The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-03-19
RIVERS AND HARBORS
What Senator Nelson Says
of Bill Passed by the Last Congress

Senator Knute Nelson, late chair man of the committee on Commerce, 1 who has been a member of the com 1 Inittee for eighteen years, and dur that period has been of valuable as- 1 sistance in the preparation of river and harbor bills, does not hesitate to say that, in his judgment, the bill making appropriations for river and harbor work, which became a law in the early hours of March 4, is freer from objections than any bill he has had to do with since he became a member of the Commerce Cimmit- tee.
 up to three years ago. said Sem ator Nelson i've had spasmodic bills for river and harbor improvement. Very frequently two years would go by and often three years elapsed be- fore river and harbor bills were passed.
 ssThose bills, under that system, were subject to criticism in that they piled up appropriations for a few large projects to the exclusion of lot of small but deserving projects that had a great deal of commerce. Then there was another objection to those intermittent bills in those days if it was desirable to initiate new provements, the first step would be ito order a preliminary examination and survey, with the result that such long delay ensued, between bills, that it took from three to four years projects.
 tHThree years ago, under the House Charirmanship of MT. Alexander of New York, Congress inaugurated the plan of having moderate annual bills for river and harbor work and of recognizing not only the larger pro- jects but also the smaller meritorious ones, those in which a small expendi- ture of money would lead to imne- diate and direct results. And where it was the purpose to fnaugurate new projects a survey could be ordered one year and if the report was fav vorabIe, appropria tions could be made and work started the next year.
 "A number of appropriations in the river, and harbor bill which became a law in the closing hours of Con gress, are for the improvement of so- called creeks, which, on their face might indicate that 1t was money wasted to make the improvement au- thorized, but, as a matter of fact, needing only a little dredging, the strengthening of a channel or the re- moval of a sandbar at limited ex- pense, to make them still greater arteries for the handling of the traf- fc originating upon them.
 Tn these annual bills, there has been a strict adherence to the rec concentrations of the Engineer force of the War Department. As a rule no
  project not favorably recommended | or estimated for by the War Depart l ment through the Chief of Engineers.
 Owing to the great floods on the 1 Mississippi the past year and the l great damage done the 1evees and | than usual had to be made for improvement of the Father or | Waters from Cape Cfrardeau to the Head of the Passes. Next to the the Ohio River absorbs a large share of the appropriations. As a matter of fact the Ohio is being eanalized by the construction of fifty four locks and dams, and when com pleted will be a most perfect example | of what a river can do in the way of bulky and heavy freight at small cost.
 'sThen there are the great harbors ike New York, Boston and other pla- ces which need liberal appropriations as well as the entire Atlantic seaboard and the gulf coast.
 "Outsfde of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers and the waters of New of Texas absorb the greatest amount 1f the appropriations carried in The liver and harbor bill.
 While it is possible that in some instances Appropriations have been made for improvements of doubtful 7a1ue, yet in my Judgment, the bill just passed and approved is freer rom those blernishes than any bill mad to do with since I became a mem per of the Commerce Committee.
 ssThe plan of an annual bill has proven so satisfactory, both to con yress and the Engineer Departnen hat I have no doubt that the policy will be continued in the future.
 There were a few matters of gen ,raI legislation added to the bill in committee and on the floor of the Sem lte which were eliminated in confer ,nce at the instance of the House, and therefore the River and Harbor Bill hat has just became a law is freer rom extra legislation than any other bill passed at the last ession of Congress-