Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-10
WATERWAY ADVOCATES
RESENT HARSH ATTACKS
Vigorous Replies to Criticisms of Last
River and Harbor Bill as "Pork
Barrel" Measure.
BRYAN WELCOMES DELEGATES
Senator Ransden, President Of Con-
gress, Denies That Organization Is
n Lobby, but Says Critics Are I'm
able to Suggest Better System.

WASHINGTON. December s.-Advo-
Gates OF waterway Improvement from
all parts OF tho country met hero to-
day In the eleventh annual convention
OF the National Rivers and Harbors
Congress. Secretary Bryan welcomed
the delegates. predicting q large per-
centage OF the country's traffic would
be drawn to waterways soon. because
of cheapness Of transportation.
Vigorous replies were made to crit
icisms of the last river and harbor
bill as n pork barrel" measure. Sena-
tor Ransdeil. president of the congress.
made this attnck the theme Of his an
Gnal address. Albert Rettinger. Of
Cincinnati. defended the measure
against the same criticisms. and Repre-
sentative j. Hampton Moore compared
me small appropriations Of the last
forty years for waterways improve
ment with the large sums spent for
the army. the navy and for pensions.
the claims Of the Oklawaha River for
attention. in reply to criticism Of the
Oklawaha item In the bill.
Senator Ransdel; said that attacks
on river and harho. legislation were
unfoundcd. practically without merit,
and many Of them devoid OF even a
vestige Of truth" He vigorously de-
HOunCeQ 8ttdCkB On TIE OH III the tdbI
session Of Congress, and the nlibuster
that resulted In the practical defeat
OF the measure'r purposes.
Critics of the legislation. he added,
had been unable to suggest a better
system than the one they criticize.
GREAT IMPROVEMENT
UNDER PRESENT SYSTEM
Senator Ransdell said that under the
present method OF waterway leSisla-
ton the nations waterways had been
greatly improved, commerce fostered,
freight movements facilitated. and
transportation rates cheapened In COM
petition OF railways.
ITO assert that river and harbor bills
are full of pork graft and corrupt
Items" he declared, rs to charge that
the United States Engineer Corps OF
the army. members OF the Rivers and
Harbors Committee OF the House. and
Commerce Committee of the Senate,
and a majority of the Senator'S and
Representatives who advocated and
voted for these measures. are guilty
OF fraud, corruption. graft and plain
stealing. Such an accusation Is false"
Senator Ransdell denied charges that
the Rivers and Harbors Congress was
n lobby. Its activities. he said, had
been confined to an educational cam
paign to create an intelligent public
sentiment In favor of proper improve
HlenlS OIL worthy HUNlGaUie WaISTS. E.
Attacks were made on the last river
and harbor BILL" declared Senator
Ransdell. during the debates In Con-
gress and particularly during the re-
cent campaign. on sectional and po-
litical grounds, and 1t was freely
charged that favoritism had been
shown to the South. Those attacks are
unworthy. of their. authors During
my sixteen years in Congress. in which
time ] served on the Rivers and Har-
bors Committee of the House and the
Commerce Committee of the Senate,
both under Democratic and Republican
administrations. can truthfully say
that I have never known either sec-
tionallsm or politics to enter into the
making up of river and harbor bill.
Republicans and Democrats alike join
ed In shaping the measure to get the
best bill for the entire country, re-
CARELESS OF claims of any particular
section"
Senator Ransdell appealed to the
convention TO insist that under no cir
cumstances should any water course
be improved unless 1t has real, gen
uine merit back of It"