The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1913-11-06
Washington Whisperings.

..sHINGToN, D. c., Nov. 3, 1913 In
view Of the agitation going on, not only
in the United States but in European
countries as well. over the free toll pro-
visions of the Panama Canal bill, and the
five per cent rebate given ships flying
the American flag and engaged in the
foreign trade, as provided in the Under
God Simmons Tariff bill, the forthcom-
ing convention of the National Rivers
and Harbors Congress, which IS TO be
held in this city December 3, 4 and 5
next, gives promise of being the liveliest
convention in its history. And as Presi-
dent Wilson will deliver the opening ad-
dress, those in charge of arrangements
for the convention are looking forward
with keen interest to the position which
the chief executive will take on matters
relating to waterway improvement and
their relation to the ubject of transpor-
tation.
While the program for the convention
has not been finally made up, in the main
it is completed, and for variety and scope
viii compare favorably with the program
of preceding conventions. In addition
to President Wilson, Secretary of War
Garrison, under whose direction the
Board of Engineers, charged with river
a nd harbor work, perform their func
tions, will have a most important place
n the program. This being new ad-
ministration, made up largely of men
W no have come from scholastic walks of
life, the position which it will take on
the intensely practical question of the
development Of the rivers and harbors of
the country will be watched with the
greatest interest.
The Dominion Government will be rep
resented by Hon. John D. Hazen, Minis
ter of Marine and Fisheries and Minister
of the Naval Service, who has been es-
pecially designated by the Premier, Hon.
Robert Laird Borden, to represent 'Our
Sister of the Shows" at the coming con-
vention. At least one, and perhaps two
of the Ambassadors from foreign coun-
tries, will tell of the development of
ports and rivers by their governments.
Now that the Board of Engineers,
through it's late Chief, Gen. BiXby, has
recommended the purchase of the Ches-
apeake and Delaware Canal as part of
the scheme for an inland waterway from
New England to the Florida Keys, con-
siderable attention will be paid to that
project, which is now under course of
construction. Representative John H.
Small of North Carolina will address the
convention on some features of the Allan
tic Deeper Waterway, while Represen-
tative J. Hampton Moore will deliver an
illustrated lecture Oh the whole subject
Senator Fletcher of Florida and Rep
re sentative Burgess Of Texas will tell of
the waterways along the Gulf Coast
from the Mississippi to the Atlantic and
to the Rio Grande, respectively. Repre-
sentative Kelly will speak for the Ohio
River, Representative Humphreys for
the Mississippi, E. M. Clendening, Secre-
tary of the Commercial Club of Kansas
City, will tell of the use being made of
the Missouri, and W. B. Thompson of
New Orleans will speak on municipality
owned terminals as an essential part of
the scheme for increasing water trans
portation. Senator Jones of Washing
ton, Governor johnson of California and
Representative Knowland have been in
vited to speak for tie Pacific Coast, and
Senator Clarke of Arkansas, Chairman
of the Commerce Committee, on water
way legislation. Mr.. E. S. Conway of
Chicago, will represent the Great Lakes
and there will be speakers, who are yet
to be selected, from New York and New
England.
Two evening sessions have been ar