Bismarck daily tribune., 1912-01-04
Taft is Firm Believe in
Policy Of National River
Congress
Sooner Work is Finished the
Better It will Ultimately
Be
Robert M. McWade.
Bureau of Bismarck Tribune, 1926
New York Avenue.

WASHINGTON, Jan. At is COM
mon talk among the national legisla-
tors that, at an early date, the Rivers
and Harbors Committee of the house
will take up the consideration of the
widely discussed river and harbor
appropriation bill which, it is believed
will be passed promptly so that the
senate may have the measure before
it in ample time to give it full ventil-
alton, so far as it's merits are concern
ed, and that the close of the session
will find it on the statute books.
1T is source of great qualification"
says, S. A. Thompson, secretary and
treasurer of the National Rivers and
Harbors Congress-" to find the pres.
ident of the United States urging in
an official message to Congress one
of the cardinal points for which the
congress has contended ever since it's
organization, namely, that, wherever
a project has been adopted by the
Federal Congress to be completed, all
the money be provided that can be
economically expended in any year,
since the sooner a work is finished
the greater is the ultimate economy.
"As l look at this great question,
nothing should be commenced which
is not entitled to be finished; and if it
Is to be finished at all, why not get it
done as early as practicable so that
the country will begin to receive the
resultant benefits?
"The National Rivers and Harbors
Congress has repeatedly gone on rec
ord as favoring the issuance of bonds
for waterway improvements so that
all work authorized will be contin-
uously prosecuted until completed.
While President Taft did not speclti-
cally recommend this course in his
recent message to congress. ne mas
never receded from the position taken
before the National Conservation Con-
gress, held in this city three years
ago, wherein he outlined at considera-
bic length his ideas as to the develop
ment of our waterways. Speaking
from the same platform with ex-
President Roosevelt, and both voicing
the same sentiment, Mr.. Taft SAID
that every mar, women, and child
within our borders has an interest in
cur waterways, through navigation,
power irrigation, or water supply, or
all four. We have neglected our
waterways more than any other nat
ural resource, and we must put an end
to that neglect
Continuing to outline his position
on this very vital subject, President
Taft said Our previous policy toward
our waterways. has always been one
3rocras tination delay, and fitful
or partial action has borne it's perfect
fruit. Our waterways are deserted,
and in return for our vast expendi-
lures we have little or nothing to
show in the way of navigation. The
people are ready for change. Let
us have it at once. If We pay the cost
from current revenues let us do so.
If not, let us issue bonds. BY either
method let us have the waterways,
and that quickly. Above all, not a
cent should be expended to satisfy
special interests, whether Of a bus
mess or of a locality. or to promote
any mans political fortunes. This is
too large a matter to be handled in
such a way We must approach 1t
from a point of view of the national
interest, under the guidance of the
wiseest experts in engineering, in
transportation, and in the use OF our
streams
"Throughont his term, President
Taft has not deviated hairs breath
from that position. and now that an
annual river and harbor bill is to be.
come the fixed policy Of Congress,
there is sincere cause for congrat-
ulation in the fact that at least one
of the cardinal principles of our con-
gress has been achieved. But there
is still much to be done before all we
are fighting for is accomplished