The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-04-20
NO REASON TO
CHANGE PLAN
New Chairman of Rivers and
HarbOrS Committee States
His Position.
POLICY OF ANNUAL BILLS
WILL OBTAIN IN FUTURE
Work Is Important and Prof.
ects Under Way Will Be
Continued.

Special TO The Tribune.
WASHINGTON, April 81 see no
reason why the policy OF the last TWO
years in the prepara ton of the river ana
harbor appropriation bill should be
changed" said the new chairman OF the
rivers and harbors committee. Represcn-
tative Stephen NJ. Sparkman of Florida
who for sixteen years has been mem
Der Of congress and for fourteen years
a member OF the committee Of which he
now is the ruling head through the inu-
tations OF politics.
''We have embarked upon the policy of
annual river and harbor bills, 10 which
so much Importance In river and harbor
work that ] would not Ike TO sec IL
changed.
adopted and TO he adopted in the fut,ire
can be better taken care OF under the
policy OF annual appropriations thsn any
other I think ii would not be wise to
return to the old plan of biennial or trien-
nial bills. out OF which grew the piece
meal procedure OF the past.
Annual Bills Necessary.
I'VE have already entered upon plans
for river and harbor improvements upon
the idea that we are 10 have annual bills
for the Improvement OF quite a number
of large projects and many smaller ones.
Among the larger are the Mississippi,
the Ohio and the Missouri rivers. and II
no change lis made ana we continue 10
have annual bills. VIC should and Will.
these will all be completed within vary
ing lengths of time from twelve 10 cigh-
teen years Along with these projects
arc quite number OF harbor projects.
which arc dependent upon this feature OF
annual bills for their completion within
given periods of time,
II think the country is TO be congratu-
lated on the personnel of the committee
rivers and harbors. nearly all %! the
older members. men thoroughly versed in
river and harbor work. being retained.
while the new members are equally able
and efficient and greatly interested in
that kind OF work.
Another gratifying feature is. that the
throughout the country, each great sec
tion being represented on the commit
tee, which To me is an earnest of the
national Idea which should prevail in n
committee dealing with all parts of our
common country looking to the compre-
hensive improvement of our great nat
ural highways Of trade and commerce.
No Legislation This Session.
There will be no river and harbor
legislation at this session OF congress.
OF II will likely pay visits 10 various sec
lions Of the country for the purpose of
inspecting the work under way and pro-
roscd projects. but just what sections
will be thus visited has NOT yet been
determined and will not he for some little
time 10 come.
There VIII very likely be hearings
during The present session. certainly
there will be If anyone wishes to he
heard. as the committee will seek to get
all Information available for use in the
preparation OF bills.
I'm this connection | desire TO say a
word in behalf of the National Rivers and
Iiarbors congress. whose campaign OF
education in favor of national policy
Of river and harbor Improvement and In
favor of liberal annual bills has been of
great benefit in creating public senti-
mcnt looking 10 the needs OF the whole
country along the lines OF making our
rivers work and thereby assisting in O.
solution of the question OF transporta-
ton