The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-12
NEW EQUIPMENT FOR THE WARRIOR SEEMS ASSURED, SAYS B. M. ALLEN McAdoO In Doubt as to Legality of Further Ap- propriations for This
 Purpose
PRESENT EQUIPMENT SUITABLE TO CARRY GENERALCOMMODITIES
Traffic Manager Brent Now Pre- pairing Traffic Schedule for Coal From This District to the
 Gulf Ports

News brought back from Washington by Judge B. M Allen, who arrived home last night relative to the Warrior river is of a more hopeful nature than was expected after the first reports of the conference last Monday were made pub lie in dispatches to The Age-Herald. Judge Allen stated that while Director General McAdoo did not commit himself positively either for or against further governmental expenditures for river craft, yet he left the impression on those present that favorable action would be taken just as soon as he had time to go fully into the matter.
 Present at the conference with MT. McAdoo were c. A. Tomlinson, who has charge of inland waterways of the United States railroad administration; M. J. Sanders, director of the Missis- sippi- Warrior waterways; Senators Bankhead and Underwood, w. D. Nes- titt and Judge B. M. Allen of the Br- mingham Warrior river %committee, and E. w. Barrett, who attended the con ference at the request of MT. Nesbitt and Judge Allen
 FAVORS DEVELOPMENT
 In line with his talk with the commit tee when he was in Birmingham on November 2s, MT. McAdoo expressed himself as personally favorable to gov ernmental development of Warrior river navigation, but professed a doubt as to the legality of further appropriations for that purpose in view of the fact that the war is over and the emergency for which it was undertaken had passed.
 MT. Tomlinson's report on the type of craft suitable for the Warrior and his that six self-propelled steel barges be contracted for were be- fore the conference and received care full consideration. MT. McAdoo an- nounced, however, that he wanted to go more fully into the matter, especially with regard to his legal right to make the expenditure, before finally disposing of the report, and Rated that immedi- ately upon his retirement as Secretary of the Treasury next Monday he would definitely decide the matter.
 NEW EQUIPMENT
 In this connection it was pointed out that no special appropriation will have to be made for this new equipment, it being provided for in the $500 900, 900 re- volving fund set aside by Congress when it passed the railroad control bill year ago. The bill draws a distinction, how ever, between the railroads and the rivers, in that the railroad control pro- vision of the bill specifically states that it is war measure and fixes definite time which the railroads must be re- turned to their private owners after the conclusion of peace, whereas no such conditions apply to the waterways. As the law now stands such portions of this revolving fund as may be necessary are available for river navigation with out any time limit and it's use for that purpose can be stopped only by the re- peal of the act
 This provision of the railroad and l waterways control bill was called to the | attention of Mir. McAdoo and he stated | that he would have to look further into | 1t before finally acting upon the Warrior ] river project.
 GET STEEL BARGES
 T am convinced that the new equip | nent will be ordered,'' said Judge Allen | ast night on his arrival home, .'and I | 'eel reasonably certain that MT. McAdoo | will authorize contracts for the six steel l 3arges just as soon as he has satis- 1 fed himself that he has the legal power l lnder the congressional act to do so."
 MT. Tomlinson, who made an inspec- | ion of the Warrior about two months | ago and recommended the purchase of | he type of barges described in his re- | pert, is very ardent advocate of the | fullest possible development of the War | for and it is believed that his recom- nendation will have considerable weight | with the director general in arriving at decision.
 Theodore Brent of New Orleans traf- | ic manager of the Mississippi Warrior waterways, came to Birmingham yes- ! erday for conference with coal oper- Ltors in this district at which tariff | ates on coal from this district to Mo- ,ile and New Orleans were discussed Ir. Brent stated last night that he was 'repa ring tariff schedule for coal which would be announced by the end of this week.
 Rates on coal must be published by the irst of next week. MT. Brent stated, as traffic will begin by that time. ,ood part of the present equipment will e in operation early next week and when hat begins 1t Is necessary that freight ariffs be in effect"
 UP-RIVER BUSINESS
 Mr Brent stated that the rates on up- iver business would be announced at later date. Tt will not be long" he aid, until there will be good quan- ity of freight coming up the river. Grain md other goods from St. Louis and the vest will begin coming to this destrict y way of the Mississippi river and New