Evening star., 1928-02-25

Discussion OF the Mississippi flood
control bill which has been reported 10
the House emphasizes anew the con-
| troversiai obstacles that lie in the way
OF final action. Under the House
measure the entire cost Of the project.
| s473 900 900, or more than double the
estimate OF the Army engineers. would
be borne by the United States Govern
ment instead OF requiring the States
directly involved 10 pay 20 per cent,
| as proposed by President Coolidge.
Recording that the House committee
reports its bill by a vote OF II to g."
the New Orleans Item says: 1t en-
bodies for the first time in the history
OF national legislation the principle
that the overwhelming floods irresistibly
poured into the lower Mississippi by
the other States of the vast mid-country
present 10 the Nation a different case
from that presented by any other food
problems. For the Reid measure de-
clares that these particular floods
should be controlled rs a national duty.
at national expense. without contribu-
tions from the impoverished districts
that have exhausted themselves so long
in efforts to protect themselves and the
country's trade and traffic against the
recurrent deluges that the rest Of the
country pours down on them"
AS to the ultimate result in Congress.
the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin pre-
diets: This rich Nation will not avoid
the major responsibility for the cost of
job that is primarily Uncle Sans, II
is proper that, for the reason given by
the President. there should be some as
sessment OF cost In the localities af-
fected. but there Is no reason why that
assessment should be fixed at a hard
and fast proportion. disregarding
present ability to pay. The Nation can
afford TO take the large and the
generous view"
The Syracuse Herald also feels that
the safest prediction Is that COM
promise Of the cost controversy will be
ultimately reached that will bring the
total appropriation nearer to the en-
gincers' estimate than to the COM
mittee's demand" btu. that paper con-
tends that 1T would hardly seem fair
and just TO saddle any part OF the ex-
penditures for relief and future pYeven-
ton upon the communities affiiCted."
Observing that powerful groups in
Congress and the Mississippi Valley
are determined to place the entire bur-
den on the Federal Government" and
that the Chamber OF Commerce nf
the United States Is backing these
groups and exerting considerable III
fiuence ON Congress" the Chicago Daily
News continues THUS the country Is
threatened with collapse Of flood pre-
vention as well as of tax reduction. So
lame and dismal conclusion would
harm the country gricvonsly. and Ger
tainly would reflect no credit on Con-
gresS, The public must insist that
sftG TORS ha
most careful and serious attention. and
deal with them at, the present session
Justly and efiectually."
Solution Of the problem according
10 the Louisville Courier Journal. rs
economical al any flgurc Failure IS
further wastefulneaa. The Reid bill,
treating the problem as II national CON"
sideration. and taking the work out ot
| tie rut 1t has been IN, offers more
pfoinising plan. The personnel of the
commission, however, Is the chief fac"
Tor on which success" or failure de-
Effectiveness depends on treating
the river as u unit, aud failure to do
| ~ Is largely Responsible for repeated
disasters la past years. declares the
san Antonio Express. which adds:
Therefore II would appear the wiser
cotiIAe D place tnt fehpOiihinlttty uthh
The National Government from the out
aet thus obyiating the posaibiIity Of
costly, dangerous delays"
The Birmingham News holds that
The task Of perfect control cannot he
set about piecemeai~~and piecenleai It
must surely be II developments are de-
iayed far Legislative action by the
States cruelty hurt by the finoda last
spring" Similar indnrsem ment nf the
committee report In given by the Rock
Island Argus and Mankatn Daily Free
Press, while the Great Fails Tribune
| remarks: Thus far Congress has CON
earned itsslf chiefly with apportioning
costs between the Federal Government