Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1914-06-19
.,e,L WORKING FOR BIG
''' .,ooopRIATIoN FOR LOWER
MISSISSIPPI.
KS 100000 AT ONCE
y. sbert Tells Senate Commit.
Panama Canal Was Built In
Time Because Money Was
Ready When Needed.
sv GEORGE CLINTON.

"a, m prevent HOOQS on the lower
r.,icsipui river called Lieut.. Col. Will
n Sibert, formerly a member of
!. isthmian canal commission and
m buiIt the Gatun dam and locks,
,.ore it as a witness a day or two
@
Senator Ransdell of Louisiana was
a,sctly responsible for the summon
!, Of the army officer. The senator
anxious that congress should ap-
rsDriate a lump sum of 100000
sr leVee work on the great river, a
on sufficient to complete the work,
nd be wants the appropriation made
Il once, and it was for this reason
mbtless that the Panama canal engi-
ser was ordered to appear and give
rsimony.
Senator Ransdell must be given
redit for being a wise man. He was
not anxious to ask the army officer
witness much about the Mississippi
liver, but he did want to ask him
vhy the Panama canal was built so
SUCCESSFULLY and on time.
Colonel Sibert told the committee
that the Panama canal was built on
time because the money was ready
for the work when it was needed and
that the engineers, knowing the cash
vas there, went ahead with the work
Of selecting the personnel for each
PARTICULAR piece of labor, bought the
machinery and started things moving,
and did this because they knew there
would be no delay in getting the nee
essary money. The army engineer
added that money was the thing which
enabled the government work to be
done properly and within the limits
Of the time set.
Congress May Sanction Plan.
1t is possible that before adjourn
ment congress will sanction a plan of
work which will put an end to floods
In the lower Mississippi and prevent
the recurrence of disasters which have
caused the loss of many lives and Of
millions of dollars worth of property.
It IS certain that an appropriation to
begin the work will be forthcoming.
The only doubt that exists is whether
the lawmakers will commit the gov
eminent in advance to the expenditure
Of the additional millions which will
make the labor continuous until the
end Is reached.
Senator Ransdell is an advocate of
an immediate appropriation big
enough to complete the ievee system
OF the Mississippi river SO that the re-
eurrence of the foods of other years
can be avoideS. The losses that have
rome, it IS urged, are much greater
than the sum which will be needed
70 prevent a repetition of the damage
in the future The senator expected
10 and probably did score point
when he summoned one of the Pana-
ma canal engineers to appear before
his committee and asked him what it
was that put the Panama canal
through so speedily and so well. So
1t may be that to the success of the
isthmian waterway will be due the
completion of the big work in the Mis-
sissippi valley.
Think Labor Is Class.
When the senate finishes with the
antitrust measures the country will
Know just what measure of success
of labor and farmers
Organizations have had in their at
emps to secure exemptions for the
abor unions and the agricultural assoc
cations from the provisions OF the
sherman antitrust law.
Generally speaking, there appears
% be a feeling in Washington that
When the legislation is enacted 1t VIII
'e found the organizations named VIII
De in nearly the same position they
Ire in today except that there will De
defined status for them as that OF
ISsociations which on their very race
Ire not formed for purposes In re-
traint of trade. 1t might be SAID
However, that there is feeling here
i least so far as the labor unions are
oncerned, that specific legislation al
Getting them, as differentiated from
Their organizations, would be passed
1t we're not for the fact that In TINS
ountry there are not supposed to De
ny classes.
American students of economic ana
ocial conditions, congress has been
old, hold that legislation affecting Ia
or should not be viewed from the
anne standpoint as that from Wnicn
egislation for capital is looked upon
seems that to some extent senators
nd representatives in congress are
lclined to take this view OF Things
lemselves.
A good deal of criticism has been
assed in Washington because those
TENDERS of congress who also are
lembers OF unions champion labor's
ause as unit. In the house there
re sixteen representatives who carry
MON cards. Eleven of them are Dem
Gratis. four are Republicans and one
Progressive. They act unitedly
IT labor because they think labor is
class, that it needs special legisia-