The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-09
MUST CUT PORK JOKE
OUT OF MOVEMENT
Rivers and Harbors Congress
Work Is Proving Hurtful.
GERMANY AS A MODEL
Empire Has Developed Water Courses
to Degree That Makes Them OF
Untold vaiue---Convcnttcn Opens
Twelfth Annual Meeting.

Washington. p. c., Dec. s.--Success
viii meet the advocates of rivers and
harbors Improvement only when the
pork" joke is taken wholly out of
the movement. Secretary Redneld told
the delegates at the opening of the
twelfth annual convention OF the Ma
tional Rivers and Harbors Congress
at the New Willard today. He told
them that they had a national pro-
iect, and they should take the pa
rochial Idea out of H.
Senator Joseph T.. Rausdeil, OF
Louisiana, president Of the congress.
opened the convention at 1880
O'Clock. He was presented with a
silver mounted gavel, which Mrs.
Ransdeu had made for him from
cedar taken from the yard OF their
home in Louisiana.
The speakers today pointed to Ger
many as a model for developing wa
ter transportation. Senator Ransdell
announced his purpose 10 have the In :
terstate commerce act amended to
prevent railroads from undermining
water transportation rates,
Points Out Weak Link"
Habitual use OF the work pork in
relation to rivers and harbors work
has been the weak link in the efforts
to get such improvements, Secretary
Villa M e. Redfield, OF the Depart
ment OF Commerce. told the rivers
and harbors delegates in opening their
convention today. he said the rivers
and harbors development had gotten
away beyond the parochial stage.
Secretary Redfield spoke frankly to
the delegates. pointing out the pit
falls, explained the relation of water
ways 10 the Improvement of com
fHa.. 81. hat n rpf
roads were retardng river and har
Dor work and said that natural water
VANS must he improved and artificial
ones built In order to be ready for
the commerce which Is sure to come.
You are now he said, at the very
height of the peculiar fitness OF your
cause. The vessels are ready, the mo
tor is ready. the commrrcc is ready
All that liz needed is "A place to move
The weakness OF your cause lie.
in the habitual. though untruthful use
of the word pork There Is no cause
ta Joke. You cannot get anything un'
tny ii has outgrown the Joking stage
We In America will have our laugh
no matter what II holds back Man,
good causes have been held back be
cause Of the American desire for s
laugh.
Higher Than Amy District.
Your cause is bigger than any dis
triet. It is larger In scope than an,
one stream or harbor. 1t Is self-in
terest as a whole to a national people
lie is an enemy Of national commerce
who would seek to do 1t in parochia
way.
The act, purpose and spirit OF ioca
pork should be separated from such
great and honorable cause as yours
Secretary Redfieid said the best ar
gnnent against the charge that tn
railroads were retardtng waterway de
veiopment was the HudsonE River, Wit
large feet of daily boats. althoug
Ranked on one side by 4. four -trac'
system and on the other one of tw
tracks
Where there is direct water trans
portation between two places IL
cheaper and quicker than railroad,
He said he had located factory a
the head of navigation of the Hudso
because he could put a machine ahoar
one evening and have IL in New Yor
city the next day as against thre
DAYS on the railroad