Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-12-09
Attitude of President To-
ward Its Work is Com
mended.
REFLECTS OFFICERS
Resolutions Ask Yearly AppTo-
priationS of $50,OOO,OO0
for Improvements.

Washington, Dec. 9. - With the
adoption of resolutions clearly outlin-
ing its attitude on the improvements
of waterways, and the reelection of
Joseph E. Ransdeil as president. anu
j. E. Ellison. secretary-treasurer, the
National Rivers and Harbors congress
closed today.
Resolution commended attitude Of
President Taft and urged an annual ap-
preparation of s50,OO0,O0O by congress
for the Improvement of waterways
giving the interstate commerce COM
mission authority over competing land
and water carriers. and the improve
ment Of terminal facilities along wat
erways.
May End in Row
Washington, Dec. 9.-Fears are ex-
pressed that unless there is a marked
change in the affairs Of the Rivers and
HarbOrs congress it will be disputed
by factional contests. Since the first
convention the importance of harmony
has been recognized and efforts con
stantly been directed to keep II free
of sectionalism. With the develop
ment of the lakes-to-the-gulf deep wa
ter way issue. however. have come
activities which cause It TO overshs-
dow all other river and harbor ques-
tions in the minds Of some delegates
who advocated promoting IL at the eX-
pensas-o6- -rother enterprises. Such Is
the claim voiced by the friends OF
proposed improvements along the
coast, and at other points than in the
Mississippi valley.
Not National I'm scope.
The assertion is made that the con
gress has developed into a lakes-to-the-
gulf deep water way organization and
that other meritorious projects are 10
be neglected. An organization called
into being TO promote national water
way policy should not be turned. east
ern. southern and far western delegates
insist, into a machine to force congress
to commit the national ernment TO
a project which many OF them believe
can never be realized.
Eastern delegates are practically
bitter in their criticism that the con
gress has been transformed into a
likesto-the-gulf deep water way con
vention. Delegates assert that the
real weak feature of the rivers and
harbors movement lies I'm the fact that
upon many Of the projects the local
interests are divided, and cite the case
Of Illinois as an apt example. The
feeling prevails that the convention
will lose all effectiveness unless har-
mony exists and the delegates are
agreed upon plans for their local i'm
provements and are animated by a
spirit to give fair treatment TO all sec
tions.
Make n Defense.
Replying to the criticisms Of the sea
coast and southern delegates. the rep
resentatives Of the Mississippi valley
furnish statistics 10 show that the
money Appropriated for the improve
ment of harbors and rivers along the
coasts and in the south have been pro-
portionately far greater than the
amount of money expended on the Mis-
sissippi, and claim that they are en-
titled to the consideration they ask 10
get their fair share.
Deneen Secs Taft.
Governor Deneen and Isham Ran
dolph had a conference with President
Taft Yesterday afternoon. at which
General Bixby. chief Of engineers. was
present. 10 discuss in more detail the
probable form water way improve