Perth Amboy evening news., 1917-06-26
SCULLY EXPLAINS
WATERWAY ACTION
Congressman Points Out That
Present Session Was Called
for War Legislation.


Washington, D. c., June 25.-F. w.
Donnelly. mayor of Trenton, cannon
understand why Congressman Scuily
has signed minority river and har-
Dor report, and he has sent circular
letter to all of the New Jersey con-
gressmen calling attention to Mr.
5cullys attitude. The general i'm
preston seems to be that Mayor Don
nelly has not helped the cause o1
waterway improvement in New Jer
sey by this attack upon the congress
man.
Mr.. Scully is as firm q friend ofwater-
ways improvement as ever. He be-
1ieves, however, that because of the
vast expenditures involved In the
prosecution of the war, and the need
to conserve the funds of this country,
the Improvement of harbors and wat
erways should be postponed tempo
rarily, at least, until there is a better
knowledge of what the expenditures
for the war will amount to.
Several other letters have been re-
ceived by Congressman Scully from
prominent Democratic leaders and
others, relative to the waterway leg
islation. Mr.. Scully in reply has stat
ed that at the present time the mat
ters foremost in the minds of the leg
islators Is the successful pursuit of the
war. He points out that the present
extraordinary session Of congress was
called to act on war bills and not for
waterway legislation.
1t Is also pointed out that there will
be no hfndrance In projects started /:
that $33,000,000 in the war depart
ment engineers hands will be ample
for all waterway projects under way
and for maintenance.
The minority report on the water
way bill follows:
The minority Of the Committee on
Rivers and Harbors are opposed to
the bill as reported by the majority
of the committee. The reasons for
this opposition need only be stated
very briefly at this time. In these
days of national crisis only necessary
expenditures should be made for
rivers and harbors work, and these
should be based upon the important
commercial military and naval
needs of the government. Taxes upon
the people will be enormous, and
should not be increased by expendi-
lures for lines of work remotely con
nected with the present emergencies.
Owing to the scarcity of labor and
high prices of materials. contracts
can not be let which will secure the
amount of return to the government
possible under normal conditions.
The bill as reported carries an ap-
proprlation of about $26.900.000. The
bill which passed the House, but
which failed to pass the senate at the
last session of congress. carried about
&3S,000,000. 1t can not. however, be
terial reduction from the last one. as
" mi n 10
pertain items. The item of $4,000. 900
for the Mississippi river is now car
fied in the sundry civil bill. The ap-
bropriation of $1.800.000 for the pur-
bhase of the Chesapeake &c Delaware
Canal is omitted. but clause ulti-
nately much moro expensive Is add
kd by the item authorizing the con-
hennation of this obsolete waterway.
The minority feel that the House
thould have q thorough understand
Ing OF what the condemnation of the
Chesapeake & Delaware Canal really
means. For many years an effort has
been made to have this project as
bumed by the government 1t Is a
Eanal thirteen miles long, supposedly
having depth of nine feet which,
e taken over by the government. will
hean an expenditure of from $8,-
100000 to $12.o0O.000, or possibly
more, In order to secure q deptr OF
IL feet. A wide stretch of imagina-
Hon must be used to argue that this
Nan possibly contribute to the pres
9pt national emergency. 1t is @ part
f0f the so-cal1ed intercostal water
&ays for which strong influences
bAve been at work. Congress has
klready adopted portions of this sys-
Jcm, and II by influential persuasion
From time to time. additional Sec
Hons are adopted, the proponents of
The proposition will feel they can
consistently argue that the whole sys-
Tenn should be connected UP by adop-
Mon of the final links. Untold mill
lions are involved In this ambitious
broject The minority urge that 1T
Bhould not be countenanced by the
purchase of this canal as war
Measure. 1t would be q splendid op-
portunity for owners OF worthless
tock and deprecated bonds to dis
Bose of them to the government that
helped build this canal, but such
financing is no part of the govern
hents war emergencies.
{ Two other large items are reduced,
bne reaching $s75.000 for the Column
hia river and another of 100000 for
Ehe Beaufort canal, but the general
appropriation carried by this bill Is
b reality practically as large as that
khich passed the House at the last
Dession. 1t is sad commentary on