Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-11-13
Want Army Engineers in
Control

The Texas and Louisiana Gulf coast sections are
opposed to the movement inaugurated to create a de-
partment of public works for the primary purpose Of
taking away from the corps of engineers Of the United
States their supervision and control Of all river and
harbor construction and maintenance, or in any event
mate tally eurtail their present authority in such mat
tiers.
The movement is not Of recent origin. For years
the corps Of army engineers have been under a bonn
bardment Of criticism from selfish interests The Mis-
sissippi river flood, which was followed BY q deluge
OF suggestions for flood control, most Of which were
more or less impractical, was also followed BY the
usual flood Of criticism directed toward the army en-
gineers, especially by individuals whose pet theories
found little commentator from the engineers. There
are also many individuals and corporations who have
their own axes to grind" who would be we'll salts
fled to see the corps Of army engineers removed from
control Of the rivers and harbors construction projects.
They would prefer that such projects be thrown into the
hands Of a politically controlled board Of public works
which would probably be more amenable TO political in
fluence than the corps Of army engineers
The Inrracoastal Canal Association Of Louisiana and
Texas, al its recent convention in the Valley, passed a
resolution opposing the creation Of a department Of
public works, stating: The delegates in attendance
at this convention hereby express their emphatic dis
approval Of the proposed creation Of . department Of
public works as being not only unnecessary but q dan
rerous departure from a procedure which has the COM
pIete approval and confidence Of all communities and
localities interested in river and harbor improvements,
and we respectfully urge our representatives IN con-
eress from Louisiana and Texas to oppose vigorously
all legislation seeking TO create such a department
The corps Of army engineers have undoubtedly
made mistakes. No organization could accomplish
what they have achieved in recent years without max
inc mistakes. But their errors Of judgment in con-
nectipn with harbor and rivers improvement would be
almost infinitesimaI in comparison with the errors
which would constantly emanate from a politically con-
trolled board Of public works.
The rapid development Of water transportation
since the World War has been achieved through the
activities Of the corps Of army engineers Development
Of rivers and harbors has proceeded at a pace never
dreamed Of prior to the war. The demands Of com
merce and agricultural development arc being met as
RAPIDLY as humanity possible, and in view Of the I'M
mense work achieved in the course Of a few years, It
Is almost phenomenal that more mistakes have not been
made.
Would II have been possible 70 achieve such de-
velopmcnt Of water transportation as an adjunct 70
domestic and foreign commerce II a politically con-
trolled board had been in charger II j. extremely
doubtful Those localities which have water transpor-
tation projects in view, realize that those projects viii
he considered upon their merits. They know that nc
political factors will enter. The judgment Of the en-
rineers Is. Of course. not i%nfallible, but when errors
are made the public knows that they are errors OF
judgment and that their judgment has not been warped
BY politicians.