Evening journal., 1914-07-29
TRADESNEN URGE
55 FOOT channel
Threatened Defeat Of Rivers
and Harbors Bill Stirs
Philadelphians
TO THE
RIVER PROJECT

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, July 20.-The
Joint Executive Committee on Inn
provement Of the Delaware River, rep
resenting local trade organizations,
yesterday sent kilograms to senators
Oliver, Penrose and Burton, of Ohio,
urging them to vigorously support the
river and harbor bill now before tho
Senate. The bill carries an appropriR-
tion of S2,0OO,0O0 for continuance Of
work on tho S5.foot channel in the
Delaware.
The action was prompted by the pre-
carious condition OF the proposed leg
islation. Members of the River and
Harbor Committee have decided that
the congressman on the committee
must stir up sentiment in their respec-
tive States against the dilatory action
of the Senate, which threatens to de-
feat the bill through adjournment
Immediately after administration
measures are enacted.
Following was the message sent to
Senators Oliver and Penrose
The failure of rivers and har-
bors bill to pass Senate, with con
sequent stoppage of work on 35-
foot channel project and discon-
tinuance of work of maintenance
of present channel imperatively de-
manded by present commerce, will
work irreparable injury to Phila
delphia. We urge you to use your
utmost efforts to secure passage of
the bill at this session.
Senator Burton, who is opposing the
bill because of certain pork barrel fea
lures" was sent a telegram, as fol
lows
Our Joint Executive Committee
on Improvement of the Delaware
river earnestly begs that you dis
continue your opposition to the
rivers and harbors bill, the pass
age of which at this session is vital
to the interests Of Philadelphia.
The failure of the bill will cause
complete stoppage of work on the
35-foot channel, which would be
bad, and would also cause the
discontinuance of maintenance
work which would cause irrepar-
able injury to present commerce.
Many new vessels ordered and
lines have been established to this
port based on continuance of pres
ent depths of channel, which viii be
withdrawn if maintenance work
stops.
The Joint Executive Committee REP
resents the following commercial ol
CARNATIONS; Philadelphia Board q
Trade, Commercial Exchange, Martin
Exchange, Drug Exchange, Grocers' an
Importers Exchange, the Bours
Manufacturers Club, Bumbermen's ES
change and the Master Builders E1
change.
The telegrams were sent at the sul
gestion of Representative Donohoe,
member of the committee, who notif5
the committee of the gravity of q
e situation. He advised them to g
e busy with Senators Penrose and Olive
a "Unless the Senate can be coercl
a into action the bill will go down
4 defeat" said Mr.. Donohoe. "Philade
phia will suffer greatly unless an al
) propriation is made for the Delawar
The unexpended balance will be use
up quickly"
Representative William S. Ware ye
terday promised his support toward ol
tanning some sort of legislation favo
able to the deep channel project. i
said he would be in Philadelphia q
Thursday. at which time he would civ
more definite statement as to whi
will be done.
state Senator Edwin Ware announce
that the Republican party will inco
porate into its State platform prime
pies that will pledge the party to gi'
substantial State aid TO the river al
harbor movement. DR.. Martin G. Brur
baugh. he added, has already taken
decided stand favoring assistance fro
the State of Pennsylvania.
Discussing the status Of the bi
Representative Donohoe yesterday sal
at has been stated that Democrat
senators are responsible for the prese
fight on the bill, but, as a matter
fact. Senator Burton, when he W
chairman of the Rivers and Harb
Committee of the House. was nev
very friendly to the Delaware river, al
some of the projects which he is nc
criticising were adopted while he
& chairman of that committee. Most
& the attacks that have been made, bo
in the Senate and outside. especially
\ regards pork barrel features, are g
tirelv unfair. So long as we have re
resentative government, men will nat
rally press for appropriations Tor TN
respective districts, but 1t should
remembered that no appropriation
A made in the rivers and harbors bill
anv project until il is first approv'
Il and the amount that can be proftat
n expended during a given time estimat
q bv the Board Of Engineers of the W
y Denartmpnt" ="