The Morning examiner. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1904-1910, 1910-06-26
PRESIDENT
PROvES
MEASURE
Signs the Rivers and Harbor
Bill, Which Carries With 1t
S52,000,000 Appropriation.
SUBMITS MEMO
OF EXPLANATION
Provides for Many improvements
on Waterways of the
Country.
SUBMITS MEMO
OF EXPLANATION

WASHINGTON. June 25. the
president this afternoon signed the
rivers and herbor bill.
After announcing that he had APP
proved the bill, tho president says.
while I have signed the bill,
venture to submit a memorandum OF
explanation and comment"
The text of the message then fol
lows.
Features Of the Bill.
"The bill is an important one and
contains many excellent features. It
provides for the canaliZation of the
Ohio river, to be prosecuted at rate
which will insure It's completion
within twelve years; the improve
ment of the Mississippi river between
Carlo and the Gulf of Mexico to be
completed within twenty years, OF
the Mississippi river between the
mouth OF the Missouri and the mouth
of the Ohio river. TO be completed
within twelve years; OF the MiSsissi-
ppi river between Minneapolis and
the mouth OF the Missouri river, to
be completed within twelve years;
of the Hudson river for the purpose
of facilitating the use OF the barge
canal In the vicinity of Troy, New
York. of the Savannah river from
Augusta to the sea, with a view to
its completion within four years. OF
a 35-foot channel in the Delaware
river from Philadelphia to the sea, of
a 35-foot channel TO Norfolk. Va, of
q 27-foot channel 10 Mobile. Ala. OF
a 30-foot channel to Jacksonville,
Fla, OF q 30.foot channel to Oakland.
Calf. go
THE chief defect in the bill is the
large number of projects appropriate
ed for and the uneconomical method
of carrying on these projects by the
appropriation of sums smaller in COM
parison TO the amounts required TO
YefIsct completion.
"The figures conyinceingly estab-
lish the fact that this bill makes in
adequate provision for to many pro-
jectS
$4,000, 900 Appropriation.
The total OF the bill ,$52 100000, is
not unduly large, but the police OF
small appropriations with great
many different enterprises. without
provision for their completion is un'
wise. 1t tends to waste because thus
constructed the projects are likely to
cost more than IL they were left to
contractors, who were authorized TO
complete the whole work within n
reasonably short time.
Moreover, the Appropriation OF .
comparatively small sum for a doubt
full enterprise Is there after used by
Its advocates to force further provi'
sion for t from congress on the
ground that the investment made Is
n conclusive recognition of the wis
dom OF the project and Its continu-
ance becomes a necessity to save the
money already spent. This has been
called 'piecemcap policy
1T is proposed to remedy this de-
feet by an annual rivers and harbors
bill. but that hardly avoids the OBJ
jections above cited, for such yearly
appropriations are likely to be af-
fected by the state and Treasury
and political exigency.
Expenditure of Money.
"The prper policy. it seems to me,
is to determine from the many pro
jects proposed and recommend wha,
are tn emost important and then TO
proceed to complete them with due
dispatch, and then to take up others
and do the same things with them,
There has been frequent discus
sion OF late years as TO the proper
course TO be pursued in the develop
ment of our international and water
ways and ! think the general Sentl
ment has been that we should have q
comprehensive system agreed on b,
some competent body of experts who
shold pass on the relative merits oi
the various projects and recommend
the order in which they should be
begun and completed.
Under the present system every
project is submitted 10 army enein
GERS. who pass on the question o.
whether il ought to lie adopted. but
who have no power to pass on thf
relative Importance OF the many dlf
ferent projects they approve or u
businessllke order for their compile
ton Congress should refer the ol'
projects to boards of army engin
eers for further consideration recon-
mendation. This would enable us tc
know what OF the old works ought Il
be abandoned.
Ten Days Consideration.
81 have given to the consideration
OF this bill the full ten days since IL!
submission to me and some time be
fore that The objections are TO thu
system for 1t may be conceded tina
the trainers of the bill have made
as good a bill as they could under th'
.plecemeal' policy. / only reached Tho
conclusion that II was my duty Z
| interpose veto in order. II possible
10 secure n change in the method o
framing these bills. Subsequent con
sideration has altered my view as t.
my duty.
1T Ia now three years since rive
! and harbor bill was passed.
THE projects under way are in ur
gent need of further appropriation
for maintenance and continuance AM