The Washington times., 1913-12-03

been allowed to speak its will, ne de-
clared. Its attempts during the past
six years on various occasions to IN
courage private Investment and 10 rec
ogrize the rights of State control, sub
iect 10 the paramount right of Federal
rcsula ton OF navigation, have -pcen
thwarted by the influence OF the super
nationalisfic idea urged by those Who
would extend. the Federal right Of nav
igation control to the practical owner
ship by the Federal Government of all
riparian rights on navigable streams.
Development of rivers for navigation
alone Mr.. Brown declared, whether by
the Government or by private capital.
is impossible As a financial problem on.
account of the prohibitive cost. De-
velopment of waterpower by private in
terests he held TO be equally hazardous
He declared the only solution to be the
construction of hydro-electric plants by
private capital with the incidental navi-
cation facilities necessary to promote
End preserve navigation. He cited the
Eeokuk dam plan as the best method.
Navigation As a Concession.
IT is a significant fact, due TO the
legislative obstacles present and pro-
rosed that for something over six years
there has been practically no hydro
electric development on naVlgable
streams under Federal consent. Mr..
Brown added. Millions OF capital are
ready TO develop our streams, both for
power as a private business investment,
ana incidentally for navigation as
concession to the general public interest.
Not only have such improvements
been stopped in this country, but, impa-
tient at the delay. discouraged by the
burdens and threats of further restric-
ticns, charges. tolls and take sinvestors
and their capital and all the industrial
development which they signify. have
heen driven to other Countries-not only
10 Canada. but even to Norway"
The present problems of navigation.
Mr. Brown insisted, could be solved
only by proper legislation, recognizing
the constitutional rights of the Federal
Government upon the one hand and
asserting the policy of attracting the in
vestment OF private capital upon the
other hand.
Brazil Wants Congress.
Ambassador da Cana of Brazil. ad
dressing the convention, invited the
congress to meet in his country and
TO see the wonderful waterway devel-
opment there.
John d. HaZen of Ottawa, Canada,
Canadian minister of marine and fisher
les, told the delegates that Canada was
far ahead of the United States in
waterway development. He said the
canal system of Canada alone represents
an expenditure OF s104, 1000, 600, and with
expenditures for dredging channels,
harbor improvements and lighthouses
ss55, ,O0o,0o0 for establishing means Of
water transportation.
Senator Ransdell of Louisiana. pres
ident of the congress in his annual
report at the close of the morning ses-
sion, declared the organization was
near its goal Where s2o0OO,0oo was
appropriated eight years ago for rivers
and harbors, now there is an annual
approximation approNimating 100000
He believed the next movement taken
up should be that of obtaining control
of the terminals.
We must provide proper terminals
to move freight from rail to river" he
said. Congress can't do it, but the
cities and communities interested must
provide these necessary aids to naviga-
tion." Mr. Ransdell also urged stan
dard depth of waterways and standard
bridges, declaring that much of the
Ohio food loss was due to improperly
constructed bridges which served to
Capt. Frank D. Ellison, former secre-
tary of the congress and introduced
by the chairman as ..the man who
financed the proposition the first seven
years" spoke briefly of the Amazon
waterway improvement in Brazil. Cap
tain ElIlson now Is nead oil BRAZILIAN
steamship company which operates
boats distance of 3.30O mile son the
Amazon
This afternoons 8 session was devoted
TO explanation of the waterway projects
now i'm course OF construction or con-
templated in varius sections. This eve
ming a reception will be held at the
New Willard ballroom to Vice President
and Mrs. Marshall. Speaker and Mrs
Clark, and the heads OF the waterway
associations affiliated with the congress