Evening star., 1935-05-02
RIVER AND HARB0R
EXPANSION SEEN
Gen. Markham Expresses
View and Cites AIIoCatlOn
of 1855, 600, 600 for Work.

Expressing confidence that an ex-
banded program of waterways i'm
provement will result from COngrLs-
sional appropriation of $4,000. 900 900
for work relief, Mai. Gen. Edward
M. Markham. chief of Army en-
gineers, appeared before the National
Rivers and Harbors Congress today
as the principal speaker of the OPEN
ing session of its general conven-
ton. Several hundred were present
as President Frank r. Reid called
the gathering to order at the Hotel
Mayh0wer.
THE administration has clearly
shown" Gen. Markham said. "in its
ALLEGATION of more than $685. 100000
to these improvements its recognition
of their merit and of their i'm
portsnce to our national develop
ment. A tentative program for the
coming year has been placed before
the proper division of the National
Emergency Council and undoubtedly
it is now receiving serious considera-
tion by that agency I feel confident
that an expanded program will re-
suit"
Following the opening address by
President Reid. Rev. Ze Barney T.
Phillips. chaplain of the Senate, Of
fered the invocation.
Welcomed by Sultan.
Lieut.. Col. Dan I. Sultan, Engineer
Commissioner of the District. well
coined the convention to Washington.
at the same time commencing the
congress for its constant vigilance
in watching over progress of water
ways development and in counseling
with the United States Congress on
passage of legislation favorable to
such development"
Representative Mansfield, Demo-
crat, of Texas, chairman of the House
Rivers and Harbors Committee, fol-
lowed Gen. Markham before the con-
vention. Referring to the waterways
on all coasts of the United States.
Mansfield declared them to be equaled
by no other nation in the world.
Congress has met the demands Of
American trade and has maintained
these waterways as the property OF
the Nation" he said. Their con-
tinued development must not cease,
for the nation which desires to be in
the foreground of the commercial ma
tions of the world must anticipate
commercial trends and must be pre-
pared with the necessary tranSporta-
tion facilities to enable it to success
fully compete with other nations in
the world market. Transportation
costs often prove vital factor in
gaining or losing these trades"
Gen. Winship is Speaker.
Others who addressed the meeting
this morning were Maj. Gen. Blanton
Winship, Governor General of Puerto
Rico. who spoke in behalf of develop
ment of the harbors of that island.
He was followed by Representative
Wilson. Democrat, of Louisiana, who
urged the congress to approve as one
of its major objectives comprehen-
sive plan for flood control as a means
for providing employment, protecting
life and property, and offering per-
manent investment. Representative
White, Democrat, of Idaho, spoke In
favor of the river development in the
Northwest.
Admiral William H. Standley, chief
OF naval operations, was scheduled to
be the first speaker at the afternoon
session. Immediately following him
are listed Chairman McNinch of the
Federal Power Commission and Joseph
B. Eastman, Federal co-ordinator of
transportation. ]. N. Darling, chief
of the Bureau of Biological Survey,
also is on the speakers calendar to-
day.
The annual banquet of the con-
gress will be held tonight, with Sec
retary of War Dern listed as the prin-
cipal speaker. Several members of
the House also are expected to talk
tonight, and guests from both
branches of Congress have been in
vited to attend. The session will close
tomorrow, when the convention
proper will act upon recommended
tions of the Project Committee.