1768 CONGRESSIONAL _RECORD-HOUSE FEBRU~RY 26 The PRESIDING OFFICER. With· Services Committee, which seeks to · is widely held in Oklahoma that the land out objection, they will be passed over. transfer · the Remount Service from the. is potentially valuable as a possible site HOME LOAN BANK BOARD Army to the Department of Agriculture, for the 'discovery of . oil and the drilling was favorably reported by the Armed of oil wells, and I think the Federal Gov The legislative clerk read the nomina· Services Committee by unanimous vote, ernment has a great interest in that . tion of J. Alston Adams, of New Jersey, and is based upon an agreement which potentiality. ' · to be a member of the Home Loan Bank already has been worked out by the Army I desire further to point out that the Board. . and the Department of Agriculture. horse industry of the country has come The PRESIDING OFFICER. With· In view of the hearings we have had to rely on the Remount Service dur out objection, the nomination is con· in the Armed Services Committee and ing the course of many years. 1;here firmed. in view of the extensive negotiations are millions of dollars of Federal money The legislative clerk read the nomina~ which have taken place between the invested in it. Contrary to the impli· tion of William K. Divers, of Ohio, to be Army and the Department of Agricul· cations of the comments · of the Senator a member of the Home Loan Bank Board. ture, certainly I do not think any good from Oklahoma, there is a great demand The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without purpose would be served by having the in the State of Oklahoma for the reten objection, the nomination is confirmed. bill recommitted to the Committee on tion of ·El ·Reno as a Federal remount UNITED STATES ATTORNEY Agriculture for further stp.dy of the sta'tion. · · The legislative clerk read the nomi problem. I think the only way in which the nation of Frank E. Flynn, to be United · The record is perfectly clear. I am. Senator from Oklahoma an 1772 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE FEBRUARY 26 Mr. RICH. If we are to spend money Ohio [Mr. BENDER], by the National Com On Febru.ary 18, 1947, Henry C. Hart for this purpose, we have certainly got mittee to Abolish the Poll Tax and was testified before the Senate Committee on to stop spending it for a lot of these for presided over by the vice chairman of the Atomic Energy as fol~ows: eigi.I projects. national committee, Mrs. Virginia Foster The CHAIRMAN. Who . solicited you for Mr. RANKIN. The gentleman would Durr, according to the Evening Star membership in the party, and who repre not mind that, and I would. not either. article. sented to you that he or she was an au So far as I am concerned, the American Mr. Speaker, I wish to call the atten thorized representative of the party enabling people come first. I think if you go out tion of the membership of this House to you to become a -member? and examine that map and those figures, the statement concerning the National Mr. HART. A man named Ted Wellman, from Chattanooga, who stated that he was a Ten and then turn to the RECORD and read the Committee to Abolish the Poll Tax by the nessee secretary of the Communist Party. statement I inserted on yesterday, you Special Committee on Un-American Ac The CHAIRMAN. Was he an employee of will all agree with me that you cannot tivities in their report to the House. The TVA at that time? afford to vote against this amendment. National Committee to Abolish the· Poll Mr. HART. No. EXTENSION OF REMARKS Tax has its headquarters at 127 B Street The CHAIRMAN. Was he the only one that SE., Washington, D. C. The Special solicited you to join the Communist Party? Mr. HART asked and was given per Committee on Un-American Activities Mr. HART. He was; yes. I was encouraged mission to extend his remarks in the is not concerned one way or another with to join by a Miss Catherine Buckles. She RECORD in two instances, to include in the issue of the poll tax, that is, so far as did not solicit my membership. one an address by Hon. John W. Snyder this report goes. The fact that the Na Senator KNOWLAND. Was she a TVA em and in the other an address by Hon. ployee? tional Committee to Abolish the Poll Mr. HART. Yes; she was at that time. She MARY T. NORTON. Tax is a Communist front organization left almost immediately after I got to TVA. Mr. GARMATZ asl{ed and was given is all that concerns the Special Commit I think she left about 1937 . .. permission to extend his remarks in the tee on Un-American Activities. The .REcORD and include an address delivered ARMY CIVIL FUNCTIONS APPROPRIATION committee has documentary evidence in 'BILL, 1949 at a banquet given by the Council of its possession, in the form of bank rec Lithuanian Societies in Baltimore. ords, whieh proves conclusively that the Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. Mr. Speak Mr. VURSELL. Mr. Speaker, in con National Committee to Abolish the Poll er, I move that the House resolve itself nection with my former request, I failed Tax has received financial support from into the Committee of the Whole House to indicate that I desired to extend my the Communist Party. In this connec on the State of the Union for the con remarks in the RECORD in two instances tion it is always pertinent to bear in mind sideration of the bill ·third, maintenance of lower Mississippi; FLOOD-CONTROL PROGRAM . stantial progress in completing medium and fourth, no reductions were made in There are 43 flood-control projects un . sized and smaller projects during the that part of the estimate provided for der $1,000,000 which carry a recommen· fiscal year 1948. Sixty-'two flood-control bringing back the war dead to the United dation of $6,278,700. There are 56 flood· projects and 18 rivers-and-harbors proj States. control projects which will cost from ects, or a total of 80 of the 244 projects, FLOOD CONTROL AND RIVERS AND HARBORS $1,000,000 to $5 ,000 ,000 each for which ·will be completed· during the fiscal year The Army engineers recommended to $31 ,930,000 was recommended. There 1949. The estimated- Federal cost of · the Budget Bureau a · total of $874,441, are 55 projects which will cost from $5,· these projects when completed· is $156,- . 600 for rivers and harbors and ftood con 000,000 to $20 ,000,000 for which $91,215,- 533,100. In addition to these, there are . trol. The Budget Bureau recommended 300 was recomm ended, and there are 29 a number of other projects which are $665,894,000 for that purpose to the Con projects which will cost · over $20,000,000 ·practically completed and· for which a gress. The recommendation of the De . for which $176,313,000 has been recom· -small balance remains to be appropriated partment of the Army was· more than .mended. .for clean-up work. It has been the policy of t he committee to fi nish a project twice the amount allocated for that ap RIVERS AND H ARBORS P ROGRAM at least to a point where protection was propriation last year. The recommenda There are · 15 river-and-harbor proj tion of the Bureau of the Budget was given or t he harbor facilities could be ects under a million dollars, for Which used, if possible. $250,340,475 .or 60 percent more than the $2,'640,000 is recommended. ·amount appropriated for that purpose There are 12 projects which will cost P ANAMA · CAN AL ·last year. The committee felt that be from one to five million dollars; for which The budget estimate for the Panama cause of increased costs a reasonable in · $7,815,000 was recommended . Canal was $23,436,300. - .The committee . crease in the appropriation was justified. There are 20 projects which will cost allowed $19,476,313, or a reduction of It did not however allow the full recom from fi ve to-twenty million dollars, for $3 ,959 ,987 . . ·Your chairman went over mendation of the Budget Bureau. which $13 ,326,000 was recommended. ea.ch item in the bill carefully with the There are 244 rivers and harbors and There are 14 projects which will cost ·Governor of the Canal Zone and sub ·flood-control construction projects in the ·over $20,000 ,000, for which $51,522,000 is mitted to the committee when marking bill before the House, for which there is recommended in the bill. up the bill a statement showing where . contained a recommendation of $381 , Thus we find that the bill before the . the Governor of the Canal Zon·e thought . 541 ,300; $306,237,000 of :the amount rec House contains 43 flood-control and 15 cuts could most easily be absorbed. The ommended is for 183 flood-control proj river-and-harbor projects, or a total of -committee did not follow the Gover . ects and $75,304,000 is for ·61 rivers and 58 projects, the total cost of which will nor's recommendation in all partieulars. harbors projects . . · be under $1,000,000 each. -The total rec . While the committee, I believe, favored RI'\!ERS AND HARBORS ommendation for these 58 projects con the housing program for the Canal Zone tained in the bill is $8 ,918,900. Second, as set forth in the report, it did not feel The budget estimate for new work for justified in proceeding with that program ·rivers and harbors amounted to $193,- . I recommended at that time that there be set aside a definite amount for proj until the question of the acquisition of 717,000. The amount recommended in · adequate bases was settled. ·the bill is $151 ,831 ,300, a decrease of $41, ects which would cost from one to five ' FREEZING OF ·RIVERS AND HARBORS AND FLOOD ' 88~ . 700 below the budget estimate. 