The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-02-27

o. J. J. y
e Delivered BY Carrier.
naIly, ono month, payable monthly !oc
pails one 3. ~: 1oe
a WATERWAYS COMMISSION. 4
Congressman Joseph E. Ransdell
81 Loulsia president of the; Ma
tionaI Rivers anu 5Harbors Congress
and ID membe r3oft the Rivers and Har'
bers Committee Of tbs House. is op'
timlstlc over the waterway develop
sinent I'LL the future and believes taat
lie recent Y rivers and harbors bill
which has passed the House and Is
pending sin the Senate gives promise
ofga Comprehensive policy toward the
waterways 3of$ the country. @
While q am disappointed" said Mr.
Ransdell .la not having a bill carry carry
linz at least Sflity millions. as a'lyocat'
eddy the National Rivers, and Har-
fbors Congress, the present bill now
und Ell consideration by the Commerce
Gonnnittee 81; the Senate is much. more
inporta liant than many people realize,
M carries sln$ round numbers ten mil
& Ion dollars and provides for carrying
q On, unit laneSt winter. several very I'M
pprtant projects. as well as for the
1alntenancei Of many others and halt
million for emergencies
1.-THE sblllSanthorizes q greater num-
her off surveys than any previous bill
and thes ilnportn Of this will be
appreciated when It Is understood
that the survey lis the initial step
which must proceed every river and
hirbor8 appropriation. No waterway
project IS an position to be acted upon
6hy Congress until after elaborate sur.
s'lveys and a!report thereon by U. S. en-
gineerss Hence the large number OF
surveys carried In the pending bill
viii probably lay the foundation for
much work Of great Importance.
SssttAs new and unique feature OF the
BILL the provision for Waterways
Commission, composed Of seven repre-.
sentatlyes to &be appointed by the
Speaker. and five Senators to be ar
pointed sby the President Of the Sen.
ates The object Of this commission is
toSmake an elaborate study Of the wa
terways, Of this country. including Can.
ada and X Europe aided by the best
sgayailable Sexperts and to provide con-
wise, comprehensive literature on the
subject of waterways, something which
does not now exist, The commission
is$requlred to report Its findings Of
fact to Congress with such suggestions,
nsregatd to waterway Legislation, as
deems advisable. It's powers are
\ merely advisory and the legislative
functions q { Congress are not disturb
al. an; NJ
twill be seen that in the liberal
provisions for sllveys thereby laying
the Foundation for various rivers and
ha4bors projects and in the creation
D. waterways commission to study
$sllbje OF waterways and enlight'
enF the country and Congress thereon.
the! bill lis much in advance Of Its pre-.
tiecessors and one Of the most import.
ant ever enacted
Representative James Fl. Davidson,
otsMtisconsin, one, Of the Leading men,
beers OF the Rivers and Harbors Com,
mIttee ana who nus been strongly
men tione,l "a possible successor to
Theodore u. Burton, the present chair
imam hlso believes thut 1t was the
part of wisdom TO- report 4 river mud
harbor4 bl IE 81 The character Of the
,,sendinrs Mica ieps SIRE md that inc plnn
Iwa ia IL lat nossslble in view of the
many nan inn n inor .tit proiects being press.
81 ior tecfooapnition in bo different $. c.
st 3,,1rs5s 81 istha conntry Mr. Davidson
! ,leren1innst The pen)ine measure
!. saId rs slTbe blll II two years ago pro.
yided m AIM timber l,n If surveys repor,s
y III ~, ieb are hafore The Rivers and
/ HI i, ~, mi, 40 ,,rt there oro ,