Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-01
RIVER AND HAROR
BILL IS IN FAVOR
CONSERVATIVE WATERWAYS
MEASURE MAY PASS
CANVASS AMONG SENATORS
SHOWS DISPOSITION TO ACT
Senator Frye Says Only Way to De-
feat Bill Is to Have 1t Reported
Late So 1t Might Be Talked
to Death
Especial to The Herald

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 81
Notwithstanding the belief prevailing
in the minds of certain senators that
river and harbor bill will not be
passed during the present session of
congress, a canvass of the upper
branch shows a decided disposition to
pass a conservative waterways bill,
should such a measure reach the senate
in time for its proper consideration.
Senator Boies Penrose of Pennsyl-
vania voiced the ti-waterway senti-
ment in explaining the origin of the
rumors regarding a river and harbor
bill.
1T is the opinion of such leaders as
Senators Hale and Aldrich that it
would be folly to pass a river and har-
Dor bill carrying $35, 900 or 100000
900 in view OF the present condition Of
the treasury. The matter has had con-
sideration by the recently created COM
mittee on public expenditures of which
Senator Hale is acting chairman and
while no definite action was taken the
situation was pretty thoroughly gone
over. An opinion exists that If we
vide for projects now building under
continuing contract provisions it will
be about all the present congress can
reasonably be expected to do. Should
will carry in the neighborhood of $15,-
100000 for continuing the work of river
and harbor improvement.
Treasury Conditions May Change
"Of course continued the senator,
conditions may change as to the treas
ury deficit, in which event a river
and harbor bill would in all proba-
bilty be given respectful considera-
ton"
Several other senators who, for vari-
GUS 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 committee, and an un-
compromising friend of waterway i'm
provements, takes diametrically op-
posite view of the situation.
"The only way river and harbor
bill 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 cannot be de-
feated by votes. [ have not heard the
rumors about disposition on the part
of some senators to postpone consider
alton of a river and harbor BILL but in
view of the presidents recommends
tions in his special message to congress
L cannot believe there is any founda-
tion for the rumors."
Senator Lorimer of Illinois, a mem
ber of the United States waterways
commission, and when a member of
the house held a ranking place on the
rivers and harbors committee, eX-
pressed the opinion that if a business
like bill for river and harbor improve
ment passes the house, as every indi-
cation points that it will, its consider
alton by the senate could not be post
q fo1 fY,fn oc-fe Taf
the country would demand its passage
and make that demand felt.
Demand Is Universal
"Senators may have ideas as to the
amount the bill should carry, and in
what manner the appropriations should
be made for river and harbor work,
but they cannot fail to recognize the
almost universal demand for a river
and harbor bill that will be compre-
hensive in it's character"
Some criticism is heard of the fea-
lures of the bill now receiving its final
touches in the house committee on riv-
ers and harbors, particularly with ref
erence to fixing a time limit for the
completion of certain projects. And
yet IL this policy be not adopted the old
handicap will continue to exist, and
delays incidental to unbusinesslike
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 project.
In thirty-three years but one-fifth of
the project is completed, and If these
old fogy methods are to continue its
completion will be accomplished in
about 2O10. The committee now en-
gagged in the preparation of a river
and harbor bill proposes to fix time
when the Ohio river shall be COM
pleted, say in twelve years, and work
ing to that end will appropriate
enough money for the first years work.
That would seem to be getting down
to business.
The situation as to the river and har-
Dor bill is presented so that all friends
of waterways may be advised as to
what is going on in congress with
special reference to the disposition of
the senate.
TRY TO LYNCH NEGRO