engineers estimated the cost or this
channel az about 100000 L was accom-
pEshed for about half that sum.
The last river and harb0r bin author
1 lied the creation Of a waterways commits
sion consisting Of five Senators and seven
/ Representatives. charged with the inves-
tgation Of the waterways OF the United
States, Canada, and Europe. and 10 make
report 10 Congress OF their findings.
Expenditures Increased.
The demand Tor expenditures FOR
waterways has increased in the last
twenty years 100 per cent II had beer
found by shipowners that there could bs
no profit al the rates charged without an
| enormous increase IN the tonnage car
ried. Harbors on the Lakes and on the
Atlantic and Pacific which might have
I been ample twenty years ago with twenty
/ feet depth now require from twenty-five
\ 10 forty feet
7 am personally in favor of large ex.
| penditures for our inland waterways and
I FOR our harbOrs. believing that the people
VIII receive great benefit from the re
4 duced transportation charges, which vii
! be more than enough 70 fully compensate
I for fha cost