The Washington times., 1913-12-03
SPLIT THREATENS
HARBORS CONGRESS
Old State Rights Controversy
Bobs Up At Opening Session
: of Convention.
Continued from First Page }

being given n place on the program.
was voiced by many delegates. and this
criticism was extended to include Sec
retary of State Bryan, who had been
selected as the Presidents substitute,
when he also remained away. This was
another particular in which this con-
V<nticn paralleled the recent ConserYa-
ton Congress. as the same SITUATION
the Interior Lane. who represented the
Administration today, then acted as the
spokesman.
Secretary Lane read a letter from
President Wilson. however, winch serN-
ed TO appease some of the visiting dee
gates. In this letter the President SAID:
Letter From Wilson.
q wish most sincerely that it were
possible for me to convey to you in
person nv cordial welcome TO Wash
ington. Your consultations lie i'll a
field which engages my deepest interest.
/ congratulate you on what the con-
gress has already accomplished, not
only in awakening the country to the
Importance of the great subjects I
handles. but also in bringing us within
sight of a time when all interests shall
De harmonized, and we shall be able
to agree upon comprehensive and
concerted plan for the benefit of the
whole country. l take the liberty of
sending you my cordial greetings and
my best wishes for the success of your
deliberations.
Cordially and sincerely yours,
WOODROW WILSON,
Lane Sounds Warning.
Speaking for the Administration, Sec
retary Lane sounded a note of warning
against the danger of losing control of
harbors.
I'VE must make the ocean free and
the river free" he said, and added:
You will never develop waterways
by dredging sand from the river bot
You must have free harboTs. They arr
owned by the States and provide part
the States can play in the development
OF waterways. You must work in your
States TO see that no private interests
control these harbors that give access
to the ocean,
Secretary Lane. while urging the de-
velopment of the waterways as freight
carriers, made il plain that he was not
stacking the railroads.
Dependence On Railroads.
There can be no policy adopted that
will make against the interests of the
railroads." be declared. They are vital
10 the life OF the nation. No other
nation is SO dependent on the railroads
as we. Cities abroad can live unto
themselves, because in their neishbor-
hoods are industries and resources that
viii support them.
In this country California grows
crops to feed Now York and New York
manufactures articles for use in Cali
fornia. The railroads are indispensable.
IL Is our highest duty TO 10 all we can
Trough they are conducted by private
capital
But we must use the waterways
which have been neglected. We have
allowed men 10 gain control for in
dividuaI interests You are here to
wider interests of the people
In closing, Secretary Lane referred
to President, as my chief. your
President. and the leader of us who
want to develop the resources of the
country for those who are not of the
fsvored few and those who will come
after us.
Fight In Committee.
With the announcement of Presi-
dent RansdeIl of the name OF George
Clinton of the New York delegation,
as chairman OF the resolutions COM
mittee, friends of the conservation
move Dent expressed fear that they
might have a hard fight in the reso-
lutions committee on the water power
question. as the influence OF the New
York delegation was expected to be
thrCwn to the private water power
Improvement side.
The discussion OF the issue was
raised by Rome G. Brown. ON Mime
apolis, who criticised Congress and
the executive departments for impos-
ing such restrictions as to prevent
water power development. Neither
will there be room on today's pro-
gram for its discussion. Ths fight is
expected tc 20 to the resolutions
committee and to bring o fight on
the floor if any attempt is made to
inject an anii-Conservation water
power plank into the platform
The staEnation in navigation i'm
provement, and at the same time OF
Natei power Improvement, has been
caused Mr. Brown asserted, by the
impossibilities of the existing Federal
dam act, its uncertainty OF tenure, Its
determinatc franchises. arbitrarily r+-
yocable and the arbitrary imposition OF
further financial charges and burdens.
FonoraSo Not AIone To RI,me