The Cairo bulletin., 1910-09-22
TAFT O[NOUNCES
THE PORK BARREL
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Concluded from First PaGe.)
tons for the Joint traffic between
Irivers and railways that will greatly
encourage the continuance OF the
river business, for IL we would use
our waterways in the most economi.
cal manner, there must be friendly
cooperation, as the waterways com
mission points out. between these en-
gagged in transportation on the water
and those by rail- The concurrent
and joint operation OF railways and
water carriage is much better regulat
| ed abroad than it is here, and We
have great deal to learn in this ret
gard which. when studied out, can be
embodied in positive statute.
AS to Ohio River.
The cost of the Improvement OF the
Ohio river is to be upwards OF $63,-
100000 and it affects a sufficient ter
ritory and sufficient number Of peo-
| pie to justify the expenditure Of the
money out OF the treasury Of the
United States. The plan is to appro-
pirate sufficient money each year so
Jas to complete all the dams In IL
years. | wish that congress had ar.
ranged to expend the money in less
time and complete the work, for its
completion is NOT alone important for
the immediate benefit that 1t viii con-
| fer commercially in the Ohio Valley,
but 1t IS important TO yindicate or TO
discourage further investments of this
kinl in other directions, earnestly
Ihcpe that the time may come in the
NOT distant future waen the plan for
completing this Ohio river imlSJve.
lment shall be changed SO as to make
the time six years for completion in
stead OF twelve.
Cause Of Delay.
One Of the great ainIranees to the
success of the improvement of our
waterways has been the delay Incl.
| dent to the completion Of each pro-
feet, That has grown out Of the
method pursued In framing the river
and harbor appropriation bills, Under
| the present law II Unnecessary for con-
lgress to order the survey Of a project
cd Improvement before the army en-.
ginccrs arc authorized 10 make such
survey. When the survey is complet'
ed board OF engineer officers reports
upon the cost. feasibility aud useful
ness OF the improvement, and after
this report has been made, a board Of
review Of other army engineers passes
upon the report, and approves or dis
approves its recommendation Tie
report is then transmitted 70 CON
gress. Neither board OF army engi-
neers nor the chief Of engineers, nor
the secretary OF war Is arthorizd TO
pass upon the comparative merits OF
all the projects under survey and re-
port. Each project comes before con-
gress either rejected or approved, and
ut Il, left to the committee to ,determ-
inc which Of those approved shall be
taken and which shall be passed. by
Tor delayed, .t.sh y Il,
II is a rule fairly we'll observed by
Etic committee on rivers and harbprs
THAT no project which has not re-.
coived the approval Of botll Of the,
boards shall be appropriated for and
adopted
The "pork Barrett ~
AS these waterway inpro cnients
are to be carried on In upwards Of
two-thirds Of the congressional dis
Itricts, II can be readily understood
what the pressure Is from their repre-
sentatives in congress to have every
project that is approved appropriated
for. The total cost Of the projects
surveyed ana estimated for IL far I'M
excess Of anything that congress
could appropriate for the general pur-.
pose from the revenues of the govern
ment for one year or a dozen years.
The consequence Is tnat IN the de-
sire to satisfy the claims Of all, inc
amount is available from the current
revenue ie divided up and apportiOned
between all the various enterprises
that have thus received the approval
OF the engineers. This Is done with
very little regard to the comparative
merits Of the different improvements,
and 1t has a tendency to delay every
Improvement q number OF years be-
|yoni the time when II might be made
nrcIef able BY early completion. This
Il what mas been called the piece
meal" policy, and Is very unsatisfac-
tory. A supervising board OF engi-
neers should recommend to congress
the Improvement in the order OF their