The chronicle-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1920-1941, 1920-11-26
RIVERS AND HARBoRS CONGRESS
WILL MEET IN DECEMBER.

Following the preliminary announce
ment sent out month ago, the offcia
call for the Sixteenth Convention 0
the Natl Rivers and Harbors Congress
has now been issued. Like all th
recent conventions of the Congress
this will be held in the New Willard
Hotel, Washington, D. c., the dates be
ing Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
the eighth, ninth and tenth of De
cember
While the entire program has no
been announced, it is evident that there
will be no lack of interesting addresses
and that an unusual number of import
ant questions will be presented for dis
cussion. Decided differences of opin
ion exist on certain subjects and some
live, snappy debates may be expected
Everybody knows that waterways
are very much less used in the United
States than they are in Europe. Maj
Gen. Lansing H. Beach, Chief OF
Engineers, U. S. Army, has some very
positive views as to the reasons why
waterways are so little used in this
country and the things that must be
done before the situation can be
changed.
The National Rivers and Harbors
Congress took the lead in securing the
important provisions for the benefit of
waterways and water transportation
which are included in the Transporta-
ton Act. Under one of these pro-
visions there has been created the Div
sion of Inland and Coastwse Water
Service, of which Brig Gen. w. d. Con-
nor is Chief Among other things this
Division has charge of the Government
barge lines on the Mississippi and
Warrior rivers and the New York State
canals.
1t is no secret that most old-time
steamboat men think that the tow
boats which have been built for use on
these barge lines, all of which are of
the tunnel type, will prove to be dis
astrous failures. Some of the new tow
botas are now in use and a report on
their performance lis awaited with
much interest. Gen. Connor's address
will be illustrated with moving pic
lures.
All active workers for the improve
ment of waterways are familiar with
the methods followed for thirty years
or more in the formulation of Rivers
and Harbors Bills, but mighty few OF
them have any idea how it is to be
done in the future. Just before the
close of the last session the House
passed resolution which puts all
power to frame appropriation bills in
to the hands of single committee,
which is to be composed of thirty-five
members.
1t seems there is still to be a Rivers
and Harbors Committee, although it
will not frame Rivers and Harbors
Bills. Hon. S. Wallace Dempsey, M.
c., whose home is at Lockport, N. Y,
has been a member of the Committee
for several years and it is understood !
that he will be it's Chairman in the
next Congress. His address on "Fu-
ture River and Harbors Bills" will no
doubt clear up a number of points
which are now obscure.
From various quarters demands are
being made for still more radical
changes in the methods of handling
,he improvement of waterways. Some
lrge the creation of new Department
If Public Works and other the appoint
nent of a Waterways Commission.
Some of the advocates of these two
plans want to take away from Con
,ress the power to decide what should
,e done and from the Army Engineers
he execution of the works that are
,rdered. Oothers believe that Con-
,ress should outline general plan and
hen turn over lump sum each year
o the Army Engineers to be expend-
ID according to their judgment
There is a general impression that,
lmong other changes that will be made
" the Administration that will come
nto power on the fourth of next
March, will be change in the method
If dealing with the Improvement of
ivers and harbors. If press reports
If addresses made by President-elect
Harding are correct, he believes a
hange is desiable and is inclined to
avor the appointment of Com
mission. Further study may change
lis opinion, however, and discussion
# the various plans proposed should
,a an interesting and valuable feature
4 the Convention.
Masters Dees Cudabac, GLASGOW