'The ·million dollars ~ach which would prob- ·committee gave the same consideration ·ably be constructed within 2 years. This CONTROL CONSTRUCTION MONEY IS COSTLY ·to each project before a reduction was bill contains $39,745,000 for 68 flood-con Without being critical of anyone I feel made that it did in the case of ftood con trol and river-and-harbor projects of it is my duty to call attention of the trol. this type, the total cost of which will run House to a situation which has cost the from one to five million dollars each. FLOOD CONTROL, GENERAL taxpayers a gTeat deal of money and that · Thus .we find 13 percent of the total funds is the freezing of moneys appropriated The amount recommended in the bill provided in the bill before the House, or by Congress for rivers-and-harbors and . for new work under "flood control, g.en · $49;164,200, is for the construction of 126 · flood-control construction. Let us· take eral," is $321,282,000, a decrease of $74,- · r.iver-and-harbor and flood-control . a practical mustration of how thi's works 658,000 below the budget estimate. The projects costing less than $5,000,000 each. , out. The Army engineers advertise for committee considered and analyzed each · I suggested a definite amount for proj bids on a large contract. Contractor A project separately. Where a reduction ects which would cost from five to twenty among othe.rs is about to bid on this con :was made we took into consideration the million dollars each. This bill contains tract. Contractor A has the ordinary progress. of the work and wherever pos -74 projects which will cost from five to type of equipment which he has been . sible we permitted completion of .a cer twenty million dollars each. The amount using in contract work. His engineer . tain item or items in that construction. . recommended for these 74 projects is -studies the project and finds that if he Although we did not necessarily follow -$104,041 ,900. The balance of $227,835,- could use a larger type of equipment the recommendations of the engineers in 000 is allocated to the remaining 48 proj-, for instance if he could use a 13-cubic each instance, the engineers .were con ects which will cost over $20,000,000. yard LeTourneau truck instead of a 5- or. sulted on each project by your chairman While there are undoubtedly inequities 8-cubic-yard scraper he could submit a before he recommended a reduction on in the bill, I feel that the distribution of much lower bid and make more money. that project to the subcommittee and funds between the various size projects He consults the equipment company .your committee had that informa'tion as has been fair. No small project has in from which he buys his equipment. The . to each project when the bill was marked my judgment been sacrificed or withheld . company checks his figures, works with up...... · because the large projects were taking him hoping to sell the equipment. They FLOOD CONTROL AND RIVERS AND HARBORS all the money. finally make an agreement that if he CONSTRUCTION POLICY ·- COMPLETION OF PROJECTS obtains the contract at a certain figure When the 1948 civil functions bill was I also recommended that no project they will furnish the equipment and he before the House on July 1,' 1947, I sug be commenced unless Congress is willing · can pay for such equipment in monthly gested a definite policy of planning and to appropriate enough money to carry ·· installments out of his contract. He is constructing projects. That plan tried that .project forward to its completion thus enabled to and does submit a much to give consideration to every type of at a rate of construction which sound lower bid than he could otherwise have project regardless as to how small such engineering requires if we are to obtain submitted. He gets the contract, buys project was. In qrder to carry out this -the most flood-control or rivers-and· the machinery, moves it on the job, and -part of the plan, I suggested a certain harbors work for the tax dollar. While begins to move dirt. percentage of the funds be set aside for the money in the bill carries forward All this ·was done with the knowledge each type of project. The Chief of Engi- this aim, I am sorry to report that be and feeling that adequate appropriations ·neers in submitting his estimate to the cause of the number of large projects were made by Congress for this purpose Budget Bureau followed this plan as under construction we were not able to and for this project which would be ne"arly as possible. The committee bill carry out this aim fully. Substantial . available for the entire fiscal year and which is recommended to the House fol progress has, however, been made along for the· project ·for which it was appro ·Iows substantially the same plan. this line. We did, however, make sub- priated. Just about the time he gets 1774 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-1-IOUSE , FEBRUARY 26 going good a Presidential order comes This paragrap}l follows the break for repairs, and they do not provide for through freezing the funds. The Army down of $70,000,000 recommended by the the construction of authorized pro~ects . engineers are required to tell the con President. where there has been a record flood, as I tractor that he must slow down because If it should develop that since the hear have indicated, since this bill has been the money is not available. His contract ings were conducted by the committee reported, because such construction takes two seasons or 2 years instead of and since this bill was reported there would be from regularly appropriated one. His machinery rusts out instead have been record floods along any of funds. , . of wearing out. While his machinery is the tributaries of the Mississippi, or, for Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. In other rusting out the interest and carrying that matter, in the lower Mississippi words, where the projects are not speci charges on his equipment go on. He is Valley that would justify a distribution fied in the report the Chief of Engineers unable to make the payments. His bf funds so that those flooded areas may has discretion in allocating those funds, overhead and carrying charges eat up be protected by the construction of au and he has exercised that discretion for his profit. He is lucky if he does not go thorized · projects, is the Chief ·of Engi a number of years. broke. neers authorized to make the adjustment Mr. MAcKINNON. Mr. Chairman, will The next time this contractor bids, he in the distribution of the total $60,000,- the g.entleman yield? is going to increase his bid, as will every 000, even though it means an increase in Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. I yield to the other con tractor, to take care of this the said break-down for any one item, so gentleman from Minnesota. contingency. This has been one of the as to provide for the construction of au Mr. · MAcKINNON. I realize the gen reasons we have been unable to o,btain thorized projects in the flooded areas? tleman was absent when the upper Mis in many cases enough competitive bid Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. The gentle sissippi River-St. Anthonys Falls proj ding and why the bids have been high. man refers, of course, to the $60,000,000 ect was considered. May I ask the gen The action of Congress in making the appropriation for the lower Mississippi tleman what consiqeration has been funds available, together with the fact which is put in the bill in a lump sum and given to that project in this particular that there was some semblance of a defi does not specify individual projects; is bill? nite plan of expenditure, restored some that correct? Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. May I cor of the faith in the contractors. As a re Mr. WHITTINGTON. That is correct. rect the gentleman·? The chairm-an of sult, we have been obtaining, I am told, I · am referring to the break-down of the committee. was not absent when better bids and more bidders. The first $6,000,000 for the Yazoo Basin and to the that project was considered. He was ab large dirt contract that was let after the authority of the Chief of Engineers to sent when a Membe.r of .Congress came 1948 construction funds were made avail increase that amount to construct the before the subcommittee and spoke in able was Garrison Dam in North Dakota. Greenwood and other authorized projects favor of that project. _ I am told tbere were seven bidders, and below the Grenada and Enid Dams. The CHAIRMAN. The time of the to the surprise of everyone, for the first Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. The Chief gentleman from Michigan has expired. time for a number of years the low bidder of Engineers, in my judgment, would Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. Mr._Chair was $1,500,000 below the Army estimates. have the authority to expend that money man, I yield myself 5 additional minutes. The real economy lies in the contractor on any authorized project, provided he The Budget submitted to the Con using the largest type of machinery the did not exceed the $60,600,000. gress contained an estimate of $176,000 job will permit. Mr. WIDTTINGTON. In other words, for advance planning for St. Anthonys I went over some of the .cuts which it is the intent Of the committee, and Falls. The President, through the Bu were made in this bill with one of the such, in the gentleman's judgment, would reau of the Budget, did not send dowh division engineers after the bill was be the intent of the Congress, if this bill any construction figures for st. An· marked up. We came to one cut of a is approved, that the Chief of Engineers thonys Falls, and the committee ·took ' million and a half. He said we can take shall have discretion so that those funds no action either way on it, and did not that cut. This job will sell for $1,500,000 may be, as the gentleman has stated, consider any construction item for it. less. Another s:lmilar instance involved spent wherever they should be in fair Mr. MAcKINNON. But you have aJ a half-million-dollar cut, and there un ness and in the discretion of the Chief of lowed money for advance planning, doubtedly will be other instances. I am Engineers, on any authorized project, Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. Yes. convinced that this definite policy will following generally, of course, the tenta Mr. McDONOUGH. Mr. Chairman, result ultimately in saving millions of tive break-down, as far as he might be will the gentleman yield? ~ dollars to the taxpayers, giving us more able, but distributing funds to construct Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. I yield to flood control and river and harbor work authorized projects to prevent a recur the gentleman from California. · · for the tax dollar. rence of existing major floods. Mr. McDONOUGH. I appreciate the I want to express my personal appreci Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. Of course, policy the committee is pursuing to get ation for the splendid support I have re maintenance -money would have to· re these .projects completed within a cer ceived from practically every Member of main intact. tain period of time, but in considering this House, and particularly the gentle Mr. WHITTINGTON. I · understand that fact, have you given thought and man from New York, JOHN TABER, chair that. consideration to these districts, such as man of the Appropriations Committee, Mr. E:NGEL·of Michigan. In my judg Los Angeles County, a tax-levying body, and the other members of the Appropri ment, he would have, I think, that lee that raises some $3,0.00,000 a year to ations Committee. way. maintain and to build new construc Mr. WHI'ITINGTON. Mr.