The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-01-31
Canvass Of the Upper House Shows
Disposition to Pass Such a
Bill at the Present
Term Of Congress.
s15,0o0,oO0 FUND WANTED
Washington Gossip About the Appro-
priation Of a Fund for the
Improvement Of the
Rivers and Harbors.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31-Notwith-
standing the belief prevailing in the
minds OF certain senators that river
and harbor bill will not be passed
during the present session of Con-
gress, canvass of the upper branch
shows decided disposition to pass a
conservative waterways bill, should
such measure reach the Senate in
time for it's proper consideration.
Senator Penrose of Pennsylvania
voiced the antiWaterway sentiment In
explaining the origin of the rumors re-
garding a river aSd harbor BILL
1T is the opinion of such leaders as
Senators Hale and Aldrich that it
would be folly to pass river and har-
bor bill carrying s35,oo0,000 or s40,-
100000 in view of the present condi-
ton of the treasury.
An opinion exists that if we pro-
vide for projects now building under
continuing contract provisions it vii!
be about all the present Congress can
reasonably be expected to do. Should
we do but this, the sundry civil bill
will carry in the neighborhood of $15,-
100000 for continuing the work Of
river and harbor Improvement.
"Of course" continued the senator.
conditions may change as to the
treasury deficit, in which event river
and liarbor Bill would in all probabiI.
ity be given respectful consideration =
Several other senators who for per-
sonal reasons object to the use Of
their names, spoke in much the same
vein as the senator from Pennsylvania.
Senator Frye OF Maine, chairman Of
the Commerce Commission. and an
uncompromising friend OF waterway
improvements, takes Numerically
opposite view of the situation.
"The only way river and harbor
Hill can be defeated" said Senator
Frye, lis to have it reported SO late
IN the session that it might be talked
to death 1t certainly can not be de-
feated by votes. have not heard the
rumors about disposition on the part
of some senators to postpone consid-
Grafton of river and harbor bill, but,
In view of the presidents recommends
tons in his special message to Con-
gress. ! can not believe there is any
foundation for the rumors."
Senator Lorimer of Illinois is of the
opinion that if a businesslike bill for
river and harbor improvements passes
the House--its consideration by the
Senage could not be postponed, for the
commercial interests of the country
would demand its passage and make
that demand felt.
Some criticism is heard of the fea-
lures of the bill now receiving its final
touches in the House Committee on
Rivers and Harbors. particularly with
reference to fixing time limit for the
completion Of certain projects And
yet, II this policy be not adopted. the
old handicap will continue to exist
and delays incidental to unbusiness
like treatment of waterway improve
ments will operate to that particular
projects disadvantage.
Among the notable examples of how
the old policy of piecemeal appropria
tions worked is the Ohio River pro
iect. In thirtv-three years but one
fifth Of the project is completed, ant
u old methods are to continue its com
pletion will be accomplished in abc.lt
2O10. The committee now engaged
in the preparation of river and har
Dor bill proposes to fix time wher
the Ohio River shall be completed
gay, in twelve years and, working tc
that end will appropriate enough
money for the first years work. That
would seem to be getting down to bust
ness.