Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-03-25
ASKS FULL STUDY
OF CANAL Project
Ti|son to Oppose Considera-
ton of Proposal With
Rivers and Harbors Bill.

| After a conference yesterday with
| President Coolidge Representative
| TilsOn of Connecticut, Republican
| leader of the House, is more deter
| mined than ever to oppose the at
| tempt to have the all-American lakes
| tothe-sea canal project considered as
| part of the routine rivers and har-
borS authorization bill.
Mr.. Tilson stated that the all-Amer-
| lean canal project is of too great a
| magnitude to he considered in such a
manner, and that he is going to in
SiSt that II be considered separately
and solely upon its own merits. He
pointed out that this project would
call for the expenditure of about
5000, 900 900, and before it is brought
before the House for debate the mem
bership should have more informa-
ton regarding it and other proposed
lakeSto-the sea canal routes.
Opposes Sweeping Action.
Opposition is being offered by the
House leader also to the other so
called extraordinary waterway prof
ects, such as the Illinois IAyer water
way project, which is linked up with
the Chicago sewage disposal plan.
Mr.. Tilson during his talk with the
President today declared that these
ed in the omnibus rivers and harBors
bill.
Mr.. Tilson said he intended confer
ring with members of the House steer
ing committee with the view of obtain.
ing their full support in blocking this
attempt on the part Of Representative
Dempsey, Republican, Of New York.
chairman of the rivers and harbors
committee. to facilitate the adoption Of
the all-AmeriCan canal plan. which
would run from Lake Erie to the Hud-
son River and thence to the ocean.
MIR. Dempsey is understood to have
threatened to hold up the entire rou-
tine rivers and hlrbors bill, Mr.. Tilson
said, unless he can have the all Amer
lean canal and other large waterway
projects considered at the same time.
Mr.. TilSon explained that the first he
knew OF this attempt to railroad the
all-American canal plan through was
yesterday when Mr.. Dempsey wanted
to have consideration OF the rivers and
harbors bill, which was to have come
up today, postponed until next We'd
neSday, by which time. he told Mr..
Tilson, he would have received a com
plete report on the project from the
Army engineers. Mr.. Dempsey, aC
cording to Mr. TilsOn. said he is not
present today.
Holds Action Today Vital.
UNLESS the routine rivers and har
bors bill is reported ;oday, its regular
time, allotted by the House calender, it
will not get chance the remainder Of
this session." Mr. Tison said
The regular bill, minus the various
extraordinary projects, authorizes a
total expenditure OF approximately
$40,000,000 President Coolidge is in
favor of this expenditure, but he is
represented as not wanting TO COM
nit himself at this time regarding
the best waterways route from the
lakes to the sea.
Mr.. Tilson during this conference
with the President expressed the be-
lief that the House will be through
with its work early in April.
Senator Watson of Indiana. one of
the Republican leaders of the Sena tie,
who was a caller at the White HpuSe.
said he belives the Senate will be
in shape to adjourn about May Is.