Evening journal., 1919-07-19
JUDGMENT DELAYS
CANAL Widening
No Work on c. & D. Water
way Until $40, 000is Paid
TO Government
LIKELY TO ADJUST
MATTER NEXT WEEK

Colonel ]. P. Jervey, Of the United
states Engineers ONCE, will go to
Washington on Monday to confer with
War Department officials, TO see what
can be done 10 hasten The beginning OF
the work of widening and deepening
the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal
which has been held up by lack OF
funds, due TO the comptroller OF the
treasury ruling that the judgment for
$4,000 obtained by the United States
government against the Delaware and
Chesapeake Canal Company should be
deducted from the purchase price OF
the property. ~which has resulted in
holding up the project for the present.
I'VE can't do a thing until we get
funds" said Colonel Jervey. There
are three possibilities however: The
comptroller may recede from his posi-
tion; Congress may waive the judg-
ment of $4,000 against the canal COM
pany, or the company may agree TO ac-
cept the award OF the jury in the con-
demnation proceedings, less $4,000. AS
I'VE stand now, we can't even make a
survey TO determine upon prospectus
Of the intended work"
Secretary OF the Treasury Glass. SEQ
retaTy Of War Baker. and other officials
have urged the comptroller TO author
ize the payment Of the money, but he
insists he cannot do so and live within
the law Nobody, not even the Presi-
dent, Senator WOlcott said, has power
TO compel the comptroller to pay the
money over.
II was understood when the Della
ware project was adopted by Congress
that the price TO be paid by the govern
ment for the property was 10 be over
and above any sums owed the govern
ment by the canal company, but the
auditor Of the treasury found a law en-
acted about as years ago requiring that
sums owed the government should off
SCI. any claims on the company. Then
he refused to audit the account and
put the matter up TO the comptroller.
The comptroller sustained the audi
tor and now refuses UesOlutely 10 re-
cede from his position
Il think we can meet the situation
by having the government deduct the
amount of the judgment from the pur-
chase price. pay do into court and then
aSree to litigate," said Senator VOL
colt. "But there again we are confront
ed with a difficulty. We are not as
sured that the comptroller would auth
0rize the drawing Of a treasury war
rant subject to this condition"
The situation could be dealt with by
additional legislation, but this, Senator
Wolcott said, would be a last resource.
II additional legislation is asked, Della
ware would he forced to fight single
handed battle against all those states
men who cry pork" when a river and
harbar bill is up for consideration.
But Senator Ball. who by the way
Is doing splendid work on the plan to
get this project into operation, and I
are doing all we can to find solution"
said Senator Wolcott.
The two Senators viii have a confer
ence with President Wilson. Secretary
Glass, Secretary Of War Baker and the
comptroller Of the treasury at an early
late. when they hope 30 find some way
out Of the difficulty.
III is most unfortunate 10 have this
matter blocked in this way" said SEN
'to- Ball. but 1 agree with nv col
eague that a way will be found out
)f the difficulty"