Evening star., 1927-12-03
FLOOD WITNESSES
END TESTIMONY
Lower Mississippi Angle of
Problem Finished Before
House Committee.

Views of the lower Mississippi Val
ley on the flood problem, as given by
representatives of the Mississippi Riv-
er Flood Control Association, were
completed before the House flood con-
troll committee today, when w. l.. Eth
ridge of Monroe. La, outlined the
needs of that vicinity.
This association brought witnesses
from seven States to the hearings, all
of whom stood decisively for national
control of floods at Federal expense
only. 1t had been expected that hear
ings would be discontinued with the
opening of Congress, but Chairman
Reid said today that other witnesses
will be allowed to appear before the
committee Monday
Represent Northern Industries.
These are understood to be represent
atives of industries in and along the
upper reaches of the Mississippi which
were affected by the 1927 flood
Ethridge said that his plea for ma
tlonal handling of the flood problem
was not based on the poverty of the
people affected. but upon the fact that
l,5o0,O00 people were menaced by
duty"
A spillway from the junction of the
Arkansas River to the Mississippi as
has been suggested. was opposed by
Ethridge. He said that such a project
should be undertaken only if it was
an absolute essential to flood control.
The question of Federal jurisdic-
ton over flood problems was raised
by the committee as group for
the first time yesterday at a confer
xRrif
assistant to Attorney General Sargent,
which was called to obtain legal ad.
vice preliminary to drafting a bill
to protect the Mississippi Valley from
overf1oWs.
Follows Announcement.
The conference followed closely an
announcement that the Army engi.
neers' plan for control of the Mis-
sissippi probably would reach Secre-
tary Davis of the War Department
today for transmission to Congress
at the opening session Monday. Mai.
Gen. Jadwin, chief of the Army engi.
neers, has disclosed a general outline
OF the plan in addresses, with indica-
tions that ii will weave together as
poets of flood control work such as
construction of spillWays, reservoirs
and by-passes
Such extensive projects are expect.
ed to precipitate a discussion of Fed.
eral Jurisdiction as against States
rights. Chairman Reid of the com,
mittee requested Mr.. Wheat to sub
mt memorandum citing legal prece-
dents and authorities on tha issue.
Members of the committee oues
toned Mr.. Wheat briefly, and they
VIII go into more detail in yvrittan
questions. That a wide variance of
opinion exists concerning the Gov.
ernments power in dealing with flood
control was indicated, and it has been
apparent through the four weeks of
pre-session hearings.
Sums Up Dispute.
Chairman Reid summed up the dis
pute In explaining the memorandum
sought from the Department of .Ius.
tlce IN the question, If the United
states should undertake to control
noods, what right would it have to
construct the various protective works
"nere they are needed?" AS an ex.
ample, the proposed establishment of
subway through sections of AR.
Kansas and Louisiana was mentioned
py representative Swing, Republican
California.
Inc Government has no arbitrary
So"ei Se 70 Iofce such projects on the
ota'es' ' the Hood control committee
Co vas toiu by Senators Robinson and
oh,S VI ARKANSAS. Doubt as TO
ta federal power in the mat
IL ai'o was expressed by Senator
;, ala5rlsoh OF Mississippi, while others
said there was no doubt of Fodnra1
authority. VI HeueIdl