The L'Anse sentinel., 1914-06-27
70 QPREVENT FLOOD.
ASKS sso,ooo,ooo AT ONCE
Colonel eibert Tells Senate Commit.
tee Panama Canal Was Built In
Time Because Money Was
Ready When Needed.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

Ready When Needed.
By GEORGE CLINTON.
Washington. The 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. VIII
liam L. Sibert. formerly a member Of
the isthmian canal commission and
! who built the Gatun dam and locks,
before It az witness day or two
ago.
Senator Ransdell Of Louisiana was
directly responsible for the summon
ing Of the army oficer. The senator
q anxious that congress should ap-
propriate lump sum of 100000. 900
for levee work ON the great river, a
sum sumcient to complete the work.
and he wants the appropriation made
at once, and It 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 30
successfully and on time.
Colonel Sibert told the committee
that the Panama canal was built on
time because the money was ready
for tho work when It was needed and
that 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
wouid 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.
Il IL possible that before, adjourn
ment congress will sanction 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 II certain that an appropriation to
begin the work will be forthcoming.
The only doubt that exists IL whether
the lawmakers win commit the gov
ernment in advance to the expenditure
Of the additional millions which will
make the labor continuous until the
end n reached.
Senator Ransdell II an advocate Of
an immediate appropriation big
enough to complete the ;evee system
Of the Mississippi river 30 that the re-
surrencs Of the Goods OF other years
can be avoided. The losses that have
come. II q urged. are much greater
Hhan ne sum which will be needed
70 prevent repetition Of the damage
in the future. The senator expected
to and probably did score a point
when he summoned one of the Pana-
ma canal engineers to appear before
his committee and asked him what 1t
was that put the Panama canal
through 30 speedily and 30 well. So
It 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 10 Class.
When the senate finishes with the
antitrust measures the country will
know Just what measure Of success
representatives of labor and farmers
organizations have. had in 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 1t Will
be found the organizations named Will
be In nearly the same position they
areSin today except that there will be
defined status for them as that OF
associations which ON their very face
are not formed for purposes In re-
straint OF trade. II might be said,
however. that there ID a feeling hefe.
at least 20 far a. the labor unions are
concerned. that specific legislation a.
fecting them, % Differentiated from
other organizations, would be passed
II Il were NOT for the fact that In this
country thsre are not supposed to be
American students Of economic and
social conditions, oongress has been
told. Hold that legislation affecting -
bor should not be viewed from the
samo standpoint a. that from which
LEGISLATION for capital II looked upon.
It eeeus that TO some extsnt senafofs
and ropeessskat in congrsss are
inclinp1 10 tsts this view Of things
a roo1 dsal Of criticism has bssn
pasooG a Warrington becauee those
ulsnn ~ - eougress who also ars
nomhoes - unlUob champion leboSs
oonoo q = ~ n the h0uoo there
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