· Chairman, Mr. WHITTINGTON. Such would be tion and flood-control projects, in addi will the gentleman yield? the intent of the committee and the in tion to the funds that the Federal Gov Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. I yield to tent of the Congress if this bill passes; ernment contributes? For instance, in the gentleman from Mississippi. that I understand to be the gentleman's 1947 the Federal Government contrib Mr. WHITTINGTON. I want to call view. uted $3,898,000, and we raised $3,789,516 attention to the following paragraph on Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. That is true. for flood control within the county, page 14 of the committee report, in con-. . Mr. MUHLENBERG. Mr. Chairman, Now, that is an exceptional situation. nection with the appropriation of $60,- will the gentleman yield? You do not find that all over the United 000,000 for the Mississippi River and Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. I yield to State~. Notwithstanding that fact, your tributaries, for which the President rec the gentleman frorp: Pennsylvania. contribution in this bill to the county is ommended $70,000,000: Mr. MUHLENBERG. Should it not- be far below the amount that will -complete The amount recommended in the instant pointed out that some of the funds for the projects · that have to be completed bill for the above items of $60,000,000 reflects emergency floods come out of a special within a reasonable time from here on. a reduction of $10,000,000. appropriation an~ would not come out, The CHAIRMAN. The time of- the There is not a sufficient break-down in the therefore, of the $60,000,00_0? gentleman from Michigan has again ex- justifications for ·many of the above items pired. · for · the committee to indicate just where Mr. WHITTINGTON. I am not di the reductions are to be made so must rely. recting my attention at present to any Mr. KERR,. Mr. Chairman, I yield upon the judgment and fairness of the Corps thing except the authorized projects and myself 13 minutes. · of Engineers, in which the committee has the· pending appropriations for those Mr. Chairman, ·the bill now under con great confidence, to make the most 'equitable projects. I am well aware that' there are sideration, if you discard -the political distribution of the'$60,000,000. emergency funds, but they only provide and financial matters now involved in 1948- CON_GRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 1775 the world and especially this country, is receipts from operations there' should (The table referred to is as follows:) the most important legislation that will make this a self-supporting act~vitY, _. B reak-down of river and harbor and flood come before this Congress. This meas~ Tolls, ~ees, fines, a:nd pro?ts on b_usmess control p1·ojects, civil functions appropria- ure before us involves directly the wei- operatiOns deposited directly m the tion bill 1949 fare of two-thirds of the population ·of Treasury of the United States should be ' the United States as well as the protec- sufficient to pay all costs of operation ----~------:-----;---- tion of property and the creation of fa- and a reasonable return on the invest- P~-~~ct Amount cilities which will serve this Nation for ment of more than $700,000,000. At the ------______generations to come; to neglect to take present time tolls on commercial trans Number of projects submitted to care of our great natural resources arj.d its are insufficient to meet operating Bu!·eau of Budget: husband them for national use is a crime costs and the committee has recom Rivers and harbors ______111 $169,927,000 Flood controL ______248 474, 292, 60() inexcusable and a reflection upon our mended that proper steps be talcen to in- Number of projects approved by opportunity as well as our intelligence. crease the toll charges. Bureau of Budget: Rivers and harbors ______. 54 107, 350, 000 .This bill does not contain all the items The committee has been presented a Flood controL __ ------ 181 381, 895, 000 which we would have liked to have placed very difficult problem in connection with Number of projects stricken out in it, many of them are justifiable and providing a proper amount of funds for by Bureau of Budget: Rivers and harbors ______t7 35,676,000 will be eventually taken care of,- they normal operations, including construe Flood controL ___ ------67 70,096,800 have the approval of legislative enact- tion, in the Canal Zone. I refer to the Numher of projects recommended by committee: ment, of our Army engineers, and of the rejection by the Panamanian National Rivers and harbors ______61 75, 304, 300 recommendations of our Executive Assembly of an agreement permitting the • Flood controL ______.: __ _ 183 306, 237, 000 Number of projects stJ'ickcn out budget. The committee has been giving United States to occupy and use certain by committee: careful and close study to each item defenS'e sites outside the Canal Zone. It Rivers and harbors ______10 8, 429,000 Flood controL_.------ 7 5, 421,600 brought before us and has endeavored is not the purpose of your committee to Num bcr of projects added by com· to present for your consideration a com- attempt to dictate-or, for that matter, mittec: Rivers and harbors ______prehensive and beneficial act which will advise-in international policy, but it is ]~ 2, 731,300 Flood controL __ ------ 11 4, 759,700 benefit our Nation and its interests. the responsibility of the committee to Number of projects increased by The bill before us carries· appropria- provide funds for all proper activities and committee ____ ------~ tions for activities ·related to the military when a policy is not in agreement there Number of projects to be com· but not strictly military activities. For is no firm basis upon which to make com plcted with the fisca l year H!49 instance the first item, in the bill is to mitments requiring the expenditure of funds ___ ------80 Number of States having projects_ ------ 143 provide funds for construction, improve- funds. Speaking only as one member of Number o1 witnesses heard (not ment, and maintenance of national cern- the committee I am in hopes that a including Members of Congress)_ ------ 150 Number of Congressmen aidin g ete:(ies where our military dead may rEst proper understanding can be agreed upon the comm ittce with te s ti~ony _ 104 in honored peace. Due to circumstances before we are again called upon to pro that do not need be related again at this vide funds for this activity so that we 1 And Alaska. time. the nEcessity for funds for the reg- may have presented to us estimates for ular appropriation has increased during expenditures based upon firm agree Mr. ·KERR. Mr. Chairman, it is to be the past year and it is_the intention of ments. Officials assigned to duty in the noted that the committee has recom your committee to meet the increased Canal Zone by our Government are men mended funds for river and l!arbor proj need by recommending increased appro- of the highest caliber in whom our Nation ects in 32 States and in Alaska; and for priations which are approved· by the . can have every confidence and I am sure flood-control projects in 36 States of budget. . they have done and are doing everything the Union, a combined list of 43 States For the_Alaska Communications Sys- possible to deal fairly with the Pana and the Territory of Alaska. tem, a system of communications oper- manian people. This is one of the most important ap • ated by the Signal Corps, Department of I come now to the appropriation for propriation'measures that we present to the Army, and serving the civilian as well river and harbor and flood-control work, the Congress. The benefits that will as the military needs of one of our most including construction work, mainte come from the expenditure of these important outlying possessions-Alas- · nance and operation of projects already funds will flow to a greater number of lm-we have appropriated an amount completed, preparatio!l of detailed plans our people than most any other appro Equal to the amount of the current year's . and drawing of specifications, and other priation we make. Under it we propose appropriation and realizing the neces- incidental items related to this work. to harness natural resources and bring sity to make repairs and extensions to The over-all appropriation recom to all our Iteople the benefits that will meet the need of expanding industry in mended in this bill for river and harbor flow from the installation of millions of the. Territory have authorized this very and flood-control work is $539,100,300, an excellent organization, the Signal Corps; increase over last year's appropriation kilowatt~ of ·electric energy, the protec: to utilize for the fiscal year covered by for the same items of $123,546,775. The tion of their homes and property from this bill 15 percent of the funds received number of projects upon which new work the rav~ges of flood, and to augment the from the commercial activities to make or additional work is proposed is 