Evening star., 1954-05-07
5eaway Bill Passage
~
Hailed by President;
Cites Long Effort
By Robert K. Welsh

1pg White House today.
( The bill went through the
House, 241 to 158, late Yesterday
in practically the same form
adopted by the Senate last
January. Several minor changes
by the House require Senate |
concurrence. Senate sponsors
planned to move for such action
to send the measure at once to
President Eisenhower for ex-
pected signing.
President Gratified.
Gen. Eisenhower hailed pass
age of the st. Lawrence seaway
bill in the following statement:
House approval of the bill to
authorize United States partici-
patton in the construction Cf the
st. Lawrence seaWay marks the
end of a long and historic effort.
After more than 80 years of
study and debate this great
project. recommended bv every
President since President Hard
ing, has been realized.
1T is source of tremendous
personal satisfaction to me that
this 83d Congress has made it
possible for the United States
to join hands with it's close
neighbor, Canada, in building
the seaway and by this means
to contribute materially to the
economic well-being and secur-
ity of both countries.
"The sponsors of the legisla-
ton are to be congratulated for
developing a new approach to
the st. Lawrence project which
eliminated the Objectionable
features responsible for the de-
feat of similar proposals in the
past"
Different Version.
In it's scope and estimated
$105 million cost to the United
States, this St. Lawrence sea-
way bill differs greatly from
many versions batted about in
Congress during the last %
years. But the outcome at the
Capitol yesterday was historic
If only because such legislation
finally made the grade there.
The margin of victory, on
final passage and in the defeat
of opposition moves to amend or
recommit it, proved greater
than the bills most optimistic
hackers predicted. Moreover, this
was the first time a st. Lawrence
seaWay proposal ever reached the
House floor for a vote of any
kind. And, from the standpoint
or the current congressional
session, the Eisenhower admin
istration scored a highly i'm
portant triumph. .4..
House voting, as anticipated,
showed widely split ranks in both
parties. Supporting the bill on
final passage were 145 Repub-
hcans. 95 Democrats and one
Independent. Against it were 81
Republicans and "a Democrats.
27-FOot Channel.
The bill, in brief, authorizes
this country to participate with
Canada in the construction and
control of a 27-foot deep chan
mel in a section of the St. Law
renee River. 1t establishes st.
Lawrence Seaway Development
Corporation with power to issue
revenue bonds to finance this
country's share of the project.
The bonds would be sold to the
United States Treasury. They
would be retired within so years
from funds collected in toll
charges for use of the seaway
channel enabling ocean-going
ships to travel between the At
lantic and Great Lakes.
The biggest battle in the House
centered on an amendment Of
fered by Representative Brown
son, Republican, of Indiana. This
would require that the $105 mill
lion in revenue bonds be sold to
private investors instead Of to
the Treasury.
Mr.. Brownson described his
plan as being essentially a "pri-
vate enterprise, method" of fl
nancing the project. Opponents
of the amendment declared it
would kill the bill as we'll as the
overall idea of United States
participation with Canada in the
seaway program.
Amendment Defeated.
The Brownson amendment was
defeated. 173 to 10. on a stand
ing vote. Representative Fallon.
Democrat. of Maryland who led
the floor forces against the bill.
then moved to return the meas
ure to the Public Works Com
mittee. Recommittal would have
amounted to burying the bill.
The Fallon motion lost, 242 to
157.
House debate during the last
two days became so repetitious
that it dragged at times. It new
ertheless was enlivened by
charges that the bill would hurt
the economy of some sections
and seaports in the United
States. and weaken or destroy
several major industries while
providing a Government sub
sidy" for others.
One of the most frequent
counter-arguments was that
Canada would go ahead with
the development in any event.
Advocates said this was the last
chance for Congress to give this
country voice in control of a
seaway essential to national de-
fense and directly affecting vast
areas of trade and transpor-
tation IN the United States.
Unlike most earlier st. Law
- -oaurox, Yoroy1oco1c tho hill