New-York tribune., 1910-12-09
HOUSE SUPPORT PLEDGED.
Champ Clark Encourages Friends
of Waterway Improvement.
GOVERNOR HARMON SPEAKS
Question of Ousting Railroads
from Water Terminals Dis
cussed-Gen. Bixby's Views.

Washington. Dec s.-That the object
which led to the organization OF the Ma
tional Rivers and Harbors Congress-the
adoption by the government OF a policy Of
inland waterways improvement and the
adequate support of that policy with an
nual appropriations-is near accomplish
nIent, is the belief OF the hundreds OF dele
gates attending the seventh annual gath
eTing of the body.
A positive declaration was made to-day
by Champ Clark. regarded by the delegates
as probable Speaker OF the next House OF
Representatives, that the House would
make the necessary appropriations There
would be. in his opinion. few dissenting
votes The same opinion was expressed
by other speakers. including Governor Har-
mon of Ohio and General Bixby. chief OF
engineers of the army.
The safeguarding of terminal facilities
along waterways TO be improved was de-
ciared by several speakers to be of great
inheritance Some of them said that the
railroads. already possess dockage sites
which will hamper the work of transferring
heavy freight TO water lines Custer pro-
cee dings must now be resorted 20. II was
asserted. and the dockage sites secured by
municipal ownership before the full benefit
toyed-
In his address 10 the Congress Repre-
sentative Clark urged the delegates to di-
rect their missionary efforts for legislation
to the Senate and White House
.Tr all the words in favor OF improving
our waterways" he said, could be trans
muted into dollars we would have funds
sufficient 10 build granite dikes on both
sides of every river in the country What
puzzles me is that we all profess to be in
favor of waterway improvement and YET
nobody seems to have sense enough TO
devise a system of development that can
be started and carried thru ugh.
Il am in favor of economy, but every
expenditure is not waste. Nearly every
member of the House OF Representatives.
is ready to help you, and let me add tnat
resolutions do no good unless you keep up
an active campaign in Congress. Direct
YOUR missionary work TO the Senate and
the White House"
General Bixby declared that the day had
passed for the appearance in river and
harbor bills OF projects where the worthi-
ness of the improvement Is subject 20 any
! reasonable t-oubt-'
1.-THE special provisions of Congress" ne
! said with respect TO the investigation OF
any new river and harDor PROJECTS hdNe
raised so many safeguards that II Will be
practically impossible for any unworthy
projects to get into coming river and mar
nor bills unless Congress changes 1ts
nresent rules AS an Illustration, the river
and harbor bill OF the last year intro
duced no new projects that had not al
ready received the sanction of the engineer
! denartment and Of Congress, except rev
} case. where the actual appropriations or
actual expenditures were made dependent
unon future favorable recommendations
from the engineering department as re-
CARDS worthiness.
Governor Har1non's address was brler anc
contained little beyond an expression o.
.vrorathv with the cause of the congress, 20
which he pledged support Of the engineer
/ INC features involved he confessed himself
! ignorant in more than a general way; but
| he Maid tribute to the work OF the army
! engineers and advised full reliance on thetr
| advice The waterways Of the country ne
! said were free from monopoly by virtue OF
| the Constitution, and they offered a solu-
| ton for transportation difficulties which
| the railroads declared they would soon ne