Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1910-12-07
RIVERS AND HARBORS
Congress Begins Three Days
Session Today In Wash
ingtOn Al New Willard
Hotel
ANNAPOLIS DELEGATES
Mr.. Melvin Tells OF Great Importance
OF Ths Convention And The Bene-
fits Il May Bring About

ii'S u May Bring About
A convention of countrywide i'm
portance, and one whose delibcra alton
and conclusions will have vast
influence upon the development of
the water-borne commerce of the
United States and upon the expendi-
lures of millions from the United
States Treasury, is the National
Rivers and Harbors Congress, which
meets in Washington today.
The Congress will be in session for
three days at the Willard Hotel. and
will be attended by thousands of dele
gates from the BUSINESS organizations
of the country AS much interest is
being taken in the Rivers and Har-
bors Congress as in the Federal Con
gress, which began its last session
yesterday The big issue before the
latter-which is likely to transact
no business of general interest be.
sides framing the large appropriation
bills-is undoubtedly its action on q
rivers and harbors bill
At its last session, Congress de-
clared in favor of an annual appro-
priatin for this purpose, and Presi-
dent at set himself against what
has become known as the ''pork
barrel" The Annapolis Chamber Of
Commerce, responding to an invita-
tion to send delegates to the conven-
tion of the National Rivers and Har-
bors Congress, appointed Messrs.
George T. Melvin, James F. Strange,
]. Writ Randall. Ennalls Waggaman,
Harry ). Hopkins, James r. Bra
shears, Nicholas II. Green, William
starting point the adoption by the
Federal Government of wise and
prudent, connected and scientific
method of dealing with this vast sub
ject.
The convention this week, there
fore, has before it the one para
mount object of Impressing Congress
with the fact that the interests of the
people of the country, as represented
by the former, require the passage
at this session of a rivers and har-
bors bill, in accordance with the rec
concentrations of the Government en-
giners, and the creation thereby of a
precedent for an annual rivers and
harbors bill. Nearly two years ago a
National Waterways Commission was
provided for, and it is the investiga-
tions and conclusions of such q body
as this. composed of members Of hoth
Houses Of Congress, and the expert
knowledge of the Army Engineers
that the country, as whole, must
rely upon. The total asked for in
the report of the Chief of Engineers,
just made, at this session of Con-
gress, is little over thirty millions
of dollars, and this is for necessary
work of maintenance and improve
ment.
In signing the rivers and hsrbors
bill last summer, President Taft an
nounced that in the future all such
bills, to secure his approval, must be
framed with regard to system and to
semitic development of well-consid-
cred projects. In the past these
bills have been known as pork bar
rels, and have become notorious for
graft and partisan purposes. A MEM
ber who had been good, or had rem
dered service to the controlling pow-
ers in Congress, or was entitled to
special consideration, was given his
share of the pork in appropria-
tions for his district or State, and
that without reference to the merit
oor necessity of the project appropri-
ated for. Or, L member felt ag-
grieved with the Rivers and Harburs
Committee for judicious recommenda-
tions, he had only to combine with
enough of his fellows in the same
boat, and by 'log-rollng' rob the
Federal Treasury for his own political
Advancement in mis- district by show.
ing he had the ability to get appro-
priations.
"A recent comparison of some past
appropriations, shows instances in
which the Treasury-the people of
the whole United States-have paid
NJ. Abbott and Richard G. Clancy.
Mr.. George T. Melvin who is the
chairman of this delegation, said this
morning that he expected to attend
the convention, and that all the mem.
bers of the delegation were aware
of the special responsibility and i'm
portance of their duty to take part
in the convention.
An indication of what depends
upon this convention, Mr.. Melvin
continued, lis found in the declara-
tion by Mr.. Stephen NJ. Sparkman. of
Tamps, Fla, the ranking Democrat
on the House Rivers and Harbors
Committee. and the probable chair
man of the committee in the next
House, that ''the hands of the United
States Congress must be supported
by this great body of waterway en-
thusiass," and the quoted opinion of
other leading advocates of national
policy of waterway development that
IL a rivers and harbors bill is not
passed this winter, waterways i'm.
provement may be set back many
years.
For long time, Senator Burton,
OF Ohio. was chairman in the House
of the Rivers and Harbors Commit.
tee and Oairo1 or srfa,1o4sorol ~1~.,