The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1914-07-24
TO PREVENT FLOOD.
RANSDELL WORKING FOR BIG
APPROPRIATION FOR LOWER
MISSISSIPPI.
ASKS s6o,o0o,Ooo AT ONCE
Colonel Sbert Tells Senate Commit
tee Panama Canal Was Built In
Time Because Money Was
Ready When Needed.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

NdhulHSton.-In senate commit
tee on commerce which has been dis
cussing the question of an appropria
ton to prevent floods on the lower
Mississippi river called Lieut. Col. vii
liam l.. Sibert. formerly a member OF
the isthmian canal commission and
VINO built the Gatun dam and locks,
before 1t as witness day or two
ago.
senator Ransdell OF Louisiana was
directly responsible for the summon
ing OF the army officer The senator
Is anxious that congress should ap-
propriate a lump sum OF 100000. 900
Tor ievee work on the great river, a
sum sufficient to complete the work,
and he wants the appropriation made
at once, and II was for this reason
doubtless that the Panama canal engi-
neer was ordered to appear and give
testimony
Senator Ransdell must be given
credit for being wise man He was
not anxious to ask the army officer
witness much about the Mississippi
river, but he did want to ask him
why the Panama canal WAS built 80
successfully and on time
Colonel Sibert told the committee
that the Panama canal was built on
Time because the money was ready
Tor the work when it was needed and
tnat the engineers, knowing the cash
was 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.
II 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 levee system
or the Mississippi river so that the re-
currence OF the floods of other years
can be avoided The losses that have
come, 1t Is urged, are much greater
than the sum which will be needed |
to prevent repetition of the damage |
in the future The senator expected |
to and probably did score point |
when he summoned one OF the Pana.
ma canal engineers to appear before,I
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-.
sissippl valley
Think lab-r Is Class.
When the senate finishes with the
antitrust measures the country will
know just what measure of success
representatives of labor and farmers
have had I'm their at
temps to secure exemptions for the
labor unions and the agricultural asso-
Citations from the provisions of the
Sherman antitrust law.
Generally speaking. there appears
to be feeling in Washington that
when the legislation is enacted it will
be found the organizations named will
be in nearly the same position they
are In today except that there will be
a defined status for them as that OF
associations which on their very face
are not formed for purposes In re-
straint of trade 1t might be said.
however. that there is a feeling here.
az least so far as the labor unions are
that specific legislation af.
'ecting them as differentiated from
other organizations, would be passed
Z 1t were not for the fact that in this
country there are not supposed to be
my classes
American students OF economic and
social conditions. congress has been
old, hold that legislation affecting la
,or should not be viewed from the I
anne standpoint as that from which
legislation for capital is looked upon. {
? seems that - some extent senators
I'D representatives. in congress are
refined to take this view OF things
themselves.
A good deal Of criticism has been S
assed In Washington because those
members of congress who also are
nembers OF unions champion labor's
ause as unit. In the house there I
re sixteen representatives who carry {
nion cards. Eleven of them are Dem. I
crats. four are Renublicans and one I
3 a Progressive They act unitedly
or labor because thpy thInk Ia bot. Ia