24.6, of industrial power of this Nation so that necessary repairs and extensions. which 185 are flood-control projects and it may continue in the forefront of all The expenditure of funds for the 61 come under the heading of river and the nations of the world. By a proper United States Soldiers' Home, Wash- harbor work. The amount recommended administration of the projects developed ington, D. C., which is only a short dis- for construction on the river and harbor ·under this appropriation, or of which tance north of where we now stand, is projects totals $75,304,300; and for flood this appropriation is a part, there will authorized in this bill. These funds are control $308,237,000. be developed projects that are self-sup not from the miscellaneous receipts of I would like to submit for the RECORD, porting and over a period of time will be the Treasury but are collected at the rate and ask unanimous consent for that pur self-liquidating. The benefits that will ·of 10· cents per month from each soldier pose, a detailed statement giving the flow from them during peacetime _will of the Regular Army; from finEs and for- number and appropriation request of materially make living in this Nation feitures imposed upon soldiers of the projects both under river and harbor and more enjoyable and in the event of an ·Regular Army, and 3-percent interest on flood control as submitted to the Bureau emergency will afford the industrial the fund held in trust for those entitled of the Budget, the number approved by power that has kept this Nation great. to membership in the Home. The Home that Bureau and submitted to the Con These are projects that cannot be de was established after the War with Mex- gress, the number recommended in this ico upon the recommendation of Gen- bill, and some other pertinent inforina veloped after an emergency has arisen eral Winfield Scott and is a self-support- tion concerning the statistics of this ap- but must b2 amo~g that category of ing institution. propriation bill. things that must be stock piled during The Panama Canal, another of our im- The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection normal times. It is fortunate that this portant outlying possesions, receives to the request -of the gentleman from is one item for stock piling that will be funds through appropriatioris carried in North Carolina? self-supporting and add to our com this bill. As conditions return to normal There was no objection. fortable_ manner of living during th~ ·- • 1776 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE FEBRUARY 2.6 many peacetime years that we look for for permanent improvement would, ·I your attention the fact that away down ward to and at the same time may pro . think, have been granted. in the Mississippi Valley, in the Missis vide the one thing that will make other· . The bill contains other appropriations sippi Delta, there has occurred one ofthe nations hesitate to start another war. for· civil functions of the War Depart major floods of history in the Delta. Mr. Chairman.. I have made a habit ment. I see no reason why members That flood is now 'in progress. · of my life to speal~ well of my colleagues of the committee should consume ·an The people of that area for generations and especially of those with whom I have the time in general argument, and I am before national flood-control legislation worked and learned of their viewpoint not going to do that, but I am going to taxed themselves as they are taxing and their purpose to serve their country vote with the committee in trying to put themselves today to provide protection and their fellowmen. I shall ever cherish this bill through. I hope Members will for their homes and lands. I live on the with pride and affection my recollection not decide that their projects are so Yazoo River, which is rather famous in of my association with the members of sacred that no cut should be made. We romanc'e and story, away down South in my subcommittee who constructed this are not ruining any project on which Dixieland. It is a river about 400 mi!-es bill and which has been approved by the budget recommendations have been long. Its ba~s were settled by the l'io full Committee on Appropriations. We made. I trust the bill will be passed neers of the great Southwest. Towns did our best to present to the House a without change. and cities were founded and established good. job,. one which I could approve with Mr. FLANNAGAN. Mr. Chairman, I and have grown thro:ugh the years along a feeling of pride. yield 20 minutes to the gentleman from this river. The people of the area have The chairman of our committee, the Mississippi [Mr. WHITTING TON] . spent, according to a report submitted gentleman from Michigan, ALBERT Mr. WHITTINGTON. Mr. Chairman, by the Chief of Engineers some 13 years· ENGEL, is a physical and mental dy I should like to say that in my judgment ago, approximately $50,000,o00 in con namo, vouchsafed by a _character unim the committee has been most wise in con structing works to provide for drainage peachable in a sincere purpose to do that ducting hearings and reporting the pend and flood protection. The building of which best subscribes his fellow man and ing bill early in the session of Congress drainage canals and the acceleration of his country. It is a pleasure to work so the appropriations can be utilized dur- the flow of waters from the hills in south- with him. He has the confidence and . ing the next fiscal year and during those ern Tenne.c;see and northwest Mississippi highest regard' of the membership of this parts of the year when. the seasons are increased the flood levels. Congress ·has House. most favorable for construction. I trust authorized ample legislation for the pro-. Our committee is indeed fortunate to that the policy inaugurated by the com tection of that area. have as our clerk Robert Lambert, a care mittee during the current session may be Works have been constructed along ful and painstaking and intelligent Pl.\b continued in the sessions to come. the upper part of that river, consisting lic servant, a man of wisdom and discre Through the years I have advocated primarily of two dams, supplemented by tion, who is familiar with every detail flood protection for the lower Mississippi channelization and by levees to increase and fact involved iri. the construction of River and its tributaries. I have also the protection afforded by the dams. this bill. Mr. Lambert is an employee of urged flood protection for all of the rivers Two of the dams have been built and two this Government whose record, in my of our common country. While advo remain. One was placed under construc opinion, will rank among the highest and cating protection for the lives and prop tion but work discontinued in 1943 dur best who ever served this Nation. erty of the people whom I have the honor ing the war. Two of the· dams remain, . Mr. NOR-RELL. Mr. Chairman, I yield to represent, I have accorded comparable and are now under construction.' They .myself 3 minutes. protection to the other people of the are known as the Granada and Enid Mr. Chairman, I have not prepared country. I am the only Member, as I Dams. Below those dams are local pro·--. a special address, but I do want to take recall, in the Congress who has been a· · tective works to supplement the dams. these minutes to pay my very highest member of the Flood Control Committees For the last 5 years along the· l<;>wer compliments to the chairman and all that .have reported and ·recommended Yazoo River there have been excessive members of the Subcommittee on Civil all of the flood-control authoriz::ttions floods, and today the city in which I re-· Functions of the War Department. They now on the statute books. F'or years I side, composed of some 25,000 souls, is have been fair. ·we have cut the bill was chairman of the Committee on Flood entirely surrounded by a lake of water. somewhat, but a close examination will Control. I know ·the difficulty that con As a result of that-record flood, within disclose that the bill has been reduced fronts this committee. I know how hard a fraction of an inch as high as any flood on projects in the States that we repre it is to satisfy various interests. It has in the history of our lower Mississippi sent as well as other States. been my privilege to appear before the Valley, that city is surrounded by a lake The bill is fair. I think it is free from committee to speak for general flood con 25 miles, approximately, in width, and politics. I thinl~ it is a good bill. trol, and particularly for flood control 175 miles in length. Winter crops, in Much has been said with reference to along the lower Mississippi and tribu cluding oats and cover crops, have been. flood control and river-and-harbor taries, for years. The very distinguished destroyed and an area of approximately projects, but I want to call your attention chairman of this committee the gentle 500,000 acres has been overflowed. Lives to the fact that this bill also covers ap man from Michigan [Mr. ENGEL] has have been lost. Damages aggregating propriations for national cemeteries in been most patient and he and the mem millions of dollars have been sustained, the States. These items have not been bers of his subcommittee have been fair and my home city, where I have lived cut. It covers cemeteries in the Terri in according hearings and in giving con durin& the years and wlfere I expect to tories and islands and these items like sideration to the various projects cover die, is spending at the rate of, they tell wise have· not been cut except in the re ing flood control, both general and on the me, many thousands of dollars a day arrangement of the program. It also lower Mississippi River and tributaries. hiring labor and placing sacks to supple covers the Alaska communications sys Mr. Chairman, rivers have always in ment the local protective works for which tem, which is very important; rivers and terested me. Their majesty, their charm, we have issued bonds and for which we harbors; flood control, general; the lower and their power have for years engaged are taxed today to keep back the flood Mississippi and Sacramento Rivers; and my attention. They are ~mong the most waters of this record flood along that Soldiers' Home here in Washington. valuable assets or resources of our coun river. Soldiers' Home is financed by the inmates try. They are made to serve, not to · I can understand the view of the com of that institution and we have accepted destroy; they are intended to be the mittee. The President of the United their program. It has no~ been cut at all. friend, not the enemy, of man. States· recommended for the fiscal year We have reduced the Panama Canal as I appeared before the committee,. 