Evening star., 1928-02-24

cause I said 1t was national prob
lem that had discussed these details.
replied Mr.. Hoover. He added that the
problem OF contributions was just as
complicated as is the engineering prob
lem Of flood control.
IAN we want to determine, and we
would like your opinion" continued
Senator Hawes. "is whether this Is
national problem or whether the States
are to contribute"
II do not believe there Is adequate
information on which to base reply
to that" said Mr.. Hoover. He said he
had never addressed himself to the de-
tails OF contribution.
Says Information Is Lacking.
After some further sparring, Senator
Hawes said
You prefer not to express an
opinion?'
Il do not believe We have information
to express an opinion" reiterated Mr.
Hoover. He said that the commission
suggested by the President could carry
out the investigation: that a plan could
be devised which would not lay a hard
ship on the valley and that the SeCre-
tary of War has suggested deferred pay
ments.
Senators said that 20 per cent con-
tribution would be hardship on the
States and an "impossibility." No other
witness. he insisted. had failed to give
an opinion on this matter.
Senator Willis asked Mr. Hoover
whether he believed that Congress
should include in its legislation gen.
eral plan OF flood control. or should
adopt a definite plan of procedure.
Mr.. Hoover replied that his own feel
ing was that Congress should include
in its bill provisions for the major
parts OF the project,
Senator Willis did not ask Mr..
Hoover whether he believed that the
proposed 20 per cent contribution OF
the States was just or not, but he did
ask Mr. Hoover whether the commits
sion suggcs ed by the President should
study engineering as we'll AS the
economic and financial problems i'll
volved
Mr. Hoover replied that his idea was
that the commission, which was sug-
>cStcd by the President and not ny
himself. should look only into ulc
economic and financial side OF tle
problem.
Senator Halves questioned Mr..
Hoover about an interview which he
gave in South Dakota las. Summer
after he had talked with the President
there, in which he was quoted as say
ing that he did not see how the people
OF the States affected could contribute
much more than they have done.
How much more oes that mean?
Does 1t mean 60 per cent demanded
Senator Hawes.
MIR. Hoover insisted that the whole
cubjcct needed further study.
Urges Congress Action.
Mr.. Hoover, in his opening statement
TO the committee. insisted that while
he was an engineer. he had not had
experience in flood control work. and
that he did not wish to be considered
as appe airing as an expert on flood con-
troll He said:
Il am glad to have the opportunity
to present to the committee my views
as to the urgency OF legislation for the
control OF Mississippi floods
Il believe the failure of action at this
session OF Congress would be- calamity
not alone TO the people in the food
territcIy. but to the country as whole.
and 1t is indeed. urgent that legisla-
ton should be completed at the earlics.
moment that ii can be accomplished
with proper deliberation.
Engineering and the methods of
course lie wholly within the War De-
partment and outside the functions of
the Department Of Commerce can.
however. speak upon the necessity OF
legislation from both a human and
an economic point OF view
Il had the honor TO be chosen by
President Coolidge to organize and di-
rect the relief activities during the re-
cent flood. No man could occupy that
responsibility and have witnessed its
scenes without being deeply moved TO
the urgent human need of preventive
measures. I need not recount to you
the unprecedented character OF the
food. Some 10000 of our people were
compelled to fee from their homes In
jeopardy OF their lives. The damage
TO their crops. farms and villages
amounted TO hundreds OF millions Of
dollars. II was only by the extraordi-
nary cooperation end initiative OF the
people OF the South with the help of
the Red Gross and our Federal agencies
that an enormous loss OF life was pre-
vented. We witnessed the unprece-
dented necessity OF removing several
hundred thousand people to concentra-
ton camps, providing them with the
necessities OF life. safeguarding their
health and rehsbilitating them in their
homes. l estimate that In all the
S27 900 900 had been required 10 pro-
vide for them the barest necessities.
Economic Loss.
THE economic loss is not borne solely
by its direct victims Every citizen oi
the Nation has lost something from the
reduced prchasing power due TO the de-
Struction in the valley. The loss OF sew
erai million acres OF crops deprives tho
American people OF just that much prod
uce they might have consumed or ex-
ported: every farmer and worker outside
the food area has been the loser from
| the decreased purchasing power OF tbs
flooded people and every investor In the
railways and enterprises In this area
has lost something.
1t Is my view that In some degree
the minor slackening in business activ-
ity throughout the country at present
| Is a rcpercuss!on of the food. and
believe that the early cOnsunmation oi
legislation would be- Of value In stabiliz-
ing the economic fabric. It would restore
courage. confidence and enterprise Il,
| the people Of the flood territory. would
stimulate their activities 10: the future
in actual labor upon the works and l.,
the manufacture OF equipment that will
| be REQUIRED for It's construction.
Il do not have the intimate knowledge
! necessary 10 give detailed engineering
| opinion upon the method Of food con
troll. understand that the two prin-
cipal plans presented to Congress agree
IN major outlines. The distinctive fea-
turc Of both Is the construction Of an
alternative channel for the river when
In fiood---the fioodway--from the mouth
Of the Arkansas To the Gulf by way OF
the Atachafalaya. and to guarantee the
| security Of New Orleans by spillway
above the city The secondary features
/ are relief OF the water congestion below
! Cairo. strengthening of the levee system
and improvement OF river channels, II
| seems 10 me as an engineer that any
nlsn will be altered In details as the