Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-23
PRESIDENT HEARS
NEW FLOOD PLANS
Senator Jones Explains Pro-
posed Control Work-Ho0.
yer Ready to Testify.

President Coolidge today received
from Senator Jones of washington,
chairman of the commerce committee,
a new plan which the latter proposes TO
follow in drafting a food control Dill
to be presented shortly to the Senate.
The Jones plan, while it does not pro-
vide for contributions from the States
and local communities IN assisting the
Federal Government to meet the cost
of the vast project, as has been INSISTED
upon by the administration. Is aimed
to remove everything resembling pork
barrel feature and for the most part
carries out the ideas contained in the
so-called Jadwin plan, which has the
approval Of the President.
Senator Jones advised the President
while explaining this plan that he has
reason to know that the members OF
the commerce committee, which COM
mittee is to draft and handle flood con-
troll legislation in the Senate. Is bitterly
opposed to the Presidents proposal 10
assess the States and local communities
directly affected and that it would be
futile TO attempt to get the committee
even to consider such a proposition.
He informed the Executive that the
members Of the committee, after study
ing the matter, feel satisfied that the
communities in the flood area have
been called upon to pay heavily already
and that this extra terrific expense
should not be added to their burdens.
S3s5.o0o.o00 Is Estimate.
The new plan, however. would re-
Quire the States and communities TO
pay $4,000, 900 as their share of the
cost of bringing river levels up TO the
1914 STANDARD All the remainder Of
the cost would be carried by the Fed
eral Government. the Washington Sem
ator said. He plans 10 limit the au-
thorization to $325. .0o0 900 70 cover the
entire work. He would place no time
limit upon the work. but he Is OF the
opinion that ii should be completed
within six or eight years.
Senator Jones conference with the
President regarding this proposed leg
islation followed conference between
the former and Secretary OF Commerce
Hoover. during which the aood-control
matter was discussed. Mr.. Hoover an
nounced afterward that he will appear
before the commerce committee of the
Senate tomorrow for the purpose of
answering questions regarding the mat
ter of fIood-control legislation. When
asked II he had any hesitancy about
going before this committee. Mr. Hoover
quickly replied that he has been ready
for five months 10 answer any cues
tiOnS Congress may care 10 ask.
One of the principal features OF the
new Jones plan is 70 create special
board OF control 10 be composed OF the
chief Of Army engineers. the president
Of the Mississippi Flood Commission
and q civilian engineer 70 be appointed
by the President O! the United and
whose compensation would be fixed by
the latter. This board would study and
pass upon the engineering differences
that would come up from time 10 time
between the Mississippi River Commits
sion and the Army engineers, The de-
ciSions Of this board would De final,
However. the actual work Of carrying
on the food control project would b.
assigned to the Mississippi River Com
mission under the supervision Of the
Secretary Of War and the chief Of
Army engineers.
Promises Early Action.
To eliminate the pork barrel nos
Sibil,tieS IN connection With this legiS-
lat'on Senator Jones plan would liw!:
the work for the present 10 that par.
OF the Mississippi below Cairo. Ill,
Senator Jones assured the President
that lie has reason To know that his
plan meets with the approval ot the
members Of his committee and tina: he
feels very hopeful that 'it would De
passed by the Senate With no great
difficulty, lie would make TO COM
ment upon the Presidents attitude to-
ward his plan. He told the President
that this bill could he whipped into
definite form very quickly and that
there Is no reason why il could not
be ready 10 rerort out for action with
III a week or 10 days.