1948 $24,000,000. He ascertained his mis far as permanent construction is con speaking from my knowledge of all of the take. The waters came. The floods mul cerned and I want to say that until we flood-control projects that have been au tiplied, as you will recall, in the upper can protect this Canal I doubt the wis thorized on all of the rivers of our coun Mississippi Valley last year. He supple dom of preparing any facilities down try, and I spoke particularly with refer mented his recommendation for the there of a permanent nature. We must ence to the great alluviai valley in which lower Mississippi and tributaries by rec make some arrangement for the protec I live. Since the committee concluded · ommending . an additional $50,000,000. tion of the Canal and I want to empha its hearings and agreed upon a report on Congress appropriated only $50,000,000 size that if we had the right to protect this bill, I am sure the members of the for 1948. In the budget for the· current the· Canal the appropriation requested committee will pardon me if I bring to fiscal year 1949 the President recom- • 1948 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 1777 mended for the lower Mississippi Valley, Mr. WHITTINGTON. I have so stat While I am profoundly interested, and for the completion of the levees along the ed already. I called attention to that. have been through the years, in the pro Father of Waters and the father of But I also called attention to the fact tection of the lower Mississippi River and floods, for the construction of revetments that it is $10,000,000 under the budget in the protection of the Yazoo River I to protect those levees from caving, for estimate of the President, just as the ap have never urged that protection at the works in the alluvial valley along the propriations for general flood control expense of my fellow citizens in any part tributaries of that river, including the are some $73,000,000 below the budget. of Mississippi, and I have advocated that Yazoo, the St. Francis, the White, the Mr. CASE of South Dakota. The those whose lands would be condemned Arkansas, and the Red, $70,000,000, and committee hoped that it was striking a for the construction of dams and rights there is in the hearings and contained in happy compromise. of-way for levees be adequately com.: the report of the committee a break Mr. WHITTINGTON. That happy pens a ted. down of how those funds would be ex compromise, however, is flexible, I am Mr. WILLIAMS. Mr. Chairman, will. pended. The committee has reduced sure. As the distinguished chairman of the gentleman yield? that appropriation to $60,000,000, and it the committee the gentleman .from Mr. WHITTINGTON. I yield to the is fair to say that they have made a com Michigan [Mr. ENGEL] indicated in re gentleman from Mississippi. parable reduction in general flood con sponse to my question, this appropria Mr. WILLIAMS. I can certainly add trol, for you will keep in mind in this bill tion is so flexible that in his judgment, nothing to the remarks of the distin and in the authorizations we have legis relying on the fairness and the judg -~uished gentleman from Mississippi, who lation for general flood control and legis ment of the Chief of Engineers, in whom Is probably the leading authority in the lation for flood protection in the lower your committee and.I have confidence, it United States on the subject of flood con 'Mississippi River and tributaries includ may be utilized for construction where trol, and who has probably done more ing. the Atchafalaya outlet, and those there are priorities because of existing along these lines than any man in the are the tributaries that I have just floods that should be immediately com history of the Un~ted States Congress. named. pleted. The Chief of Engineers is au He has made a splendid presentation of I wish the committee had reported the thorized to use more than the amount this problem that is common to our dis appropriation of the $70,000,000 recom of the break-down, especially in areas of tricts, and I commend him on it. · . mended by the President of the United existing major floods. I believe the gen I hope and trust that sufficient funds States for the next fiscal year. I under tleman from South Dakota · will agree will be included in this measure when it stand the parliamentary situation. This with me in that construction. is presented to US· on the conference re · flood along the Yazoo River is typical of Mr. CASE of South Dakota. That is port to provide the needed relief for other floods that have occurred in other correct. That was my understanding. these suffering people along the Yazoo parts' of our common country since the Mr. NORRELL. Mr. Chairman, will River. hearings were concluded. In my judg the gentleman yield? Mr. GAVIN. Mr. Chairman, will the ment it is the intent of the €ongress of Mr. WHITTINGTON. I yield to the gentleman yield? the United States to make appropriations ·gentleman from Arkansas. for the construction of works in the order Mr. NORRELL. As a member of this Mr WHITTINGTON. I yield. of their priority. There was allocated committee, may I say that I reside across Mr. GAVIN. I heartily concur in the $6,000,000 for the completion, primarily, the Mississippi River from the gentle statement made by my good friend the of the two reservoirs that I have named. man's district. I feel that this bill is cer gentleman from Arkansas [Mr. NORRELL J. The bill contemplates that at least $5,- tainly adequate for · the Army engineers The work done by the gentleman from 000,000 of that money would be spent on to use whatever funds may be necessary Mississippi [Mr. WHITTINGTON] on flood the dams, that lands be acquired and to protect the gentleman's city and area control has won for him the highest that supplemental works, including the from the floodwaters. I hope they will commendation of the Members of Con Greenwood protective to the amount of do that. gress on both sides of "the aisle. The about $700,000 be constructed below While I am on my feet may I also say gentleman has made a distinct contribu those two dams. The dams are located that the gentleman from Mississippi has tion to the welfare of our country in his about 25 to 35 miles above the city in been a Member of this House for a long work on flood control to afford relief to which I live. time. Formerly he was chairman of the the people of the Nation who suffer from There are other cities along that river, House Committee on Flood Control. I these devastating recurring floods. I the;re are other towns in districts repre know I speak the sentiment of the House congratulate the gentleman on the fine sented by my colleagues the gentlemen when I say there has never been a Mem service that he has rendered over the from Mississippi [Mr. WHITTEN, Mr. ber of the House who has been more able years, and his record on flood-control ABERNETHY, and Mr. WILLIAMS] which and efficient in that committee than has work is one of which he can well be are entitled to comparable protection. the gentleman from Mississippi. I think proud. The Congress of the United States appro he is the o'utstanding authority on flood Mr. WHITTINGTON. Mr. Chairman, priated $12,000,000 for emergency flood control. He is not only an outstanding I am very grateful to my friends for their cpntrol on all streams last year. It is my authority in the committee but I think kind remarks; but, getting back to the view that this committee, if it was ever the authority as far as the Nation is con matter at hand, which is the need for justified in accepting an amendment, cerned. He has been fair and honorable. flexibility in this appropriation to pro~ would be justified in accepting an I understand that he probably will not be vide for the priority projects, and par amendment to provide at least $2,000,000, with us another year, because he is vol ticularly projects such as I have de not to authorize new projects but to pro untarily retiring from the House. It is a scribed and of which I know personally, vide for the construction in the next fis distinct loss to this House for the, gentle I want to say that, in my judgment, this cal :7ear of those projects that have been man from Mississippi to retire. We need project, authorized as it is, this project, authorized for years, some of which are his services and the Nation needs them. begun as it has been begun, is typical of now under construction, so that the peo I hope he will reverse his decision and other similar projects. This bill carries ple in this area, below the dams on the come back to the House. $500,000 for emergency work. It has Yazoo River, may not be subjected to Mr. WHITTINGTON. I am very been exhausted. It should be increased these recurring floods next year. grateful to my friend from Arkansas. to at least $1,000,000. I take pride in that Mr. CASE of South Dakota. Mr. May I say that, while I am interested provision. It was authorized in the act Chairman, will the gentleman yield? in the protection of the city in which I of 1936. Under the act of 1947 the appro Mr. WHITTINGTON. I yield to the reside, I trust that I will never be so self priation in the bill for emergency work gentleman from South Dakota. .ish as not to be willing to accord com of $3,000,000 applies to every river and Mr. CASE of South Dakota. What parable protection to the city of Yazoo, every stream in the United States. the gentleman has said about the