Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-06
Conservation Projects Are OBJ
ieCted to in Bill.
TALK DELIVERED BY MOORE
Deeper Waterways Association
Protests to the Congress.
OLD OFFICERS ARE REELECTED
Senator-Elect Ransdell to Head Or
ganizatton Another Year, With
Thompson Secretary-Treasurer.

Thompson Secretary-Treasurer
Joseph E. Ransdell, Senator-elect from
Louisiana, was again elected president
of the National Rivers and Harbors Con-
gress at tOday's closing session in the
New Willard Hotel. s. A. Thompson Of
Indiana was reelected secretary-treas-
urer and John I. Martin Of Missouri, ser
geant-at-arms.
William T. Galliher. president of the
American National Bank, was the choice
for vice president from the District of
Columbia. Michael 1. Weller was again
selected as one Of the directors
A plea for the combining of the rivers
and harbors bill to appropriations for
rivers and harbors projects. without in
of conservation projects, was
made by ]. Hampton Moore. representa-
tive in Congress- from Pennsylvania. MT
Moore appeared as the authorized spokes-
man of the Atlantic Deeper Waterways
Association Of which he Is president, to
warn the congress that the organization
he represented demanded that the con-
greSs cOnfine its activities to the promo
ton OF improvement OF rivers and mar
bors and development of commerce along
Of conservation projects.
Resolutions Adopted by Congress-.
Resolutions adopted by the congress
the development Of the water
100000 yearly was the estimated ex-
penditure considered necessary for con-
structive work. A perfect through rat
ing and prorating system between rail
roads and water lines, and the establish
ment of adequate water and rail termi-
nails were advocated.
Liberty OF shipper to choose his route
was upheld as principle. State or mu-
nicipal ownership and management OF
terminals was also Endorsed. Federal.
state and municipal governments were
urged to early enactment Of legislation
to achieve these propositions.
The resolutions further proposed the es-
Enlistment of a national depar fnent OF
public works with cabinet officer to
administer 1t. The present corps of
army engineers. the resolutions pro-
posed, should become a bureau of this
department. The matter of planning
waterways transportation should be one
of the duties fthe department.. it was
declared.
Attention of the Attorney General and
the interstate commerce commission was
drawn to violations of the Sherman anti
trust law by railroads in their control OF
what should be competing water routes
to eliminate competition. The law offi.
GERS were urged to find means to stol
such practices.
Praise and Blame of Engineers.
Praise and blame Of the Engineer
Corps Of the army was meted out by
George Clinton of Buffalo. N. Y. He ex-
tolled the expert advice given by the En-
gineer Corps in projects involving the
construction Of waterways improvements.
He objected to that feature OF their re-
ports which attempted to discuss the in
dustrial conditions involved in projects,
in as far as they went beyond their ex-
pert authority to say that conditions do
or do not warrant proposed improve
ments.
The engineers, said Mr.. Clinton, lose
sight of the great economical principle
involved; that the projects are not only
meant to meet existing needs, but ART
also for the development Of conditions
required such considerations of the engi.
neers. and was therefor, held primarily
responsible for their transgression into a
field of knowledge where they were not
experts. Amy member of Congress, in
House or Senate. Mr.. Clinton held. was
and economic problems than army engi-
neers.
Washington: Headquarters Work.
The development Of the work Of the
Washington headquarters of the con-
gress was dilated upon in the report
Of the secretary-treasurer. Mr.. Thomp-
son. Money available for publicity
campaign had been expended in greater
proportions than ever before. The
magazine undertaken by the congress.
1T was said. was becoming a big factor
in publicity.
A formal invitation to the congress to
hold its 1915 meeting in San Francisco,
extended by the president and directors
of the Panama-Pacific Universal Expo
sition, was given to the board OF mana
gers by Representative Kahn of Cali
fornia. The invitation set out that the
the approval Of the President as the Off
cial site for celebrating the uniting Of
the waters of the Pacific and Atlantic
through the Panama canal.
Delegates Go to White House.
The delegates waited upon the Presi-
dent at the White House this afternoon.
Assembling in the Willard Hotel at 2:30
o'clock. they proceeded in a body to the
Executive Mansion. Mr.. Taft receivd
them at 2:45 o'clock.
The resolutions. as presented by the
committee. and adopted. read:
1.-The NATIONAL Rivers and Harbors
Congrys. now assembled in its ninth an
nual convention, representing in its men,
bership all sections Of this country, here
with gives expression to the following
declaration of its purpose and policies:
First We heartily congratulate and COM
mend the Sixty-second Congress of the
United States upon its adherence to the
principle Of annual river and harbor ap-
upon its grant of immunity
through the recently enacted Panama
canal law from tolls upon ships engaged
in our coastwise trade; and upon the pro-
lection to water-borne commerce afforded
by said law against railroad ownership
or control of water lines, all of which
measures this Congress has heretofore &C
lively advocated as proper means for the
continued development Of transportation
by water.
Annual Rivers and Harbors Bill.
Second. We reiterate and urge our
oft repeated declaration in favor of the
adoption by Congress Of abroad plan and
policy OF waterway improvement. molding
to the greatest possible extent our water
and rail routes into q standardized trans
portation system, so that the growing
coynnercn of the country NAV havo tho