The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-08
Address Opening Rivers and
Harbors Congress SlackenS
Delegates Ardor.
DOES NOT FAVOR
BOND ISSUE NOW
Is Given Rousing Greeting by Two
Thousand Men in Attend
anCe.

President Taft this morning in a
speech opening the National Rivers
and HarborS Congress in the Viii
lard Hotel threw a damper over the
ardor of more than 1000 delegates
by declaring he did not favor an i'm
mediate issuance of bonds for the
carrying out of a general waterways
policy.
The President tempered his re-
marks, however, by asserting that
he would be in favor of Congress
placing upon its statute books dec
larationS for carrying out certain
waterways improvements -as-rec-
commended by army engineers, the
proceeds for the work to come out
Of the current revenues of the Gov
eminent.
FAV0RS BOND ISSUE
When the revenues should be in
sufficient to be applied to the pur-
poses set forth in the declarations
he would be in favor of bonds be-
ing issued to make up the dehcfen-
cies, or to provide for the whole
work, he said.
1t was exactly 10:3O o'clock when
the President, preceded by Capt
Archibald Butt, mounted the sneak
ers' platform on the tenth floor of
the Willard For an hour previous.
the hall had been filling with dele
gates, and there not only was not
a vacant seat to be had, but the
aisles we're congested with persons
standing The Presidents appear-
ance was the signal for an outburss
OF applause
Cheers Ring Loud.
When the first round Of the enthusi-
asm began to subside. Sergeant-at-Arns
John L Martin, who occupied a seat
on the platform, rushed forward and
proposed that three cheers be given for
the Chief Executive. Instantly the
great crowd was on its feet a second
time and, led BY Colonel Martin. the
cheers were given, the President stand
lng, and bowing his acknowledgment.
After an invocation by the Rev. George
Alexander, Ii. D., OF New York. Pres
ident Joseph z. RansdelI, OF the con
gress. introduced President Taft as
''one Of the best friends Of waterways
in the Union
What might be the Presidents at
titude with respect to the proposition
Of bond issue, which would provide
S5o,o0o.oo0 annually for ten years for
waterways improvement. was not dis
closed to his hearers until the latter
part OF his address.
1t was evident a. the outset. how
ever, that his position was to be a con-
servative one. He declared that. wbre
he thought the general policy Of the
congress as to waterways Improvement
was a wise one. in order to enforce
IT it would necessitate getting into pro-
ects.
Explains the Issue.
The President explained his opposi-
ton TO the bond issue by declaring
he did not believe that to be the most
practical way Of getting results. II was
an eXpedient which. in his opinion.
should be reserved until the last.
You viii encounter in Congress-
said the President, great Opposition
10 bond issue. You viii bs much
more apt TO succeed il you endeaVor
70 nave Congress, by a resolution or
declaration. commit itself 10 the con-
summation of the improvements Won
want The work can then be begun.
and when political and financial ext
gehces prevent the use Of current rev
enue for that purpose. Congress will
De forced to accede 90 a bond issue %
President Taft got his hearers into a
good humor by the manner IN which he
commenced his address.
Mississippi Trip.
He said it would make one an expert
on waterways to make the trip that
he made down the Mississippi After
having been exposed 20 the dangers Of
shoals and other obstacles and tempta-
tions OF such a journey, he asserted. II
afforded one ample opportunity for
careful study and deliberatiOn-On the
morning after.
During the course OF his speech the
President had a chance TO prove one OF
his assertions, and he didn't lan 70
make use of II.
The President gradually had been
working up TO the point where he was
70 declare himself as opposed to the
bond issue, and had stated that the test
or the value Of the movement would be
telt when the congress got OF its plat
form OF general policy and got down
10 the working out OF business projects.
Pleases Ohio Delegates.
g..
assertion he referred to nine-foot
stage for the Ohio. immediately there