The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-08-03
RIVER AND AARD(R
BILL WILL PASS
uUr FEW SENATORS OPPOSE AP-
rnoFHIA71oN. DECLARES
9I1KMONSs
LARGER THAN USUAL.
COST or RIVER APPROACHES TO
HARDons on BOTH COASTS
FORM LARGE PORTION -
or APPROPRIATION.
LARGER THAN USUAL.

Warrington. Aug. 1.-The river
Ano harbor appropriation bill will
pass the senate during the present
session" This statement. made In thu
most unequivocal manner by Senators
=. "a. Simmons. OF North Carolina.
chairman Of the powerful finance COM
mlttee ana acting chairman OF thu
committee on commerce, which pre-
pared waterway budget, gives q now
angie 10 what has been regarded by
for the bill.
THE opposition to the river anU
harbor BILL" ontinued Senator sims
mons. ts confined to a relatively
small number OF senators. The large
majority Of senators feel that It n
OF the utmost public Importance that
the bill should pass ard they have ex-i
pressed themselves to ma In no un<a
certain terms--this with NO referenca
whatever to party proclivities.
Almost ever since I entered tho
senate have been q member OF tho
commerce committee and have takel
an interest In every river and harbozy
bill passed since my election to the
upper branch OF congress. can SAL
without fear of contradiction that nd
bill has been moro carefully consider.
ed by the commerce. COMMITTEES thai
the one now pending In the senate.
Subject to Cf1t1Ca6m.
There are some Items In every bflQ
that may be subject to criticism frond
the standpoint of the character OF the
government undertaking am satis<
fed. however. that there are but fevs
items In the present river and harhoz
bill that are subject to the criticisma
spoken Of
1T Is true that the total appropria :,
ton carried In the bill Is larger tharq
re hfyt 3s xnyuH fat Oh H. y
mand in the country for broade1
policy on the part of the government
for tho Improvement OF our water
ways. a demand justified by the Highs
consideration OF q sound public policy
The large part OF the river and
our harbors on the Atlantic and Pas
cific seabeards. and on the Great
Lakes. including the river approaches
Ito these harhors IT Is a we'll know-s
fact that cur hGrbors have not been
improved as they should have been
and that the opening of the Panama
canal imposes upon congress the duty
of greater activity and iiberality In th3
Improvement OF these hafbors.
Liberal With Mississippi.
Tho bill deals more literally with
the Mississippi river than other hsHs.
but It liz felt that this wise policy 10
lmperntiyely demanded by the coun-
devastating foods OF recent years.
The bill deals more literally with tia
intercoastal system of waterways than
former bills but this liz a sehegGa that
has been thoroughly thought out. and
on which sentiment IA been crystals
/ lixed,
Some persons have criticised pro-
| jects In the bill located in distant sec
| lions of the country but these PEREZ
/ SONS have made no criticism OF prod
| lets located In their immediate vicin-
| ity, The small projects in the bill.
when all the facts are known. conn
| pare .favorahiy In Importance, withia3
the territory affected, with the larger,
projects,
| THE failure Of the present rtver,
/ and harbor bill would. within few
months stop work on more than hsl 8
tho projects provided for In the meas
ure Harhor improvements woul
largely cease The Mississippi rive
system would be almost ahandone
and great damage would be done "a
the machinery employed upon the sew
erai works. !
| 'I have tried TO keep In close touch
with tho senate throughout this see
| sion and. knowing the sentiment that
prevails as to the merits OF the rive
land harbor bill, / feel confident thu
ipending bill will pass at this sessicT1
| OF congress"