The chronicle=news., 1914-08-03
SIMMONS FAvORS
N WATERWAYS BILL
NOW IN SENATE


Washington, Aug. 3.-"Thel river
and harbor appropriation bill Will
pass the senate during the present
session. This statement, made in
the most uneuuivocal manner by
Senator +. NJ. simmons OF North
Carolina, chairman OF the powerful
finance committee and acting chair
man of the committee on commerce,
which prepared the waterway budget
gives new angle to what has been
regarded by the friends of river and
harbor improvements as a very Sc
rious situation for the bill.
THE opposition to the river and
harbor BILL" continued Senator
Simmons. lis confined to n relatively
small number of senators. The large
majority of senators feel that it is
of the utmost public Importance that
the bill should pass and they have
expressed themselves to me in no un-
certain terms-this with no refer
ence whatsoever to party proclivitics.
Almost ever since l entered the
commerce committee and have taken
an interest in every river and har-
Dor bill passed since my election to
the upper branch of congress. and /
can say without fear of contradiction
that no bill has been more carefully
considered by the commerce commit
Tee than the one now pending in the
senate.
There are some items in every
bill that may be subject to criticism
of 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 appro-
priation carried in the bill is larger
than usual. but there is a wellfound-
ed demand in the country for n
broader policy on the part of the gov
ernment for the Improvement OF our
waterways, demand justified by
the high consideration OF Il sound
pubic pOllcy.
The large part of the river and
harbor bill is for the improvement
of our harbors, both on the Atlantic
and ~ciiIc seaboards. and on the
Great Lakes, including the river ap-
reaches to these harbors. 1t is a
well 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 liberality in the inn
provement OF these harbors.
1.-The bill deals more literally with
the Mississippi river than other bills,
but it is felt that this wise policy
is imperatively demanded by the
country which has been emphasized
by the devastating floods of recent
years. The bill deals more literally
with the intercoastal system OF wa
terways than former bills, but his is
a scheme that has been thoroughly
thought out, and on which sentiment
has been crystallized. ..
Some persons have criticised pro-
jects in the bill located in distant
sections of the country, but these
persons have made no criticism OF
projects located in their immediate
vicinity. The small projects in the
bill, when all the facts are known,
compare favorably in importance,
within the territory affected, with
the larger projects.
The failure of the present river
and harbor bill would, within few
months, stop work on more than half
the projects provided for in the
measure. Harbor improvements
would largely cease. The Mississippi
river system would be almost aban-
doncd and great damage would be
Zone to the machinery employed upon
the several works.
Il have tried to keep in close
touch with the senate throughout
this session and, knowing the senti-
ment that prevails as to the merits
of the river and harbor bill. feel
confident the pending bill Will pass
ut this session OF congress-