Evening star., 1939-03-24
Rivers-Harbors
Congress Hears
Of DC. Works
NoIen Says Projects
Combine Utility
And Beauty

tulc VI IllC ucVclOpIllcIlC VI WdSIl.
ington's water resources, John Nolen,
jr., director of planning of the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission, today told the National
Rivers and Harbors Congress that
advances already made constituted
valuable contributions to the recrea-
ton, commerce, sewage disposal and
the scenic beauty of the Nation s
Capital
Mr.. Nolen was one of more than
20 speakers heard by the Congress
at its session in the Mayaower Hotel
Most of them insisted upon more
river or harbor or f1ood-control prof.
ects for the benefit of their To-
calities.
Representative Jennings Randolph
Of West Virginia, chairman of the
House District Committee, in a
paper read to the congress, en-
phasized the necessity for tributary
stream control. He previously had
appeared in person before the Prof.
ects Committee of the convention
to urge approval of flood-control
projects for the Upper Potomac
River. for Elkins, w. Va, and for
the Cheek River He told the COM
mittee he thought members of the
Federal Congress should give in
creasing attention to local flood con-
troll.
Closes Late This Afternoon.
The convention planned to close
late this afternoon with the adop-
ton of a report by its Projects Com
mittee.
A sharp attack on the Lea bill
In Congress on transportation was
delivered by Lachlan Macleay, presi-
dent of the Mississippi Valley AS
sociation. He charged this bill was
sponsored by the transportation
monopoly lobby" to the disadvantage
OF water carriers.
"The provisions of this BILL" he
said, If it is approved by Congress,
will add greatly to the limitations
now imposed on the motor carriers
and will effectually eliminate low
cost water carriers from our inland
waterway system >. The only in
terest promoted in this bill is carrier
interest, and the only carrier interest
served is the railroads"
Projects Inter- related.
Mr.. Nolen, in concluding his ex-
position of the waterways develop
ment around Washington, said:
The most interesting point about
all Of these programs for the de-
velopment Of the water resources of
the Potomac River centering about
Washington is that from the very
beginning there has been a persistent
desire to consider each project not for
Its own peculiar advantage alone, but
rather from the broader point of view
of the needs of the community as
a whole and as an integral part of
the city and regional plan, resulting
IN most cases in adaptation of plans
to serve wide variety of public
uses"
The speaker referred to plans for
developing the parkway road system
out OF Anacostia Park for handling
the volume of motor travel into and
out of the Capital.
Mr.. Nolen also explained to the
gathering the George Washington
Memorial Parkway, the Mount Ver-
non Memorial Highway, the Old c..
and o. Canal restoration project,
water supply and sewage programs.
Presiding officers this morning in
cluded Representative Jack Nichols
OF Oklahoma, vice president of the
Rivers and Harbors Congress-; former
Representative Frank r. Reid of
Illinois, the general convention
chairman.
Cornelius H. Callaghan, who said
he spoke not only for the Maritime
Association of the Port of New York,
but also for the State of New York
by appointment from Gov. Herbert
H. Lehman, strong opposed the pro-
posed st. Lawrence Waterway prof.
ect. He said he hoped that If the
treaty on this subject should be pre-
sented again, it would be disap-
proved. The Senate once before re-
fused to ratify this treaty.
Warns Against Bankruptcy.
A warning against the dangers of
bankruptcy for the American people
was sounded before the convention
yesterday by Senator Josiah w.
Bailey of North Carolina, chairman
of the Senate Committee on Com
merce.
He painted a serious picture of
Federal finances, and pointed to the
efforts toward economy now being
directed at the forthcoming years
appropriations.
"A river and harbor program sug-
gests a sound sense of public ex-
penditures," ne declared. Each prof.
ect would be put to the test, he said,
OF living up to the standard OF
providing productive opportunity for
the people of the country" He also
suggested that the American people
as whole should return to their old
habits of "self-restraint," and help
preserve the credit of the country.
/. C. c. Jurisdiction Hit.
Representative Bland, Democrat,
Of virginia sharply criticized pro-
poeaiS 10 give the Interstate Com
merce Commission jurisdiction over
water freight rates.
Pointing to Admiral Emory s.
Land, chairman of the Maritime
commission Mr.. Bland said:
I don't think waterways should
De placed under the Interstate Com
merce Commission, any more than
think railroads should be put in
your hands, admiral"
Mr.: Bland, chairman of the House
Merchant Marine Committee, also
crltlclzed United States officials who
travelled on foreign ships.
why in the name of heaven can't
tney travel under their own flag?" ne
asked. Its good enough for them II
.lley re good enough to represent
us abroad"
Mr.. Bland told the delepateS the