reduc in the district my colleague the gentle Whenever there is a flood, the Corps of tion under the buC:get estimate is correct, man from Mississippi [Mr. WILLIAMS] Engineers is authorized to get on the but at the same time the appropriation represents, and the other towns ·n his job and do repair, rescue, and · emer for Mississippi River l'!,nd tributaries flood district, as well as in the districts of my gency work. The supplemental appro control is $10,000,000 above what it was colleagues the gentlemen from Missis priation, and the amendment I think last year. · sippi [Mr. ABERNETHY and Mr. WHITTEN]. that this committee would be justified in 1778 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE FEBRUARY 26 approving, ought to be for at least $2, vested with the power to advise the that is now being overflowed along the ·000,000 in the Yazoo Basin. This bill legislative committees of the Congress; Yazoo River below the dams. If a flood carries $500,000 for emergency work as I to advise the Appropriations Committee, as high as any that ever occurred is not have said. My information is that ap impartially representing the Government sufficient justification for the exercise of proximately that amount will be spent in and the taxpayers. I sometimes think the discretion and confidence reposed jn fighting these floods along the Yazoo we overlook the debt of gratitude we owe the Chief of' Engineers, it would be diffi River, to which I have referred. to the Corps of Engineers, the most capa cult to imagine a condition that would The CHAIRMAN. The time of the ble engineers in the world. I want to say cause the Chief of Engineers to increase gentleman from Mississippi has expired. a few kind words about the Government the tentative allocation for the Yazoo Mr. NORRELL. Mr. Chairman, I yield agencies that are efficient, at every op Basin. As a matter of fact, and as the . the gentleman 10 additional minutes. portunity. I know of no agency in this chairman of the committee, the gentle Mr. WHITTINGTON. Mr. Chairman, Government that is now or has been for man from Michigan [Mr. ENGEL], has my point is that an additional expendi.:. more than a hundred years, more eflicient said, there have been transfers in the ture of $2,000,000 would be an economy than the Corps of Engineers of the past. Personally, I believe that there is to the Government because approxi United States Army. The Corps of Engi a better way than for the Chief of Engi mately $400,000 to $500,000 has been neers is· rendering more satisfactory serv neers to exercise the discretion invested spent along the river which has been ice today than it has ever rendered. The in him. That better way. is for Congress subjected to major floods every y_ear for Red Cross is on the job in floods. I think to increase the appropriation so as to the last 4 or 5 years. What I say with it is fair to comment about that fine or provide for the works contemplated as respect to the construction how of works ganization at this time, Mr. Chairman. shown in the break-down of the Chief of that are needed-that is, priority There were more than 200 boats, some of Engineers for the lower Mississippi River works-is applicable to other rivers in them large ones, sent to the community and tributaries, and to provide in addi· . the country. in which I live within the last few days . tion to the $60,000,000, at all events, from .Mr. DONDERO. Mr. Chairman, will The Red Cross, the War Assets Admin $1,500,000 to $2,000,000 additional, which the gentleman yield? istration, the Federal Works Agency, the I am informed by the office of the Chief Mr. WHITTINGTON. I yield to the Corps of Engineers, and workers by the of Engineers will be required for the pro distinguished gentleman from Michigan. hundreds have rendered valuable service. tective works of the city of Greenwood Mr. DONDERO. I simply rise to echo Floods come not always in the sunshine. and for other protective works below the the sentiments that have already been I remember the great break along the city of Greenwood, and in the Greenwood Expressed on the floor and also to remind lower Mississippi River in 1927. It was area. While the committee feels that it my distinguished colleague from Missis cold and for the past 4 days workmen cannot approve an additional million and sippi that Congress has given the Army had been on the job with boots up to a half or two million dollars, the intent engineers an emergency fund of $12,000,- their waists, working in raincoats and .rain hats on the Yazoo River. They were is clear that the Chief of Engineers has 000 to do exactly what the $500,000 is to authority and that in the case of major do as provided in this bill. cold. The Red Cross and the Army engi neers have been there . in the city of floods he is justified in exercising the Mr. WHITTINGTON. I am gad to discretion to increase the amount allo have my chairman remind me, and I Greenwood and along the Yazoo River to rescue, protect, and aid. The people cated to the Yamo River Basin by addi would like at this time to have the debate tional funds from the total of $60,000,000 show, that we appropriated $12,000;000 of whom J: represent are most gratefuL While the appropriation in the pending to prqvide for the imperatively needed that $15,000,000 last year for relief pri authorized works below the dam, includ marily of the northern parts of our coun bill of $60,000,000 for the Mississippi River and tributaries is intended for the ing the protec1iion of the city of Green try. I voted for that. This bill carries wood. ' $3,000,000 for emergency work, which is projects in the break-down, as the chair man of the committee, the gentleman The $6,000,000 for the Yazoo Basjn the remainder of the authorization. So from Michigan [Mr. ENGEL] has said, contemplated at least $5,000,000 for con that in addition to the $500,000 carried and as the gentleman from South Dakota tinuing the building of the Grenada and for the lower Mississippi Valley, which [Mr. CASE] and the gentleman from Enid Dams, and $700,000 for the Green should be increased to at least $1,000,000, Arkansas [Mr. NoRRELL] have also said, wood protective works. It also contem we have made provision for $3,000,000 the Chief of. Engineers may add to, or plated funds for the acquisition of lands ·for all the rivers of our country which I for that matter where he finds that there in the reservoir areas. As I stated in think is most wise. In addition to that are more emergency works, take from the the hearings before the committee, I be we were called upon to make emergency break-down as reported fn the com lieve that the lands in the reservoir pools, appropriations primarily for the mid mittee. in the order of their priority, should be contjnent floods of $10,000,000 to $12,- On page 14 of the report of the com acquired at the earliest practicable date, 000,000 for three successive years prior to mittee, the committee was very careful and I have urged that funds be made 1947. The point I wish to make is that to say, and I quote: available for this purpose. :l.t is essential for the works that are The amount recommended in the instant I would like. to summarize by saying under way along the river on which I bill for the above items of $60,000,000 re that the authorized project along live to be carried on. The two contracts flects a reduction of $10,000,000. There the Yazoo:Tallahatchie-Coldwater River fo .. two dams were made about 18 months is not a sufficient break-down in the justi system consists of four reservoirs to be ago. Fortunately for the -Treasury· of fications for many of the above items for the supplemented by levees and channeliza the United States they were continuing committee to indicate just where the re ductions are to be made so must rely upon tion below the reservoirs. Two of these contracts. Provision is made in this bill reservoirs are in the upper Yazoo Basin. for carrying on those contracts. If these the judgment and fairness o! the Corps of corttracts had to be awarded toda-y the Engineers, in which the committee has great They have been completed. They are confidence, to make the most equitable dis known as the Sardis and Arkabutla Res probability is that the cost of construc tribution o! the $60,000,000. tion would be very, very much more. So ervoirs. While there have been high I insist that the position of the. chair While $6,000,000 is in the break-down waters, there have been no record floods man, the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. for the Yazoo Basin, the Chief of Engi below these two dams. The Enid and ENGEL] is correct, that the sound policy neers, in hts fairness and in his judg Grenada Dams are under way. If they · to pursue is to provide for the completion ment, has the power to make an equitable had been completed and if the works au of the contracts and the projects that distribution of the $60,000,000 authorized thorized along the river below the dams are under way, and for priority works so as to increase the $6,000,000 pro had been constructed, the damages and especially the smaller projects-as he gramed for the Yazoo Basin by at least destruction of the present major flood calls them. a million and a half, or $2,000,000, would not have occurred. The least that In this connection I want to say that in the record flood area along the can be done for the people who have the flood-control projects that have been ·Yazoo River to construct imperatively suffered overflows from five successive, authorized and that are covered by this needed local authorized works for the excessive floods during the last 5 years, bill are all sound. The first section of protection of Greenwood, Belzoni, Yazoo with record floods in 1946 and 1948, is the Flood Control Act of 1936 declared City, and other towns, and for the pro to provide for the prompt completion of the policy. The benefits must exceed tection of the farms and for the protec the dams and the immediate construc the cost. The Corps of Engineers is tion of the people and lands in the area tion of protective works in the Green- 1948·- CONQ-RESSIONAU