The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-01-15
IN
ONE PORK RAID
Representative Frear's Mi
nolity Report on River
Bill So Charges.
TO BE SUBMITTED TO-DAY
Dredgers' Association Assailed
for Maintaining q Lobby
in Washington.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 14.--Charges that
half Of the $4,000, 900 river and harbor
bill is pure pork" representing waste
OF Government funds, are made in the
minority report of Representative Frear
which will be submitted to tho House
tomorrow.
Calling attention to the lack OF a plan
OF systematic waterway development, the
Wisconsin member asserts that the
larger part OF 5000. .0o0,0 900 hitherto spent
in river and harbor Improvement has
been wasted and that commerce has
steadily declined on the waterways
which have been improved" by Govern
ment engineers. In a statement explain
ing his report Mr.. Frear says:
Commerce on the Mississippi. Ohio.
Missouri, Tennessee. Cumberland and in
land waters generally. excepting deep
waterways. has diminished on the diff
ferent streams from so per cent to 90
per cent. during the past forty years.
according to the best information to be
had
During that period the Government
has appropriated s159,0OO,ooO for the
Mississippi. 100000, 900 for the Ohio.
s22 100000 for the Missouri and pro-
portionately large amounts for other
streams. while this decrease in commerce
has steadily continued Hundreds of
small streams are being improved by the
Government with equally disappointing
results.
Col Townsend's Proposal.
col. Townsend. one OF the ablest OF
the army engineers, a present member
OF the Mississippi River Commission. has
urged a stop in present waterway cN-
travagance until one or two projects
have been made commercially valuable.
No system of local contribution is en-
forced as in foreign countries and no
comprehensive policy or economic man.
agement attempted.
"It Is a case to-day Of placing money
wherever the local demand Is greatest
without reference to actual commercial
needs. Railroads are permitted through
reduced rates to drive waterway COM
merce from rivers which remain de-
serted and yet the enormous waste con-
tinues every year.
practically one-half OF the s3S 300. oOC
contained in the pending waterways bill
il wasted. according TO this report. in
Guiding the greater part OF $lS,OOo,ooC
given by the bill to eight inland streams
which are named. Army engineers have
! had full control in the determination OF
, navigation needs and the amount of ap'
propriations.
without business training. CONNER
/ cial knowledge or experience this policy
has resulted in wastcful projects main
| tanned all over the country, including
those which are good bad and indlffer'
! ent. All Join together annually in enor'
NOUS omnibus bills Not one project ir
! four would pass Congress II standing II
separate bill, but omnibus measure:
, carry good. bad and Indifferent project:
because of the votes assured by thl.
method"
Dredgera' AssOciatiOn Attacked.
A feature Of the minority report will
| be an attack on the dredgers' associa
! ton, which. according to Mr.. Frear
maintains n powerful and effective lobb,
urging big appropriations for rive
! and harbor Improvement, apportionnt
dredging contracts among its member:
! to defeat competitive bidding and OBJ
tanning contracts for what are declared
| to he excessive rates.
| Crticsing the Norfolk and Beaufor
waterway that carries sl,0O0,000 in tn.
/ pending bill. the report says that tht
canal only accommodates about 5000,
! tons Of actual commerce. OF which NOR.
| than $4,000 tons is coal. Office ant
supervision expenditures on this cana
| for two years. amounting to nearly $3.50,
! 600, are condemned as unreasonable anc
extravagant. a recommendation h,
army engineers for s154,00O with whicl
to buy 500 acres OF marsh land for
right of way on this canal Is also Sc
\ crittcisad