The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-06-26
TAFT SIGNS RIVERS
AND HARBoRS BILL

BY Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, juno 25.-The presl-
dent this afternoon signed the rivers and
harbors bill,
After announcing that he has approved
the bill, the president says:
while | have signed the bill. venture
TO submit a memorandum OF explanation
and comment"
The text ot the message then follows:
THE bill is an important one and
contains many excellent features II
provides for the canalizatlon OF the ONO
river, TO be prosecuted at rate ~hich
Will insure its completion within twelve
years, the improvement OF the Missis.
sippi river between Cairo and the Gun
of Mexico, TO be completed within twenty
years: Of the Mississippi river between
the mouth OF the Missouri and the mouth
of the Ohio river, to be completed with
in twelve years OF the MISSISSIPPI river
between Minneapolis and the mouth OF
the Missouri river, TO be completed with
In twelve years; of the Hudson river Tor
the purpose of facilitating the use OF
the barge canal in the vicinity OF Troy,
y. Y; OF the Savannah river from Au-
gusta TO the sea. with View OF Its COM
pletion within four years; OF a oo-Ioot
channel in the Delaware river from Phll,
sdelphia TO the sea- OF a 3o-foot cnannel
Mobile. Ala: of 30-f foot channel TO
Jacksonville. Fla. and of S0-foot chan
mel to Oakland, Cal
Points Out Defects.
"The chief defect In the bill is the
large number OF projects appropriated Tor
and the uneconomlcal method of carrying
on these projects by the appropriation OF
sums smaller in comparison 70 the
amounts required to effect completion
1.-The figures convlncingly establish the
fact that this bill makes inadequate pro-
vision for too many projects.
The total Of the bill, 5000, ,ooO' is not
unduly large, but the policy OF small ap,
propria tions. with a great many dlnereti.
completion. is unwise. 1t tends to waste
because thus constructed the projects
are likely to cost more than II they were
let TO contractors, who were authorized
10 complete the whole work within a rea-
sonably short time,
Moreover. the appropriation of com
terprise is thereafter used by its advo-
Gates to force further provision Tor IL
from congress on the ground that the
investment made Is a conclusive recogni-
tion of the wisdom Of the project and It's
continuance becomes a necessity TO save
the money already spent This has been
called a 'pieccmeaP policy
1T is proposed TO remedy this defecI
| by an annual rivers and harbors bills. but
that hardly avoids the objections above
cited. for such yearly aPprop1ationss @ ms are are
treasury and political exigency.
Statement Of Policy.
1.-THE proper policy. 1t seems to me
| Is TO determine from the many projects
| proposed and recommended what are the
| most important, and then to proceed tG
complete them with due dispatch, anc
then to take up others and do the same
| thing with them.
There has been frequent discussion OF
late years as TO the proper course to be
| land waterways and | think tine genera
| sentiment has been that we should have
a comprehensive system agreed on by
| some competent body Of experts wht
| EbnJJlH the relative merits Of thf
| various projects and recommend the or.
der in which they should be begun ant
| completed.
"Under the present system every prof.
| ect Is submitted to army engineers, whc
pass upon the question Of whether 4
ought TO be adopted, but who have NJ
| power to pass on the relative importance
of the many different projects they ap
prove CT to suggest the most cconomica
and busInesslke order for their compile
| ton.
Congress should refer the old projects
to boards Of army engineers for furthe
consideration and recommendation Thi
would enable us to know what of th
old works ought to be abandoned.
"I have given to the consideration o
this bill the full ten days since its sub
mission to me and some time before that
The objections are to the system. for I
may be conceded that the trainers Of tn
bill have made as good bill as the.
could under the 'piecemeal' policy.
once reached the conclusion that IT wa
my duty to interpose veto In order,
possible. to secure a. change In tn
method Of framing these bills. Subse
quent consideration has altered my viey
as 10 my duty,
''It Is now three years since a river
and harbors bill was passed.
Need of Appropriations.
1.-THE projects under way are in urgen
need of further appropriation for main
tenance and continuance. and there
great and justified pressure for many o
the new projects provided for by tn
bill.
at has been made clear to me tha
the failure OF the bill thus late in tn
session would seriously embarrass tn
constructing engineers, 1 do not think
therefore. the defects of the bill whic
have pointed out Will justify the pos,
ponement of all this work. but do thin
that In the preparation Of the propose
future yearly bills, congress should adop
the reforms above suggested. and that
failure to do SO would Justify withhold
ing executive approval. even though
rivers and harbors bill failed.
WILLIAM II. TAFT"
TAFT GIVEN MILLION