Evening star., 1913-05-22
Federal Department of Public
Works to Carry Out Prof.
ectS Is Advocated.
Committee LAYS PLAN
BEFORE THE PRESIDENT
Members of National Drainage Con.
gress Also to Call on Speaker
Clark and Other Officials.

Urging a national policy of flood pro-
lection and swamp land reclamation for
the public health and general welfare.
and the creation of a federal department
Of public works to carry into effect move
ments to this end. the substance OF reso-
buttons adopted by the national drainage
congress at st. Louis April IL, the gen.
eral educational committee of the con-
Eress presented its plan to President Will
son this afternoon.
The committee representing thirty-six
states. with a population OF approximate
ly Is. 600. comprising more than three
quarters of continental United States, was
received at the White House at 2:3O
o'clock Edmund T. Perkins. president of
the congress and chairman Of the COM
mittee headed the delegation. More than
sixty members Of the committee accom-
panied him.
Substance Of Resolution.
The pith Of the resolution as adopted
by the Congress and presented to the
President reads:
I'm view Of the appalling and ever re-
curing disasters caused by floods, which
have destroyed life and property through.
out the United States, and which are en-
phasized by the recent and widespread
calamity brought upon our citizens BY
the floods which have devastated Ohio
Indiana, Illinois and adjoining states and
which devastating floods are now movinf
southwark throughout the Mississippi val
ley. threatening destruction to life an(
property all the way TO the Gulf OF Mex
leo. We believe 1t to be a proper function
OF the government Of the United States
under the welfare clause Of the Consti.
tuition. to take adequate measures to con.
troll the hood waters OF our country, and
so to conserve them as to protect the
life. health and property Of our citizens
from their uncontrolled fury, q govern.
mental duty equally as imperative a
that Of protecting our citizens from the
attack Of foreign foe.
Federal Department Proposed.
I'VE respectfully petition the immediate
consideration OF adequate provisions fol
mood control. for the regulation and con.
troll Of stream how and for the reclama.
ton OF swamp and overflow lands and
arid lands, and In furtherance thereof
we pray that In your wisdom you Great,
q body which will put In effect ut the
earliest possible moment such plans fol
cooperation with the several states anl
such other agencies as will meet will
the needs Of the several localities Of tn,
CuItS0 OS8teS, auQ we DcueVC the mos
enoctuAl and direct means will be tn,
establishment Of a department of publ,
works. with a secretary In charge there
Of. who shall be q member OF the Presi
dents cabinet.
We further believe that the wild,
scope OF the problem of fiood-wate
control. affecting practically all Of tn
states OF the Union. can best be con
Quoted under the Immediate super
States in the exercise OF such author
1ty a. 10 conferred upon him by tn,
Congress Of the United States"
Immediately after departure from tn,
20 the War Department. where it wa.
received by Secretary Of War Garrison
MT. Garrison was appriSed OF the pur.
pose Of the committee in Washington
and his aid asked for the movement.
To Call on Speaker Clark.
The committee will call on Speaker
Clark OF the House OF Representatives q.
10 O'Clock tomorrow morning. An hour
later Vice President Marshall will re.
ceive It, Secretary Of Interior Ian,
and Secretary of Agriculture Houston
Will meet the delegation at the Interior
Department at O'Clock in the after.
noon. Tonight. a smoker at the Cosmo.
Club will be given In its honor Morri
Knowles. consulting engineer Of tn,
Pittsburgh Hood commission, and Ishan
Randolph OF Chicago will make shor
talks.
The committee assembled in the Nc
I4achlen building. 10th and G streets, q
10 o'clock this morning, Chairman Per
kins presiding. The roll was called ant
the members OF the committee mad,
known to each other. Some brief ad
dresses. discussing the especial activit,
OF the member speaking. were made.
The Washington members Of the com
mittee are: NJ ". Richards, Thomas p
Littlepage. Col. John McEiroy, w. w
Finley, c. G. Elliot A. NJ. McLachler
Alanson D. Morehouse and Marshal o
Leighton.