Evening star., 1928-04-10
Believes Congress Has Lost
Sight of Safety Issue in
Jones Bill Scramble.
OBJECTION is RAISED
TO CONTRACTS SECTION
Placing Of Responsibility for Fu-
ture Damage on Government
Also Is Criticised.

President Coolidge vas represented
today as feeling that Congress. in its
consideration Of food control legisla-
ton, has thus far completely lost sight
Of the safety Of the people in the
Mississippi food area in its wild scram-
bic to take care Of railroads, banks
and others who have loaned money or
made investments, land companies,
lumber companies, large land owners.
as well as contractors.
The President, while discussing the
subject with callers in this candid man
ner, made it very plain that he opposes
the so-called Jones bill with the amend
ments which have been added to il by
the House committee in charge Of food
control legislation He considers the
bill as one which would saddle the
Federal Government with entirely too
much responsibility, particularly IN the
matter of the expense burden. His ad-
vices are that the Federal Government
would be called upon to pay out at least
one billion and half dollars II this
bill becomes law. Moreover. the Gov
eminent must assume all the major
cost Of maintenance, which it has never
done before.
ODJectS 10 contract ran
He objects also to the taking away
from the Army Engineers the letting
Of contracts for work incidental 10
food control. because this authority
would be placed in the hands OF new
body that no doubt would be unre-
sponsive Besides this, the Federal
Government would be made responsible
for any future food damage that might
1l tnf <zF Sy4ra a1E-
niteneSs of the Jones bill there is TO
telling at this time how far into the
future the Federal Government would
be paying the cost Of work described as
incidental to food control
The President recently conferred with
several Members Of Congress who pro-
posed the construction of large num-
Der Of reservoirs in the upper regions
of the Mississippi tributaries as neces-
sary to the food control project. but
he has since received word from Gen
Jadwin. chief Of the Army engineers
that these reservoirs would not give suf-
ficient protection to warrant their con.
struction.
Sees Unfortunate Situation.
There Is no mistake in the fact thai
the President considers the food con-
reached an unfortunate situation He
is anxious for some legislation OF a
definite nature and regrets that Con-
greSs has been unable thus far TO put
forth bill that would adequately take
care of the situation without costing
five times as much as it actually should
The President feared that when the
matter OF having the local communities
pay q share of the total cost of the
flood contyol work was so strongly op-
posed in Congress. the situation such
as exists today would be the result.
He feels that Congress in its re-
luctance to assess the local communi-
ties should realize that II any local
favors are to be bestowed In the vi
cinity Of the Mississippi food area.
there would be loud cry from other
localities for corresponding favors.
Although the President has not IN
dicated that he would veto the Jones
bill in its present form. he has so fire.
Quently voiced his objections 70 the plan
contained In that bin that it is assumed
he would resort 10 his veto power rather
than see this measure become q law.