Evening star., 1947-07-17
Truman Flood Control
Plan Meets Powerful
Opposition in House
BY the Assoeiotsd Press

tIol ana river QeVelOpmenC pro-
gram bumped into stern and
powerful opposition today.
1T is a scatterfire and poorly
conceived plan" Chairman Taber
Of the House Appropriations Com
mittee, which must pass on the re-
quest. told reporters.
There is no possibility Of legisla-
ton this year." added Chairman
Dondero of the House Public Works
Committee. which has jurisdiction
over river programs up to the point
where the Appropriations Commit
tee takes over.
With that opposition to start with
and Congress in its warning days.
even the most optimistic hackers Of
the Presidents plan privately gave
up hope for action this year.
Will Face Fight Next Year.
There's nothing We can do until
next year. and 1t will be fight even
then" one of them said.
In q special message to Congress
yesterday, Mr.. Truman said the re-
cent devastating floods in the Mis-
souri, and Mississippi valleys make
1t imperative that something be
done quickly.
Accordingly, he said he would
send to the lawmakers promptly" a
formal request for the $250,000, 900
to start the work. That money
would augment sum of between
5000, o,000, 900 and $500, 900 900 being
considered by Senate House con-
ferees trying to compromise differ
ences in pending appropriation bills.
The President called flood control
"the most pressing problem" in river
development.
Problem of Deperate Urgency.
1T is problem of desperate
urgency" he said. What we need
to do is to take immediate advantage
of the Mississippi Basin authorize
tions-totaling almost $4,000, 900 900
which the Congress has already
voted for fiood-control and related
purposes"
To start the work, the President
said he wants $237, 900 900 for Army
engineer projects. most of them
flood control: sl0.00O,000 for recla-
nation projects. and 100000 for
soil conservation work.
The President sent to Congress
today the details of how Army engi-
neers would spend the s237, 900 900
for flood work in the Mississippi
River basin.
They are:
General flood control projects in
the Mississippi River basin, $l77,-
900 900: for food control work on
the lower Mississippi and its tribu-
taries. $4,000, 900, and for mainte-
nance and improvement Of existing
rivers and harbors work on the Mis-
souri, River between Sioux City and
st. Louis, $l0,000,000.
Senator Overman, Democrat. of
Louisian called Mr.. Truman's mes
sage "one of the greatest" ever de-
livered by President And Sena-
tor Revercomb. Republican, Of West
Virginia said that as member OF
the Public Works Committee in that
chamber he "wholeheartedly" in
dorses the plan.
However, both Mr.. Taber and
Representative Engel, Republican
of Michigan, chairman of the Ap-
propria tions Subcommittee which
handles river development funds,
said Mr.. Truman's program over
looks what they called the neces-
sity for concentrating work on
major projects.
Taber Doubtful Of Results.
"It won't produce results" Mr..
Taber declared. There are too
many dams now and they are scat
tering the work so much that it will
take 80 years to finish them"
The Appropriations Committee,
Mr.. Taber said, does not intend to
permit continuance of "the present
scatterflre program" Instead, he
added, Government engineers should
concentrate on projects OF the most
value.
They should pick out big dam
on the Missouri River, for example.
that will hold two years flow Of the
river, and build it quickly. One big
dam upstream will protect the others
down the river"
Mr.. Taber contended that present
policy of carrying flood control
power development dams full OF wa
ter to develop maximum power has
resulted In their being Of little or
no value for flood control"
Sees Cover for New Projects.
And, while saying he is not an
opponent of power development, Mr..
Taber said Mr.. Truman's message
looks like "a cover for lot Of power
projects" such as the Tennessee
Valley Authority.
The next thing will be Missis-
sippi Valley authority the New
Yorker said.
Many Midwestern members OF
Congress have been urging develop
ment of a Missouri Valley authority
for years, contending it would be
an ideal plan for food control and
power development.
Secretary of the Interior Krug
said. meanwhile. that the Presi-
dents reclamation flood control
plan. If adopted. would hasten con-
struction of 46 Of the SO Reclama-
ton Bureau dams approved for the
Missouri Basin.
He estimated that at present
prices the 46 proiects-four Of which
already are under construction
would cost $500, 900 900, exclusive of
canals. transmission lines and sup
Elemental features away from the
dam sites.
On the basis of prewar prices. Mr.
Krus added. they would return
SITS .453, 900 year in direct finan-
cial benefits-sl30 10000 in irriga-
ton benefits, s21.S03.0 900 in power
production, slS,500,o0 in flood con-
troll, s4.650,00 in navigation bene-
fits, and 100000 in municipal water
supplies.
!. Plans to Spend Al Million.
The Reclamation Bureau said 1t
has plans for spending SAT 800 900 In
the 1913 season on the expedited
program. on II projects in Wyo-
ming, eight in Montana, seven In
-, tn