Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-02-27
CANNON A CONVERT
TO WATERWAY
PROPAGANDA
Speaker Believed to Have tx
perienced Complete Change
of Heart on Rivers and Har-
bofS Bill.
Morning Journal Bureau,
61S NURSE Building.
Washington. D. G. Feb. n. J

W tRtAf - - = fV -
II has been many years since Il riy-
er ana harbor bill has had as clear a
pathway to its final passage as the bill
which the house Of representatives, re-
cently adopted without any material
change.
Remarkable as was the unanimity
that such a bill ought to receive early
consideration, il was ever more re-
markable that distinguished members
of congress tool advantage OF the oc-
casion 10 state their position toward
the interior water ways of the United
States and the pressing needs for a
comprehensive policy looking 70 Their
Improvement.
In this group of leaders in the low
err branch OF congress who declared
themselves satisfied With the general
character of bill and gave their
endorsement TO annual appropriations
for rivers. harhors and canals, speak
er Cannon easily leads al the rest.
without a suspicion Of -antagonism
to the bin which Chairman Alexander
stated in his opening remarks, while
somewhat singular in character, but
not So much in method, as In policy.
Speaker Cannon gave evidences Of
considerable change in heart, Wheth-
tl THAT ffllilEG III DtNiIt ~ ALt ~
the trip which the speaker made with
President TAFT, governors OF states and
a hundred or more members of con-
sress down the Mississippi from ST
Louis TO New Orleans. or whatever
there has been a change Of sentiment
in the district which Mr.. Cannon rep
resrnts toward the domestic water
WAYS OF the country Is a question
which only Uncle Joe can answer. But
his complete surrender 10 The neces-
stiles or making the rivers work was
one of the illuminating features of a
decision which showed the temper of
congress as nothing else has done
in a decade,
Mr.. Cannon gave evidence OF having
n first hand knowledge of existing con-
ditions when he said in his speech
during the consideration OF the bill.
"jf we are Ia depend upon transpor-
tation by rail alone we viii have to
multiply the railway mileage tN Two,
by three. by four
we have 90. 1000. 900 OF people IL
this country now. when fully pop
ulated and developed we win have
500. Qua. 600 Of people. Already we
have almost one-half Of the railroad
mileage OF tho round earth. carrying
of the products of the civil
lied world hack and forth 10 market
Speaking OF the Improvements con-
by the bill Speaker Cannon
said-ft is a long work 10 make these
improvements, 10 add 10 nature suffi-
cicnt depth az water to carry the
great and constantly Increasing COM
merce. Terminals are 10 be cared
for. II Won had "a railroad running
from New York TO Chicago without
amy stations. il would carry a great
deal ef commerce originating on the
down GA n seashore. but no
could be successfully main
unless there were hundreds Of
These stations will come /
on the rivers but All this cannot be
in a day.
IN q reminiscent view he told of
those other DAYS When ne voted To
pass "a river and harbor bill over the
of President Arthur ia fSSe He I
told Of h night he made against him :
account of that veto but I thanked I
God then as I thank God now that
constituency. agricultural rs il is
today had the breadth and the intel
lisence and ] may say the patriotism
.rossed with tfsat brea0th n intel |
iisence 40 stand BY me ~ the poiis.
Probably no man un the river and
committee has worked with
more enthusiastic devotion 20 the y