The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1910-02-07
CONSERVATIVE
BILL MAY PASS
DISPOSITION SHOWN IN UPPER
HOUSE of CONGRESS TO PASS
WATERWAYS BILL
BELIEF is HELD IN MANY QUAR-
TIERS THAT lT MAY SUCCEED
THIS SESSION

| WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 6.-(Spe-
cial l-Nothwiths the bel1ef
prevailing in the minds of certain sen
ators that river and harpor Dill WIN
be passed during the present session
of congress, a canvass OF the upper
branch shows a decided disposition TO
ipass q conservative waterways OIL
lshould such a measure reach the SEN
ate in time for it's proper consider
alton.
! Senator Boies Penrose of Pennsyl-
iyania. voiced the anti waterway sem
itiment today in explaining the origin OF
the rumors regarding a river and har-
Dor bill
Hale and AIdrich Opposed.
| TT is the opinion of such leaders
as Senators Hale and Aldrich that 1t
would be folly to pass river and har-
Dor bill carrying $35,000,000 or $40,-
| OOO, 900 in view of the present condi-
ton of the treasury. The matter has
had consideration by the recently Gre
ated committee on public expenditures
of which Senator Hale is acting chair
imam and while no definite action was
sly gone over An opinion exists that
if we provide for projects now build
ling under continuing contract provls-
lions it will be about all the present
congress can reasonably be expected
to do Should we do but this the sun
dry civil bill will carry in the neigh
borhood of $15,OOO,O00 for continuing
the work and harbor improvement
| "Of course" continued the senator,
conditions may change as to the treas
ury deficit in which event a river and
iharbor bill would in all probability 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.
Frye Takes Opposite View.
Senator Frye of Maine, chairman
of the commerce committee, and an
uncompromising friend of waterway
improvements, takes a diametrically
|opposite view of the situation
1.-The only way river and harbor
bill can be defeated" said Senator
Frye. SIS to have it reported so late
in the session that it might be talked
to death. 1t certainly cannot be de-
ifeated by votes. I have not heard the
rumors about a disposition on the part
lof some senators to postpone consid-
Iteration of a river and harbor bill but
in view of the presidents recommeen-
dations in his special message to con
'gress l cannot believe there is any
foundation for the rumOrs.''
Senator Lorimer of Illinois, a MEM
Der of the United States waterways
commission and when a member OF
the house, held a ranking place on the
rivers and harbors committee. express
ed the opinion that if business like
bill for river and harbor improvements
ipasses the house as every indication
Ipoints that it will, it's consideration by
the senate could not be postponed for
try would demand it's passage, and
make that demand felt.
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 river
and harbor bill that Will be comprehen-
siVe in character
Some Criticism Apparent.
Some criticism is heard Of the fea-
lures of the bill now receiving its fl
nal touches in the house committee
on rivers and harbOrs, particularly with
reference to fixing time limit fol
the completion of certain projects. And
vet if this policy be not adopted the
old handicap will continue to exist and
delays incidental to unbusiness- like
treatment of waterway improvements
will operate to that particular pro-
ject's disadvantage.
Among the notablee examples of hiW
: the old policy of piece-meal appropri-
} ations worked, is the Ohio river pro-
Ject. In thirty three years but one
fifth of the project is completed anC
if these old foggy methods are to con-
tlnue its completion will be accom-
; plished in about 2010. The committee
now engaged in the preparation of 6
river and harbor bill proposes to fiz
, a time when the Ohio river shall be
completed. say in twelve years anC
working to that end will appropriate
: enough money for the first years work
That would seem to be getting dowr
; to business.
/ The situation as to the river an(
horbor bill is presented so that all the
friends of waterways may be advised
as to what is going on in congress
with especial reference to the DISPOSE
ton of the senate