Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-01-31
THE FIGHT AGAINST ExTRAvA-
CANOE

Representative James A. Frear of
Wisconsin, minority member of the
house committee on rivers and har-
bors, has devised a plan which, il he |
could put 1t in force, would probably |
accomplish what he has for several
years been trying to bring about,
namely, the abolition of the abuses at
tending appropriations for river and
harbor work, and favoritism in the ex-
penditure of such funds. says Chris
tian Science Monitor. His plan is TO
create federal board, of a class as
high as the interstate commerce com.
mission, which shall have the manage.
ment of all waterway improvements.
Similar boards, he says. control water.
way improvements in other countries,
wherever an intelligent waterway
system has been put in force.
The majority members of the COM
mittee on rivers and harbors have re-
ported for passage a bill calling for
the appropriation of $3S,O0O,OO0. Mr..
Frear believes that one-half of this
sum will be wasted IL it's expenditure
Is authorized. That 1t will be auth.
orized by the house seems TO be a
foregone conclusion. There is some
hope that 1t will be amended in the
senate so as to reduce the total to
some extent. Despite the determined
opposition of the minority members of
the house committee, friends of the
bill say 1t will pass the house with.
out the formality of a roll call.
Ten years ago, or Whereabouts, the
first attack on "Cannonlsm" was made
In the house of representatives, of
which Joseph G. Cannon of Illinois
was at that time speaker. Under the
rules then governing parliamentary
procedure in the house. the presiding
officer exercised almost unlimited
power. He was in fact, dictator, in
the sense that he could. by refusing
recognition to Il member. delay, Oh
prevent, the consideration of bill on
the floor. Then, as now. the national
treasury faced deficit. A public
buildings bill, calling for generous ap
preparations in many parts of the
country, was ready to be favorably
reported by the chairman OF the com
mittee. But Speaker Cannon stead
lastly refused TO recognize the chair
man on the floor OF the house. A
round robin" signed by two.thirds OF
the members, demanded that an CD
portunity be given to start the bill
toward It's final passage. Mr.. Cannon
told them that the finances of tn,
country were in critical condition
and that II was no time to waste tn,
peoples money. The power had, n,
said, been vested In him TO defeat suci
legislation, and. because the respon
sibillty was his. he would exercise tn,
power. The bill was pigconholded b,
the committee. A combination o
Democrats and Insurgents" over
threw "Cannonism," dividing the au
thority OF the speaker among tn,
members of the committee on rules
and the committee on ways and means
This divided responsibility seems 4
have opened the door TO abuses. Sine,
the change in rules. the proposed an
preparations for rivers and harbors
and for public buildings. have stead
lily grown.
In HIS report Mr. Frear points ou
that, during the last forty years, trans
portation bysTiyer routes, except OF
the deep waterways. has decreased
from so 10 90 per cent During that
period more than s24O,OOO,OOO has
been appropriated for improvements
In connection with the Mississippi
Missouri, and Ohio rivers, besides