RECORD:-HO_USE 1779 wood area, ·and in the construction of a personal word, the House has sup.. of the House and the country generally other works authorized below the dams. ported the bills that I have reported for, will applaud the decision of the commit I understand the parliamentary situa- authorization of flood-control projects. tee not to reduce any of the estimates tion. The committee states that the I think· I can say that those bills through submitted in behalf of national ceme Chief of Engineers can distribute the the years and for many years ·authoriz teries in the United States. So we al $60,000,000 so as to provide not-only for ing projects were passed by the House lowed the full amount for the program the $6,000,000 for the Yazoo River sys- session after session without amend on headstones and for the program of the tern, but to· supplement that by sufficient ment. I trust that the pending legis various cemeteries in the States. You funds to construct the Greenwood proj- lation, flexible as it is, will always be will find a table of this work listed on ect and to do additional construction of continued and always be construed so page 2. authorized projects below the dams. I as to provide flood protection for the When we came to consider the other . agree with that interpretation, but I re- lives and the ptoperty of the people of category we had a definite problem on peat that in fairness to the break-down the United States no matter when or our hands. because last year there had the better course would be to increase. where the flood disaster comes, by the heen some estimates· for new national the appropriat{on for the construction construction of authorized projects in cemeteries in some of the islands and the .of the authorized projects below-the two areas subjected to major floods, as is the committee was 'bothered by the extraor dams. Economy to the Government· case, on the Yazoo River. dinary cost that was proposed for their would result: I trust that this will be· . Mr. Chairman, I yi~ld back the hal development. done in the other body, for under the ance of my time. There was the high cost of grubbing parliamentary situation it is evident that The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman and cleaning the land, the high cost of the increase cannot be obtained in the from Mississippi yields back 1 minute. grading, and the high cost of putting in House. I repeat that the emergency ap- Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. Mr. Chair trees, shrubbery, and a flagpole. The propriation of $500,00D carried in the· man, I yield 10 minutes to the gentleman chairman, I think, will recall one flag pending bill should be increased to at· from South Dakota [Mr. CAsEJ. pole was estimated to cost $7,000. · least $1,000,000. !.believe that hearings · Mr.· CASE of South Dakota. Mr. Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. The flag· in the other body will also justify this Chair.t_nan, the chairman of our subcom pole at Hawaii was estimated at $3,500, increase. mittee suggested that I say a few words at Pue.rto Rico ·$5,000, and-Alaska $7,000.· I trust that before this bill is finally· about the cemetery program as reported Incidentally, the $5,000 flagpole for presented to the President, in the inter- · in this bilL Before I do· so, however, I Puerto Rico has dropped down to about est of economy and to prevent a repeti- wish to pay my own respects to the. work $3,500. . tion of losses such as I have ·described· · which the gentleman. from Michigan .. ' Mr. CASE- of South Dakota. In any during the next fiscal·year, that the pro- [Mr. ENGEL] has done. as chairman of. event the proposals based upon the costs: vision for the lower Mississippi River_ this.... committee, the. work which tl that were submitted last-year were not and tributaries, providing as. contem- clerk, Mr. Lambert, has done, and .. the allowed and a further study was made. plated, $6,000,000 for the Yazoo Basin to work which the distinguished. gentle In the present bill the committee is pro which I have already referred," will be man from North Carolina [Mr. KERRL posing funds for the establishment of increased- by at least $2,000;000 to pro- has done. They have given us excellent. two national cemeteries in the islands, ·vide for the construction of authorized leadership and the benefit of their years one in Puerto Rico for the Atlantic area projeets 'below those two dams, already of experience in the handling and prepa and one in Hawaii for the Pacific. authorized, essential to supplement those ration of this bill. This is not an easy The Puerto Rico cemetery is proposed fwo dams when they have been com- bill to.prepare because there are so many for ari initial development that will take pleted. When I say that I also want to interests of various Members from all care of 3,600 graves plus reserves at an say that if between now and the time over the country; and the problem of the ultimate cost of $1,480,000. Of that this bill IS considered by the other body committee has been to try to find an amount $368,000 was requested for work ·it should be brought to the attention of . equitable handling of the various situa- this year, which is being allowed. the Congress, in the other body, that tions that have arisen. In allowing this amount the commit ~i' comparable fiood has occurred along I wish to speak of the various national tee wishes to call attention to the fact ariother river in another part of the cemeteries that are appropriated for in that the estimates for grading, topsoil, country, while I am human and inter- the bill. The Members will recall that seed, landscaping, care,· grubbing, and so ested in the area I represent; I trust there are three types of cemeteries which forth, amounted to approximately $19,660 that I am unselfish enough and that I are administered by agencies of the Fed an acre, which seemed to us to be very am liberal enough to continue the policy · era! Government for those who have high; ::;o while the committee allowed t}:lat in my humble way I have been pur- · served in the armed forces of our Nation. the amount requested for the · Puerto suing throughout the years, to advocate One is the national cemetery with which Rico cemetery, we are admonishing the that comparable protection be accorded we are concerned in this bill. A second. Cemeterial Division -of the Army that in to those areas. is the military cemetery on foreign soil doing t-he work we think they should re Mr. -WALTER. Mr. Chairman, will which is administered by the American duce the itemized · cast more · than here· the gentleman yield? Battle Monuments Commission. Those projected. · Mr. WHITTINGTON. I yield. cemeteries are appropriated for in The main problerri that the committee · Mr. WALTER. Several years ago the the bill dealing with the independent of-· had was· in determining what should be . gentleman's committee reported favor- fices of the Government. ·Then t}'J.ere is ' done · in the Pacific. There were two · ably a bill that provided for a project for also the cemetery on the land of the Vet cemeteries-p:r-oposed, one· in ·Guam and the Lehigh Valley. In this present ap- erans' Administration facilities which one in Hawaii. In Guam the ultimate propriation the sum for engineering_has_. is administered by the Veterans' Ad· development cost was . estimated at $1,- been increased over the budget estimate. ministration. Those also are appro 350,000, which . would not include any The amount contained in the bill will priated for in the bill .handling the inde collateral cost to provide hotels or fa enable the engineers to complete all of pendent offices of the Government. cilities for next of kin to visit the ceme the engineering. Does not the gentle- : In this bill, however, we appropriate tery if ·they wanted to. The climate in man think the committee should approve f.or national cemeteries, and here again Guam is--several degrees hotter than Ha the work done by the Appropriations the national cemeteries covered by the waii, and it is not exactly a place one Committee so that the entire engineer- funds in this bill break down into two would make a trip to for consolation or ing work can be completed without fur- categories: One, the sectional cemeteries for pleasure. And it would require a ther appropriation? · in the States in continental United round trip of 7,600 miles beyond Hawaii. Mr. WHITTINGTON. I believe the Stntes, and the other, national cemeteries - The committee w'ent into the picture gentleman has made his case, and his in the Territories and islands. With the presented for Hawaii · at · considerable argument carries with it its own answer. returned bodies of our World War II length, particularly the so-called punch I agree with the gentleman, iri his view. d~ad now coming from overseas the de- bowl area·, which is the bowl of an ex l just want to say with respect to the velopment and improvement of many of tinct volcano above the city of Hono committee that through the years I have our national cemeteries to receive them lulu. It.i.S a site that was most unusual supported it. I have worked witp it. h.as .become a primary. obligation of the and recommended itself to the commit~ · Through the years, if you will pardon Nation, and I believe that the Members tee. While the initial cost of grading is ' 1780 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE FEBRUARY 26 high, the land either-belongs to_the Fed.; to the Delegate from Hawaii [Mr. FAR committee believes that what it has ac eral Government or is being donated\ so RINGTON]. complished· this year will go a long way that the ultimate cost should not be too· Mr. FARRINGTON. Mr. Chairman, toward progress ·on civil functions in high when the number of graves is con I merely want to supplement the pres completing· projects beneficial to' com sidered. entation of the gentJeman from South merce and the security of the Nation. I have here a design prepared by the Dakota by saying that the selection of · Take for inst{tnce the upper Ohio River engineer -for the Cemeterial