The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-06-26
TAFT hFFixES SIGNATURE TO
RIVERS MEASURE GUT SAYS
IT is THE LAST TIME.
SHOWS DEFECTS IN ACT
In Special Message Sent TO Congress a.
the Eleventh Hour, Chief Executive
Points Out Short comings ~ Bill
and Says That He viii Mover Ap-
prove Another One Like II.

o P'pNt F'HoNtF OHC Like ~.
4 Washington, June 81 President
Taft sent message ta congress lust
before adjournment tonight. saying
that ~ had signed the rivers and har-
hurs hll. and that he would never
again approve q measure along tha
same lines
After announcing that H. had ar
+ proved the hin. the president says.
While | have signed the bill.
venture 70 submit q memorandum IT
explanation and comment"
Tho text of the message then fol-
/ bows.
The bill Is an important one and
contains many excellent features II
! provides for the canalization Of tho
ohio river. 10 bc prosecuted AT rate
which will insure It's completion with
! In ~ years; the Improvement OF the
Mississippi river between Cairo and
the Gulf of Mexico. to be completed
within 20 years: Of the Mississippi
river between the mouth of the Mis-
/ 7'h'A iANfi AHu 1ihhlI bt iilt ofilD
river to be completed within II years.
Of the Mississippi river between Mn
neapolis and the mouth of the Mis-
souri, river. to be completed within ~
years: OF the Hudson river for the
| purpose OF facilitating the use Of tho
| barge canal in the vicinity OF Troy.
| y. Y. OF the Savannah river from
Augusta to the sea. with view Ia It's
completion within four years: of
| 3J-foot channel in the Delaware river
from Philadelphia To the sea: of
35-foot channel To Norfolk. Va. Of
| 27-foot channel to Mobile, Ala: of a
30-foot channel 10 jacksonville. Fla /:
of 30-foot channel To Oakland, Cal.
Defects.
"The chief defect In tho bill il tho
large number Of projects appropriated
for the uneconomical method OF car
ryng on these projects by the appro-
pration of sums smaller In oompari-
son TO the amounts required TO effect
completion
The figures convincingly establish
the fact that this bill maAes made
quate provision for too many projects.
The total of the bill. 81. 400 900 Is not
unduly large. but the policy ~ small
appropriation with a great many diff.
ferent enterprises. without provision
for their completion 4 unwise. IL
tends Ia waste because thus constructs
cd the projects are likely to cost moro
than " they were LETT Ia contractors.
who We're authorized 10 complete tho
whole work within reasonably short
time.
Moreover. the appropriation Of a
comparatively small sum for doubt
tut enterprise rs thereafter used by
It's advocates 10 force further prosi-
sion for IT from congress on tho
ground that the Investment made IL
u conclusive recognition Of the wis.,
dom of the project and It's continue
ance becomes necessity 10 save tho
money already spent This has been
called a piecemeal policy
1t is proposed Ia remedy th,- de-
feet by an annual rivers and harbor3
bill but that hardly avoids the oh
jeetions above cited. for such yearly
appropriations arc likely To be affected
by the state and treasury aud political
exigency
The Proper Policy,
THE proper policy. il seems 10 me.
is to determine from the many prof.
Gets proposed and recommend what
are the most important AMI then 10
proceed to complete them with due dis
patch, and then Ia take up others and
do the same things WA them
There has been frequent discussion
Of late years az t. tho proper course
to be pursued in the development Of
our inland waterways and | think the
general sentiment has been that We
should have comprehensive system
agreed on By some competent body II
experts who should pass on the rela-
tive merits Of the various projects and
recommend the order In which they
should he begun and completed.
Under the present system every
project is submitted 10 army engineers.
who pass on the question of whether
IL ought to be adopted. hut who have
no power to pass on the relative mn
portance of the many different prof.
ects they approve or 10 suggest the
most economical ami business like or
der for their completion.
Congress should refer the old prof.
eets to boards OF army engineers for
further consideration and recommen-
dation This would enable MS to know
what Of the ola works oulh, TO be
abandoned.
Full Consideration.
4 have given 10 the consideration
~ tbIS hfl the fulI m 1lvS sinfa ia