East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-08-05
RIVERS-HARBORS
BILL WILL PASS.
MEASURE WILL GET BY SENATE
IS PREDICTION OF SEN
ATOR SIMMONS.

WASHINGTON, Aug. -(SpeciaL) !
THE river and harbor appropria-
tion bill will pass the senate during
the present session" This statement
made In the most unequivocal man
Eer by Senator F. NJ. Simmons Of
North Carolina, chairman of the
powerful finance committee and act
ing chairman of the committee OF
commerce which prepared the water
way budget, gives a new angle 10
what has been regarded by the friends
of river and harbor improvements as
Il very serious situation for the bill.
"The opposition TO the river and
harbOr bill" continued Senator sim
mons, "is confined TO relatively
email number of senators. The large
majority of senators feel that II Is OF
the utmost public importance that the
bill should pass and they have eX'
pressed themselves to me In no un-
certain terms--this with no reference
whatsoever TO party proclivities.
Almost ever since ! entered the
senate | have been a member of the
commerce committee and have taken
on interest In every river and harboF
bin passed since Y election 10 the up
per branch Of congress, and | can say
without fear OF contradiction that no
bill has been more carefully consid-
cred by the commerce committee than
the one now pending In the senate
There are some items in every bill
that may be subject to criticism from
! the standpoint OF the character OF
| the government undertaking / am
satisfied. however, that there are but
/ few items in the present river ana
| harbor bill that are subject TO the
| criticisms spoken Of.
1T is true that the total appropria-
! ton carried in the bill is larger than
usual. but there is well-founded de-
mand In the country for broader
/ policy on the part OF the government
for the Improvement OF our water
ways. a demand justified by the high
consideration of a sound public policy.
The large part of the river and
harbor bill is for the improvement of
cur harbors both on the Atlantic and
Pacific seaboards. and on the Great
Lakes. including the river approach
es TO these harbors. II is well
known fact that our harbors have not
been improved as they should have
been and that the opening Of the Pan
anna canal imposes upon congress the
duty OF crater activity and liberality
In the Improvement OF these har-
bors.
"The bill deals more liberally with
the Mississippi river than other bills
but It Is felt that this wise policy i'
imperatively demanded by the coun'
try which has been ephasized by tht
devastating floods OF recent years
The bill deals more literally with
the intercoastal system OF waterway
than former bills, but this Is a scheme
that has been thoroughly thought ou'
and on which sentiment has beer
I crystallized.
Some persons have criticised pro-
jects In the bill located in distant
sections of the country. but these per.
sons have made no criticism OF pro-
iects located in their immediate vi
c!nity. The small projects in the bill
when all the facts are known, com
pare favorably in Importance, with
in the territory affected, with tbs
larger projects.
THE failure of the present river
end harbor bill would. within few
months. stop work on more than hal
the projects provided for in th'
measure. Harbor Improvement
would largely cease. The Mississippi
river system would be almost aban
ooned and great damage would b,
done to the machinery employed up
on the several works.
Il have tried to keep in close toucl
with the senate throughout this ses
sion and, knowing the sentiment tina
prevails as to the merits OF the rive
and harbor bill. | feel confident th'
pending bin will pass at this session
of congress.