The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-07-31
BETTER OUTLOOK
FOR THE Bill.
Prospects are Now Good that River
and Harbor Measure
VIII Pass

viii Pass
Washington, July 31.-"The Riy-
er and Harbor Appropriation Bill
will pass the Senate during the pres
ent session" This stateIe-t made
in the most unequivocal manner by
Senator F. NJ Simmons, of North
Carolina. chairman of the pc %erful
finance committee and acting chair
In72n Of the commerce con 1ittee
which prepared the waterway bud
get gives a new angle d WIT has
been regarded BY the friends { river
and harbor improvements as very
serious situation for the bill.
The opposition 20 the rive and
harbor bill" continued Senator Sim
mons, is confined to a relatively
small number OF senators. The large
majority of senators feel that it is
OF the utmost public importance that
the BIN should pass and they have
EXPRESSED themselves to me IN no I'M
certain terns-this with no refer
ence whatsoever to party proclivi-
ties.
Almost ever since I entered the
Senate 1 have been a member of
the commerce committee and have
taken an interest in every river and
harbor bill passed since my election
to the upper branch of Congress,
and l can say without fear of con-
4 -;
carefully considered 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
iof the government undertaking.
am satisfied, however, that there are
but few items in the present river
and harbor bill that are subject to
the criticisms spoken of.
1t is true that the total appropri-
alton carried in the bill is larger
than usual. but there is a well-found
ed demand in the country for a
broader policy on the part of the
government for the improvements of
our waterways, 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 our harbors both on the Atlantic
and Pacific seaboards, and on the
Great Lakes, including the river ap-
proaches to these harbors. 1t is a
we'll known fact that our harbors
have not been improved as they
should have been and that the open
ing of the Panama Canal imposes
upon Congress the duty OF greater
activity and nberality in the improve
. ment of these harbors.
: '.The bill deals more literally
: with the Mississippi river than other
. bills, but it is felt that this wise pol
. icy is imperatively demanded by the
" country which has been emphasized
. by the devastating floods of recent
. years. The bill deals more 1iberally
with the intercoastal system o.
. waterways than former bills, bu
this has been thoroughly though-
. out, and on which sentiment ha.
been crystallized.
Some persons have criticised pro
. jects in the bill located in distan
sections of the country, but thest
=. persons have made no criticism o
projects located in their immediat,
vicinity. The small projects in tn
/ bill, when all the facts are known
compare favorably in Importance
within the territory affected, with tn,
larger ones.
'"The failure of the present rive
and harhor bill would, within fey
months, stop work on more than hal
the projects provided for in tn
measure. Harbor Improvement
would largely stop. The Mississippi
river system would be almost abon
- doned and great damage would b
- done to the machinery employed up
on the several works.
Il have tried to keep in clos
touch with the Senate throughou
o this session and, knowing the sent
. ment that prevails as to the merit
of the river and harbor bill. I fee
. confident the pending bill will pas
. at this session of Congress.