The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-26
Dear Mr.. Page:

Dear Mr.. Page:
Your letter of March 22nd is Just
received.
Whether effective effort is being
made to have congress approve
river and harbor projects at Will
mington will be determined by the
outcome rather than by opinion.
Certainly I am making every effort
possible. For instance, on yester-
day I filed with the senate the
latest report Of the Army Engineers
concerning the Wilmington harbor
and asked for publication Of the
document as a senate record. This
is a necessary step in the proceed
ure.
Moreover, it was at ny instance
a large portion of the Wilmington
harbor development was put into
the bill now pending.
AS for reporting out the bill, it
has been reported out, but since it
carried $412, 900, 900 in projects the
President advised against having it
sent to him for signature. More
oN0A, IAG lAoJoAAIy iSooS III eAS
senate requested that the bill be
held up and coupled with his re-
quest the intimation from the
President. I do not wish to put
through a bill merely for the sake
Of getting it through the senate. I
wish to put through a bill that will
become law, receive the Presidents
approval and not his veto.
In view of the Presidents attitude
we have sought to cut down a
number of projects-first, by elimi-
mating $40, 900, 900 of flood control
and power projects-second, and aft
er a further interview with the
President, we have tried to cut
down the strictly navigation prof.
ects to those more urgently needed.
This is the only way to get the
legislation through with the Presi-
dents approval.
The fact that the bill does not
require any money now may be
important, but if it is not going to
require money ultimately the bill
would be worthless. What I wish to
do is get through a bill for which
appropriations will be made IN reg
ular course. Agreed that 1 might
get through a bill that the Presi-
dent would veto-what good would
that do? Or agreed, that I might
get through a bill for which no
appropriation would be made, what
good would that do?
Your view that the necessary and
urgent projects could be taken care
of Immediately by selecting the
more important ones is precisely the
view that the subcommittee Is now
taking and at this moment, I am
awaiting the report Of the Chief OF
Engineers in which he will set u
the more urgent and necessary
projects. I agree with you that the
turning basin at Wilmington IS OF
great Importance and while l 90
not intend in any degree to abancon
the deepening of the river to the
sea and am hopeful that the project
will also be approved by the Chlei
of Engineers. I am glad that you
have made the distinction.
I feel certain that some sort OF
river and harbor bill will be report
|ed ont. Such delay as there has been
has been necessary to get a bill re-
norted out that will be effective. !
lam likely to be the chairman OF
the committee for nearly three
years and I think in this time i
may be able to get all the North
carolina projects approved ana I'n'
ished.
No question is raised as to the
right Of yourself and other 10 urge
that action be taken, but am ao'
vising that I am DOING n Ior
months have been doing, al eha'
can be done. =.
40 situation. When we reduce the
eAo no 1ico nnninf