Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-10
FUNDS FOR LEvEES
AGAIN ARE DENIED
McCarI Holds Obligation
Rests as Much With States
as With Congress.

Controller General McCarI TO-DAY
again refused TO authorize the War
Department to use $2.000o00 or the
1927 unexpcnded rivers and harbors
appropriation for Mississippi food
work.
The responsibility for floods con-
troll in the Mississippi River flooded
area does not rest wholly upon the
Unites States. but is for the con-
sideration of tho States legislative
bodies 1T least equally. with tho con-
sidcration of Congress. Mr.. McCarh
held,
Emergency Is Appreciated.
This office has fully appreciated the
emergency that exists" the decision
said. land l regret theresis no way IN
which / may lawfully authorize the
needed expenditures. 1t is under
st Cd FIR the submission that the
conditions sought to he relieved by the
unauthorized use OF the rivers and har'
bors' appropriation has resulted 70
some extent at least. from the fact
that the States involved have not COM
piled with the statutory requirements
necessary to authorize the use of the
Federal funds provided under the fiood
control appropriation.
at is obvious that the gravity OF.
the situation is for the consideration
of the State legislative bodies at least
equally with that of the United states
and that the responsibility is not
wholly upon the Government OF the
United States
Obligation Rests OH State.
The primary obligation for protec-
ton of private property adjacent TO
the streams for which cooperation
between local interests and the Gov
eminent has been provided rests upon
the individual States or subdivisions
within which the private property is
located, the decision said. the Govern
ment's part being to assist financially
in connection with the maintenance
and development of the river as a
navigable stream only in proportion
to the amount made available by such
State or subdivision,
at is matter conclusively for the
consideration of the Congress and for
determination by the administrative
office or by this office whether the pro-
lection of such private property from
floods shall entirely. or to greater de-
gree than heretofore authorized, also
become the responsibility, of the Fed.
eral Government" the decision con.
tinues.
McCarl's ruling. affirming his de-
cision of July 81. was contained in
n letter to Secretary Davis. in answer
to a request made late last month re-
questing reconsideration of his former
ruling.
Mr.. Davis said work on strengthen
ing levees might be. stopped unless
the money was made available.
$50 Breaks Reported.
At the time Secretary Davis sub
mitted to the Controller General a
request for reconsideration of his rul-
ing it was said that the available Fed
eral funds to repair breaks in the
Mississippi levees would permit work
to be continued by the Mississippi
River Commission for possibly one
month.
There are said to be $50 breaks
along the whole length of the river
and ii was estimated when the sug-
gestion was made that the Engineer
Corps be permitted to borrow $4,000
600 from the ilnallotted funds for riv-
ers and harbors, the money to be re-
turned when the next .$l90DS000 APP;
preparation for work on the MiSsis-
sippi became available. that the sum
of SO 900 600 would be needed to COM
piete the Federal share in the repair
work necessary to close the dikes be-
fore the Spring high water comes.
Presidents O. X. Seen.
Secretary Davis may submit the
problem of finding funds to continue
the work to the~ Judge advocate gen.
of f1.,- I., lie,
possibilities. He is satisfied sthat
President Coolidge would Approve any
emergency measure that could 2be
squared with the reauiremeflts Of law.