The Bolivar County Democrat. (Rosedale, Miss.) 1887-1969, 1919-03-01

the congress IlhlHB the amount to |
be appropriated annually at $1O,-
100000, and requiring the compile
ton of the Mississippi River levees
in five years, the Board of Engi-
neers have advised the Congress, ] |
am told, that $6,700,O00 is all they
want or will use in this work. 1t
strikes me, Mr.. President, that this
is an unwarranted assumption of au-
thority on the part of the Board of
Engineers. Just how the Board OF
Engineers will assume to ignore a
solemn enactment of Congress in a
matter of this grave Importance l do
not exactly understand; but l hope
that the remarks made by the able
Senator from Utah may be taken by
the Board of Engineers as a warning
that Congress will not permit to go
unnoticed the Boards disregard CT
its legislative enactment
"MR. KING: Mr.. President, re-
call, from the investigations which
l have made, some facts which cor
roborate the statement made by the
distinguished Senator from Mississip-
pi. 1t merely illustrates the truth
of the observation made by the Sena-
tor from (Louisiana) that the piece
meal system of dealing with this
great problem is one that results in
waste and is injurious in every con-
ceivable way to the commerce of the
country and to the nation ITSELF"
"MR. VARDAMAN: There is no
doubt about it. l remember, Mr..
President, that l quoted from the
Board of Engineers in support of the
bill, passed a year and a half ago,
providing for the expenditure of
$45, 100000 for the maintenance and
completion of the Mississippi levee
system, figures which were prepared
and furnished me especially. showing
that if Congress would appropriate or
agree to appropriate sufficient sum
of money to complete the levees, and
complete them in a short time, it
would result in a saving of from 35
to 40 per cent on the total cost of
the finished enterprise. 1 am glad
J the Senator has called attention to
! that matter, because l want the work
which it was contemplated would be
done under the flood-control bill to
be completed in accordance with the
terms of that measure; and so far as
/ am concerned, am not going to
consent that the Board of Engineers
shall in any way modify or change the
intent and purpose of that law.
There is no excuse at this time for
not carrying out the purposes of the
flood control bill There is an amp,e
supply of labor, the people living
along the Mississippi River have con-
tributed their pro rata share of this
fund, and for the Government to
fail to carry out the terms of the
flood control bin, submit, will not
he acting in good faith with the peo-
pie of that section particularly and
the people of the United States gen
orally. It is not the function of
the Board of Engineers to make law;
but, as trained officers of the army
they understand better than 1 do or
you do, Mr.. President, that their
duty is to obey the law"
The first two years after the pass
ing of the flood-control bill have been
virtually lost. due to the war and
consequent reduced appropriations
and high costs. Peace is now secured
and there is nation wide agreement
as to the need for an aggressive pol
icy i nthe activities of peace. The
Mississippi River is especially recog-
nized as the foremost river improve
ment project of the nation. The
physical difficulties involved in it's
control and improvement demand
comprehensive and aggressive treat
ment. A piecemeal policy-wasteful
anywhere-is especially abortive and
disastrous on the Mississippi.
! The recommendation of the Mis-
sissippi River Commission, to which
reference has been made, is based
upon the necessities of the project
and upon the act of Congress. 1t was
most seriously made for ten millions
even in time of war, and it is believed
that the Commission will not stultify
itself or be brought to violate its
serious Judgment by any kind of as
sent to less than that amount now in
peace.
1t is held that no recommendation
or agreement of any sort thereto, in
this matter, is or can be binding or
Congress when it is made in disre-
gard of the Commissions recommen-
dation and in violation of the spirit
and policy of an act of Congress.
1t is hoped that full publicity can
be given the facts herein and that
every one concerned along the river
and elsewhere will do his utmost t
get his Senators and Congressman
actively at work if they are now in
any way inactive.
w. L. THOMPSON,
Chief Engineer, Mississippi Levee
District.
Greenville, Miss, February %,
1919.
1t is up to our people to get
busy at once-TODAY-and
wire our Congressman that ten
million dollars is urgently needed.
The session clio eS Monday, March
3rd so he quickest kind of action
is imperative if we are to get the
needed sum
>aun.-