The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-03-13
senate WORKING
ON RIVERS BILL
It Has Been Passed by the
House and Is Now in the
Senate Committee.
MANY AMENDMENTS ASKED
MINORITY LEADER OF THE SEN
ATE SAYS THAT IN THE FL.
TURE MATTER WILL BE CARED
FOR EACH YEAR.

FOR EACH YEAR.
Washington, March 1.-THE COM
MERGE committee OF the senate hav.
ing under consideration the rivers and
harbors bill recently passed by the
house, has completed the first reading
Of the bill. The clerks to the COM
mittee have indexed the amendments
presented by senators, and they are
many in number, preparatory to the
hearings which will be granted sena-
tors on the distinctive projects in
which they are interested.
1t has been a custom Of the COM
merce committee, of which Senator
Frye of Maine is chairman. not to
hold public hearings on the various
features of the rivers and harbors bill
as has been the practice in the house
committee, but to hear senators who
desire to explain the merits Of their
proposed amendments. This procedure
will be followed as to the present bill,
notices to senators having already
been issued inviting their presence be-
fore the committee.
To Be Annual Bill.
thereafter there will be an annual
rivers and harbors BILL" said Senator
Thomas S. Martin of Virginia, rank
ing member of the minority on the
commerce committee.
"The committee realizes that a
yearly bill is indispensable and it
should come as regularly as any other
of the supply bills. The practice of
passing a river and harbor bill every
two or three years has become abso-
lete as the needs of the country have
increased. l do not think l make a
mistake in expressing the opinion
that this view is cOncurred in not on
ly by members of the committees of
both houses of congress but 1 believe
by the country as well.
There is no material opposition to
the systematic improvement Of our
waterways. They are vital arteries of
commerce, not only valuable in them
selves but valuable in influencing rail
road rates.
IN my opinion LHo Improvement VI
our rivers and harbors will be done
with more vigor, more system and
more scientifically than heretofore be-
cause the country has largely become
educated to the needs of these ma
tural highways Of commerce, not only
for the transportation of products be-
tween communities in our own coun-
try but in aiding our commercial re-
lations with foreign countries.
Public sentiment has undergone a
marked change toward our domestic
waterways since I first became a
member Of the commerce committee
ten years ago and 1 believe this change
is largely due to the campaign of edu-
cation carried, on by the National Riv-
ers and Harbors congress and kindred
associations"
Will be an Increase.
While the senator was not willing
to express an opinion as to the prob
able action of the committee as to the
amount the ball will carry. there is
no doubt but that there will be a ma
terial increase over the house bill. the
amendments proposed by senators
running into millions.
Just when the bill will be reported
is problematical. The committee pro-
poses to proceed with deliberation in
the consideration of the bill, many
new projects having been suggested
which will require expert opinion as
to their feasibility and advisability.
Senator Martin became a member of
the commerce committee at the first
session of the 56th congress taking
his place at the foot Of the list. The
late Senator George G. Vest was the
ranking democratic member at that
time his other associates being John
p. Jones Of Nevada, Berry Of Arkan-
sas, Caffery of Louisiana and Turner
of Washington. Martin of Virginia
and Clay of Georgia were added to
the committee when the senate pass
ed out of the control of the democrats
and into republican control, the DOM
inant party increasing their member
ship on the committee correspondents
ly.
What is most remarkable in this
connection is that out of a member
ship of seventeen, as the present COM
mittee is constituted, but seven were
members ten years ago, Senator Mar
tin being the only democrat to hold
this distinction.