The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-15
Cites James River as
Example of made
quate System.
DEMANDS REFORM
In LEGISLATION
Opposes Pending Bill for Rivers
and Harbors Improvement.
If He Cannot Secure It's De-
feat He Will Attempt to
Bring About Veto by
President.

Washington. D. c.. April l4.-Dis-
regarding the pleas OF many of his
associates. Senator Burton. OF Ohio.
chairman of the National Waterways
Commission. who was chairman OF the
River and HarDor Committee when he
served in the House. and is now
member Of the Senate Committee on
Commerce. to-day presented a minor
ity report on the pending bill which
would appropriate about s52.000.0o0
for tho Improvement OF rivers and
harbors.
The character of his opposition,
which is sweeping arraignment OF
piecemeal appropriations az well as
cond emnation OF many named pro.
jac;s, makes 1t certain that the con-
test to be waged over tho bill VIII be
one OF the most heated in the history
OF the Senate Mr.. Burton has indi-
Gated that he Will attack specific items,
and his observations cover such wide
range that the entire Senate may be
involved In this discussion.
Nay Seek Veto.
It Is said that II his opposition to
ma jority OF these grea. projects should
be unsuccessful, there will be launch
ed movement looking to the veto
OF tho bill by the President. In sum
marizlng his report. Mr.. Burton says;
81 am prompted to file this minority
report because in my Judgment SUP
rtantial reforms should he accomplish
ed IN our river and harbor legislation.
This is impossible without correcting
many abuses which are manifest IN
the pending bill. The following are
the most important rules which shouid
govern:
provision for the completion OF an
iruprovement, when adopted. save in
exceptional cases.
.sN greater degree OF discrimination
I'm the making of appropriations Tor
river and harbor improvements; ~
ou,ittiug projects condemned by the
experts who make the surveys ana
recommendations: by careful reVle"
of pending projects in the iisnt OF
present conditions; more careiui
consideration before the adoption oil
projects. with especial reference 70
avoidance OF lock and dam cohstruc
tfons, or when the protection or pF'
vatc property is the main OBJECT anu
navigation subordinate: the exclusion
from the bill OF proposed improSs
ments which do not have TO do with
navigation ~.
"a general policy of improving the
main stream before attention is given
10 branch streams, and the adjustment
of depths and dimension with view
To a uniform and comprehensive plan
for the development of waterways.
"An adjustment of relations between
the railways and waterways with
view to securing greater co-opera-
ton
Condemning the "dribbling policy
OF making partial appropriae'o,is m
without provision for completion, ME-.
Burton said:
"Such a plan Of procedure would be
considered altogether wasteful ana IN
judicious in private enterprise.
AS an illustration of the policy of
making partial appropriations, Mr.
Burton cited sandy Bay Harbor. OF
Refuge Mass, the estimated cost for
the completion of which is more than
s5,0oG,o00. Work upon his harbor mas
been in progress for twenty-five years.
and it is shown that it will require
nfty-one years to complete 1t, or In all
seyenty-six wears. Another illustra-
ton given is the James River Viz
ginia.
have been examined and rejected by
the corps of engineers as unworthy OF
abortion, and those in which the
methods recommended for prosecuting
the work have been dlsregarded,
should not be the objects of appro-
priation Embraced in this list are
Norfolk Beaufort waterway Mobile
harbor. Alabama: channel from
Orange and Beaumont. on Sabine ana
Necher Rivers, In Taylors Bayou,
Texas, and Green River, Kentucky
Even the Lakes-to-the-Gulf water
way is included in this category, Mt.
Burton says this item of Sl,0Oo00o'
with $4,000 for further surveys, being
in direct violation of an unfavorable
report 'is especially objectionable
The most severe condemnation is d.
rected against the Improvement OF
rivers which necessitate the building
and maintenance Of costly locks and
dams. In this category. Mr.. Burton
cites the Cumberland River in Ten
nessee. the kentucky and Green Riy-
crs in Kentucky.
Government Is Liberal.
Mr.. Burton says the prevailing i'm
pression that the United States gov
ernment has not been liberal In Its
appropriations for the Improvement of
rivers and inland waterways is entire
ly incorrect.
..Nfore money has been expended for
those purposes in this country than by
any other. either of equal population.
or equal area" he says. "The main
reason for hesitating policy has
been the disappointing results obtain
ed or the greater difficulty encount-
cred in the treatment of rivers under
Improvement"