The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-01-04
He Summons Chairman
Sparkman of House Com
mittee to Act.
PLAN TO BE DRAFTED
IN PENDING MEASURE
II Will Include Control
Over Expenditures for
Land Reclamation.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.--President Will |
con threw dismay into the ranks of the |
"pork chasers' to-day. Through Repre-
sentative Sparkman, chairman Of the
House Rivers and Harbors Committee.
he served notice upon the pork" advo-
Gates IN Congress that something must
be done to check. II not to prevent en-
tirely. vicious pork barrel" legislation.
Evidently stirred by the revelations
regarding pork legislation. the Presi-
dent summoned the chairman OF the
House committee to the White House.
and proposed the creation of a commits
son, under the Secretary of War or the
Secretary OF the Interior. to take charge
Of all river and harbor projects, flood
reclamation and Western irrigation,
designating the projects and supervising
the expenditure OF all money appro-
priated for the work.
In accordance with the Presidents re-
quest Mr.. Sparkman said that provision
for such 4 commission would be made
IN the forthcoming river and harbor bill.
The announcement of the Presidents
suggestion had n disconcerting effect on
the pork" advocates, who have had
under consideration a plan to load the
Ai with s10,000.O00 for new projects
for which some Southern members have
long been clamoring. 1t has been con-
tended that such plan would mean a
death blow to pork"
No Promise of Approval.
Representative Sparkman's agreement
to bring the proposition to the atten-
ton Of the committee did not evoke a
specific promise that the river and har-
Dor bill would meet with approval at
the White House. Even though 1t might
provide for the creation of the proposed
commission there Is a possibility that
unless the bill Is carefully pruned 1t
might be vetoed. and It has yet to run
the gantlet of both houses. where anti
pork members are lying in wait for 1t.
The suggestion OF commission IS moi
rev Representative Frear, Wisconsin,
one OF the most conspicuous opponents OF
river and harbor pork, has introduced
bill to create a national. waterway
commission somewhat similar to the In
erstate Commerce Commission.
Mr. Frear's bill provided that the pro-
posed commission should make an In.
vestigation Of all waterway projects con-
structed in whole or In part by Govern
ment aid and furnish Congress with IN
formation concerning all waterways ano
harDors, private interests invoNed, ex
tent Of commerce, development OF power
and reclamation OF land. 1t also con
fered upon the proposed commission au
'hority TO hold up expenditures for prof
tcts of which II did not approve unit
congress directed the continuation OF th'
work.
| PRESIDENT Wilson'S proposed plan TO
commission Is said to be even broader
snhough the powers to be conferre'
upon 1t are more limited. He suggest
mat not only river and harbor wori
but reclamation projects and all matter
relating to the navigation and control o
waterways be turned over to the com
mission to act under either the Secre
tary Of War or the Secretary of tn
Interior
engineers boar0 10 stay.
II is no, contaminated that the arm
board OF engineers shall be abolished
The chief dId,cultv mas been that thi
board has refused IN take the resnou
sbility Of designating the projects O
which improvements should be mad,
contning ira work IN s,,rvevs orderad h
Congress- and renorting whether or nc
pronoscd nroiert should he carried O,
In the Interest of navigation. The arm
board for e,an,n,e would NOT ordinarii
make A recommendation stating IN,
the N.w Work. barhor nrotect shou,d h
taken IN before tho Absecor Inlet pro
ed
There hay. hsep ,Ancated charx,
also that the army en9lneers nave falIe