Evening journal., 1923-02-05
WILL Fight FOR
HARBOR MONEY
Senators Ball and Bayard
TO Oppose Slash of
Appropriation
WESTERN SENATORS
= ATTACK MEASURE
Special to The Evening Journal.

Special to The Evening Journal
WASHINGTON. Feb. 5.-senator
L. Heisler Ball OF Delaware. arriv-
ed today. prepared 70 fight any pro-
posal made on the floor Of the SEN
ate TO cut the appropriations for
river and harbor improvements;
which are carried in the army ap-
preparation bill.
Il shall fght for the river and har-
Dor appropriations as passed by the
House. and which has been recon-
mended by the Senate Commerce
Committee" said Senator Ball. who
: is a member OF the commerce com
mittee.
Both Delaware Senators were on
the floor at the opening Of the SEN
ate today. ready to combat any move
to cut the amount approved by the
House for river and harbor inn
provement. and which IL done would
seriously retard the Wilmington
project as well as the Chesapeake
and Delaware canal.
Regardless of party lines, United
states Senators Ball and Bayard
will oppose efforts Of Senator Bo-
rah and a group NJ Western Sena-
tors 70 reduce the appropriations
for rivers and harbors included in
the Army Appropriation bill.
An item Of S63OOOO to dredge a
channel and turning basin in the
Christiana river for use Of Will
mington's new Marine Terminal is
contained in the bill.
The vital importance Of the army
appropriation bill passing the SEN
ate intact. insofar as Wilmington Is
concernej. was pointed out by Col
Earl 1. Brown. y. s. engineer in
charge OF this district, who has ar
IDENTIFY supported the harbor project
from the beginning, both for its To-
cal advantages and its strategic
value to the nation.
Colonel Brown stated today
that II was most important that the
measure pass without being slash
ed" He explained that II the bill
comes back to the War Department
with a slashed appropriation. the
department would he compelled TO
cut each allotment in proportion TO
the general cut in the bill.
Confidence in the final passage Of !
the bill without change is expressed /
by Charles II. Cant. secretary !
OF the Board OF HarS6r Commits /
sioners. Mr.. Cant stated that this /
feeling is shared by members T |
the board
I'VE feel that the measure will /
pass. The board feels confident or I
the support Of the Delaware repre-
sentatives with the friendly coopera-
tion Of Senators from nearby States /
who have all along been favorable /
20 the project. II is now generally /
recognized that this development is
bigger in scope than a municipal or
state project Mr.. Cant says:
Mr. Cant also states that any cut
will seriously retard the develop
ment OF the harbor, which Is vitally
necessary to the success Of the
marine terminal II is understood
that members Of the Harbor Board,
Chamber Of Commerce and other
bodies wis go 20 Washington in sup
port Of the appropriation, II a fight
against it assumes serious proper
tions. IL
The Army bill as reported from
the House after that body had acted
favorably on it, carries a total ap-
preparation OF s56.sO9,00O for rivers
and harbors. Senator Borah. it is
said. will fight 10 cut this amount TO
$50. .OOO.O 900. a reduction Of practical |
ly fifty per cent.
The Wilmington item Of $3.50
600 is TO be used for deepening and
widening the mouth OF the Christi q
ana River, so as to permit vessels
Of the same draft as use the Della
ware River. TO reach the Marine
Terminal a cut OF fifty per cent
would practically prohibit the com
pletion of this work.
Senator Borah and his supporters.
opened his fight on the rivers and
harbors appropriation in the Senate
on Saturday