The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-24
Compromise Plan to Pay
for Control Needs Is
Given Committee.
QUESTIONED BY WILLIS
Secretary Urges Immediate
Program; Survey of
Year Proposed.
BY PAUL MALLON
United Press STAFF Correspondent

WHOAAAANO O4Ni ECU. 8t.--OtCIG~
tary Of Commerce Hoover presented
to the Senate Interstate Commerce
Committee today compromise
flood control financing scheme ia
vored by President Coolidge.
Thus he avoided the embarrass-
ing position in which his political
opponents had hoped to place him
either supporting or opposing the
Presidents old plan of having States
pay 20 per cent of control costs.
The plan suggested by the Presi-
dent calls for Federal commission
to determine within a year how
much the various f1ood-ridden
States can pay and when.
Meantime, Hoover said, Congress
should authorize construction of
control works, delay in which would
be a calamity.
The secretary was questioned fifty
minutes by committee members, IN
cluding Senator Willis and Hawes,
who had insisted upon his testify
ing.
Willis Declines Comment
After the session Willis declined
to comment on Hoover's testimony,
saying: THAT would not be nice"
Chairman Jones announced later
that the committee would meet
Monday to begin framing a bill. BY
that time it is expected Secretary
OF War Davis and Major General
Jadwin, chief Of Army engineers,
will have perfected the administra-
ton compromise measure on which
they have been working several
days.
The Administrations compromise
bill, drifted by General Jadwin, was
submitted to the House today
through Representative Kopp
(Rep), Iowa, member of the House
flood control committee.
The measure carries total of
S260,960,0OO, 80 per cent Of the
original appropriation proposed by
Jadwin.
Il believe the failure Of action
on flood legislation at this session
of Congress would be calamity
not alone to the people in the flood
territory, but to the counry as a
whole" said Hoover.
Il need not recount to you the
unprecedented character OF the
flood. Some 100000 of our people
we're compelled to flee from their
homes in Jeopardy of their lives.
The damage to their crops, farms
and villages amounted to hundreds
OF millions of dollars.
Problem Is Complex
''It was only by the extraordinary
cooperation and initiative Of the
people of the South with the help
Of the Red Cross and our Federal
agencies that an enormous loss of
life was prevented.
The economic loss is not borne
solely by its direct victims. Every
citizen Of the Nation has lost some
thing from the destruction in the
valley.
"All Of us realize the enormous
loss and suffering and the difficulty
OF contribution at the present time
by communities who have suffered
greatly.
"The whole question Is one of
more complexity than might appear
on the surface. 1t involves not only
contribution and expenditure on
actual construction, but involves the
problems of rights Of way.
Some of the works are within
one levee district and yet partly for
the benefit of another.
Answers Hawes' Question
"The amount of money which the
people in the South have already
expended in construction of the ex-
ist1ng work needs be taken into ac-
count. Losses from the last flood
in its economic reaction in diff
ferent communities must be stud
led.
Hoover's compromise plan was Of
fered in answer to a question of
'OSiAdOOl I1dN6o NOtlll-(s N1lSSOuIl, AS
to whether he favored the JadWen
plan of requiring States to pay 20
per cent of control costs.
Hawes told Hoover the State al
ready had paid out more than
$400,000,00O, and suggested it was
to expect them to pay
more now.
Work Needed Now
Hoover had a second prepared
statement ready for the expected
question.
"It would seem to me that the
Presidents recent suggestion that a
commission should be set up that
would study all the factors and
make its recommendation to Con-
gress a year hence would be an adj
way by which to determine
both the methods and do full justice
in the situation" he said.
ut does not seem to me that such
a plan need cause any delay for the
works can be authorized and the
appropriations made 90
that the work can go forward"