Evening star., 1936-03-20
us. RIVER CONTROL
URGED BY WAGNER
Federal Government Logical
Agent for Work, Says New
49,. York Senator.
BY ROBERT F. WAGNER,


The foods now devastating the
country lend a costly and tragic en-
phasis to the need for Federal Hood
control. While our first thought
naturally is to relieve the suffering
and distress Of the emergency, there
must be no delay in effecting a CO.
ordinated system of flood control for
the Nation.
Floods pay no attention to jurisdic-
ton. They are no respecters of States
rights. Nor do they consider the
capacity to pay of the man whose
house or factory they invade. This
problem Of food control has the COM
pelling insiStence of emergency. Not
because Of the present disaster-that
horse Is stolen from the barn-but
because, until adequate control works
are constructed these many areas are
danger zones and a large number OF
our people are in jeopardy.
The agency to meet an emergency,
where there is any question of respon-
sibility. should be selected on the basis
of efficiency. Where the physical
problem transcends the boundaries of
local governments or States, the Fed
eral Government stands as the logical
agent. In food control. the interstate
course of the water combines with the
interstate scope of the damage done.
through the halting of public services
and the interruption of traftic and
communication, to invoke Federal ac-
ton. This is strikingly illustrated to-
day in the Pittsburgh tie-up.
Prompt Action Required.
Because Of the multiple uses of water,
for power, for transportation, for in
dustry, for sanitation and consumption,
and because of the complex and far
reaching results when its control is
neglected, the public welfare demands
that this problem be promptly and
comprehensively met.
In practise and by the terms OF the
Constitution. the Federal Government
is accountable for the general welfare.
1t is also true that Federal action IN
this matter requires full cooperation
ON the part of the States and local
governments. New forms of regional
agencies are being tried to achieve
this co-ordination-the New England
Council, the Ohio River Board OF
Health, the port of New York Au-
thority. Flood control problems vary
with the physical social, and economic
characters of the regions affected and
methods of achieving Federal-State and
interstate cooperation may be suited
to the special problems involved. The
principle remains, however. that the
Federal Government should act.
Now is the acceptable time. Much
has already been done in engineers
surveys, in planning, and in P. w. A.,
where, as of January /, 1886, SIP, 176,-
533 has been granted to projects aimed
at flood control. The Mississippi River
and its tributaries have long been the
object of Federal flood control efforts.
Planned national conservation is the
stitch in time Money spent now on
these public works, even If the Gov
ernment must borrow and pay in
terest thereon, will earn for the cit
liens of the country freedom from
these sudden and devastating losses.
In few tragic days many times the
cost Of control works can be washed
from the taxpayers pockets and swept
down stream. Conservation Is max
ing steady progress as our approved
public policy. Now its extension to
water in the form Of flood control
should be given the attention of the
American people, who already heartily
indorse the forest and wild life con-
servetion activities of the Govern
ment.
Flood Control Not Relief.
Flood control is not relief, not
temporary means Of providing en-
ployment, not the rebuilding of de-
stroyed public works. It is the con-
Struction and maintenance Of certain
works, dams, levees. channel i'm
provements and reservoirs, according
to plans which consider the ultimate
maximum development of the affected
areas, their waters and their lands,
for the benefit Of their people, present
and future. Indirectly, of course, such
works do provide employment and
consume materials, which is not to be
overlooked in these times. These
works will provide relief, relief from
the danger of a repetition of the pres
ent disaster.
But it cannot be too plainly stated
that the Federal program of flood
control which am urging is no tenn
porary expedient. no stopgap, but a
most proper action of the Federal
Government in meeting its RESPONSE
bilities to the American people. With
the experience Of the past. the sad
emphasis of the present catastrophe
and the avowed interest of the admin
istration in public works, surely now
Is the time to adopt a comprehensive
program Of flood control for the Ma
ton.
(Copyrisht. 1886, by the North American
Newspaper Alliance, 1nc.)