The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-21


Rivers and Harbors.
The estimates for the river and har-
Dor improvements reach $4,000, 900
| for the coming year. I wish to urge
that whenever a project has been
/ adapted by congress as one to be COM
/ pleted, the more money which can be
| economically expended in its cOnstruc-
ton in each year, the greater the ulti-
mate economy. This has especial ap-
plication to the improvement of the
Mississippi river and its large
branches. It seems to me that an in
crease in the amount of money now
being annually expended in the i'm
! provement of the Ohio river which has
been formally adopted by congress
would be in the interest of the public.
A similar change ought to be made
during the present congress, in the
amount to be appropriated for the Mis-
souri, river. The engineers say that the
| cost of the improvement of the Mis-
souri, river from Kansas City to ST.
Louis, in order to secure six feet as
permanent channel, will reach $780,
100000. There have been at least
three recommendations from the chief
of engineers that if the improvement
be adopted, 100000 should be ex-
pended upon it annually. This particu-
lar improvement is especially entitled
to the attention of congress, because a
company has been organized in Kansas
City. with a capital of $1,000,0O0,
which has built steamers and barges,
and is actually using the river for
transportation in order to show what
can be done in the way of affecting
rates between Kansas City and ST.
Louis, and in order to manifest their
good faith and confidence in respect of
the improvement. I urgently recon-
mend that the appropriation for this
improvement be increased from $500,
600, as recommended now in the COM
pletion of a contract, to 100000 an
nual1y, so that the work may be done
in 10 years.
Waterway From Lakes to Gulf.
The project for navigable water
way from Lake Michigan to the mouth |
of the Illinois river. and thence via the |
Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico, is |
one of national Importance. In view !
of the work already accomplished by |
the sanitary district of Chicago, an
agency of the state of Illinois, which |
has constructed the most difficult and
costly stretch of this waterway and |
made it an asset of the nation, and in |
view of the fact that the people of Hi |
nois have authorized the expenditure |
of $2O,OOO,000 to carry this waterway |
81 miles farther to Utica, I feel that |
it is fitting that this work should be |
supplemented by the government and |
that the expenditures recommended by |
the special board of engineers on the /
waterway from Utica to the mouth of |
which while providing a waterway for
the nation should otherwise benefit
that state to the fullest extent. l re-
commend that the term of service of
said special board of engineers be con-
tinued and that it be empowered to re-
open the question of the treatment of
the lower Illinois river, and to negO-
tate with a properly constituted COM
mission representing the state of Hi
nOiS, and to agree upon a plan for the
of the lower Illinois river
and upon the extent to which the
United States may properly cooperate
with the state of Illinois in securing
the construction of a navigable water
way from Lockport to the mouth of
the Illinois river in conjunction with
the development of water power by
that state between Lockport and Utica.
The report of the attorney general
shows that he has subjected to close
examination the accounts of the clerks
of the federal courts: that he has ;
found good many which disclose ir-
Irregularities or dishonesty; but that he
has had considerable difficulty in Sc I
curing an effective prosecution or re- ]
mcval of the clerks thus derelict. I am {
not unduly prejudiced against {
the federal courts. but the fact is that {
the long and confidential relations I
which grow out of the tenure for life
On the part of the judge and the prac- ]
teal tenure for life on the part of the !
clerk are not calculated to secure the
StrictneSS of dealing by the judge with !
he clerk in respect to his fees and ac-
counts which assures in the clerks
conduct a freedom from overcharges 7
and carelessness. The relationship be- 9
.ween the judge and the clerk makes it
lngraciOus for members of the bar to :
complain of the clerk or for depart ,
nent examiners to make charges :
lgainst him to be heard by the court, !
md an order of removal of a clerk and :
!, i1lf1 70 I1a IF vc a
n some cases reluctantly entered by
he judge. For this reason 1 recon-
mend an amendment to the law where
" the president shall be given power I
o remove the clerks for cause. This I
provision need not interfere with the |
light of the judge to appoint his clerk I
IF to remove him.
French Spoliation Awards. $
In my last message, I recommended =
o congress that it authorize the pay =
nent OF the findings or judgments of Fl
he court of claims in the matter of the =
french spoliation cases. There has =
'een no appropriation to pay these !,
judgments since 1905. The findings -
nd awards were obtained after a very -
litter fight. the government succeeding .
n about IS per cent of the cases. The :
mount of the awards ought, as a mat -
er Of good faith the part of the :,
overnment, to be paid.
The limitation of the liability of the =
master &c his servant for personal IN
ur1eS to such as are OccaSiOned by his -
auIt has been abandoned in most civil -
zed countries and provision made =
Whereby the employee injured in the =
curse of his employment is compen- =
ated for his loss of working ability ir- =
espective of negligence. The princi- y
lie upon which such provision pro- -
eeds is that accidental injuries to -
in modern industry, with it's :,
asst completely and inherent dangers -
rising from complicated machinery -
nd the use of the great forces of -
elactri city Oh h -