Division this extinct crater as the site for this Valley, the water$ of which. are made which shows the modified ·plan as the national memorial cemetery has been the up largely of the Allegheny and Monon Cemeterial Division proposes on the basis object of a great deal of study over a gahela Rivers and · their tributaries. of the recommendations in our bill and period of some 5 or 6 years. The selection From these two rivers come· the waters report. Originally it was suggested that of this site has the approval of the which cause floods in Pittsburgh, a very a cemetery be developed for 16,000 graves government of the Territory, the City vital section of the country, especially with 3,000 graves for reserves. Planning Commission of the City of from the viewpoint of production and Upon reexamination and further study Honolulu, and of all the veterans' organi defense. the engineers decided at the request of zations. I think that everyone who has For the Conemaugh Dam, the con the committee that they · could provide examined it-and that includes several struction of which should be completed - an additional 8,000 graves for $150,000 Members o~ the House itself-agrees that with the least practicable delay, there so that there would be the possibility of this will develop into more than a ceme .. has been appropriated for the fiscal year accommodating 27,400 burials in graves tery. It will develop into a shrine, very of 1S49, $7,875,000. It is most urgent the and in reserves, which is what the com appropriately situated at the point where work on the Conemaugh be carried for mittee has recommended. In doing so the war started. ward before the approach of a devastat we have allowed more money than was I want to add only one more fact, and ing flood such as we witnessed in 1936. requested originally for the Hawaii ceme that is that the urgency of developing The country cannot afford to have recur tery. That is for the present year. The this cemetery is self -evident from the a flood of such effects in Pittsburgh and ultimate development at Hawaii will fact that there are at the present time the construction and -completion of this cost $1,535,000. The ·budget estimate several thousand bodies above .ground in project will give not only to this section was for $653,0.00 initially, but when we Hawaii awaiting turial. It is imperative of Pennsylvania, but to the Nation as talked with the Cemeterial Division that this decision be reached and that well, the protection and assurance to about. the possibility of .developing this these bodies be properly interred. · which the country is entitled. on a· larger scale, they said it would be The adoption of this provision of the The Army engineers have assured us desirable to develop this year some of the bill as reported by the committee will that all the projects in the bill before us phases proposed for later on, so we have make this possible. I am strongly in are economically justified. The ever allowed their suggested figure of $1, favor of it. growing population of this country L72,000 . for .the· economical prosecution . DU.s site .. known to the nativ.e Hawaiian. should not be denied now· the ·protection of this cemetery in Hawaii, contemplat people as Puo Waina, or Hill of Sacri that the completion of the projects will ing that those bodies included for burial fice, will become, by the expenditure of give to the health, safety, production, in Guam would also be buried here, and this fund, a memorial cemetery in which and defense of the United States~ ·There leave a reserve of over 8,000 in c~e all every American can take pride. is no question but what rivers and har of those who are. put there. It is pos · Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. Mr. Chair bors are among the Nation's most· valu- sible that some of those will not be put . man, r yield 10 minutes to the gentleman able contribution to the general welfare there, but in any event, that makes pos.:., from Pennsylvania .[Mr. T.IBBOTT]. of our .people. Rivers" and. harbors are sible· a saving in the funds requested for, Mr. TIBBOTT. Mr. Chairman, the the property of the people. These prop · this year for the two cemeteries of- $296,-· Subcommittee on Civil Functions began erties must be protected from overflowing 402 . . In the- ultimate cost of ·the two. its hearings on 'the bill before us on Jan-' waters. if we are te guard-the 'Safety·and cemeteries it will mean· a saving of $1,- uary 12. The pea-rings were completed health of our populace. Protection · 200,000. . . several days ago. against :flood waters is vitally · essential This chart or map design he:J.Oe, 1 think, The committee has given broad con · to industry,_the - backbone of our econ will · suggest to the Members something sideration to the amounts requested by omy. There are some· pro-jects ·in this of the beautiful plan that is possible for the Board of Army Engineers for the need bill which have met with-a paring of ap the cemetery at this site of the bowl in the construction of and for flood propriations; however, none of the re above the town of Honolulu. .Some mem control proJects for th~ fiscal year 1949. ductions will seriously hinder completion bers of the committee have seen,this site Under the very ·able leadership of our· of the projects. .The efforts of -the -com in· years ,gone by, arut we are conyinoed·: hard-working chairman, the gentleman· mittee were· in the direction of com- · that this will become one of the g.reat from Michigan [Mr. ENGEL], we have ar pleting the projects in the shortest pos patriotic shrines of the Nation. _' From rived at . an over-all estimate which sible time and to have this done at the . the rim of the bowl you can 'look down, should, in the coming year, giv.e the most least feasible expense. · · upon Pearl Harbor, ·where the war in economical effect of the projects in this ; The· Corps of Army Engineers· have a the Pacific started. It is high above bill. tried standard and method of awarding the: city. It. is well drained. In tlie Ha.; . While the increased cost in the projects contracts. In my opinion their pro waiian tongue, the hill is Puo-Waina-· is higher than last year, yet there is no cedure is practical and for the best in I am not sure of the pronunciation, and doubt .but what there is justification for terests of the United States. Methods of perhaps the Delegate from Hawaii will such. Under this year's construction of advertising the work and awarding the correct me~but the · meaning of the flood-control projects there will be found contracts to the lowest bidder are fol words which the native Hawaiians ascribe the 'largest Congress has ever directed lowed strictly. They insist upon an ade to this bowl is The Hill of Sacrifice. It the ·Board of Army Engineers to under quate number of bidders. Their specifi is the proposal of the committee: that tak-e. Gen. R. A. Wheele:r, chief, Corps cations are ~arefully gone into by hold this become the national memorial ceme of Army Engineers, and his able assistant, ing conferences with contractors prior tery of the Pacific. In the city of Hon Colonel Feringa, are to be highly compli to opening proposals for large projects, olulu there are ample facilities for the mented for the scholarly manner in thus 'they have been able to aw'ard con taking care of the next of kin who will which' they helped the committee. Gen tracts to the best advantage of our Gov want to go there to visit the cemetery eral Wheeler is a remarkable person and ernment. in which· their loved ones are buried. one in whom the committee has explicit · I would like. to dwell for a moment on 'The funds are made immediately· avail-· confidence. · appropriation of funds for the Panama able and we hope tliat the project can We believe the items in the report are Canal. We must face the fact that the proceed to prompt development. most essential at this time. We have Canal is vulnerable in the event of an The CHAIRMAN. The time of the tried to arrive at an equitable solution emergency~ · Since we ·are now living in gentleman from South Dakota has ex of all the problems presented to us. Ma an atomic age, the Isthmus of Panama pired. jor floods occur from time to time. They could, from a bombardment, be wiped out Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. Mr. Chair are certain to recur. Just when they within· short order. It is for derense man, I yield such time as he may desire will happen we cannot predict. The purposes that we must consider the. se- 1948 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 1781 curity of this hemisphere in .times of war. sUe was- one of .the most · outstand-· move a peg. You will do well if you keep The main functions of the Car}.al, -as we ing in that part of the world for a me from going back downstream. · know it, is that of transit of vessels from morial cemetery. It is a bowl of an ·ex They have attempted for years and the Atlantic t<;> the Pacific and vice versa. tinct volcano crater overlooking the city years to find a way to construct a slack While tlJ.e combined operations are of Honolulu. From its rim one can see water route up the Tombigbee River largely those of a commercial business the vast Pacific. Immediately below is into the Tennessee. The Tennessee from which large revenues are received, Pearl Harbor where ~he Second World River is .on a plateau about 100 feet above yet military and naval establishments on War started for the United States. The the Tombigbee, 25 miles away, but be the Isthmus are extremely important. bowl is known as the Hill of Sacrifice. tween them is a sand ridge, with no The estimates for the Panama Canal, fis ~ach year on Easter Sunday morning water supply at the summit. They cal year 1949, are prepared to maintain. large -crowds gather there for -- sunrise would have had to put in locks going up the highest-degree of efficiency to meet services. It is not difficult to visualize· from the Tennessee as well as locks going the necessary services. The capit~J as the time when the National Military • up from the Tombigbee. You cannot sets of the Canal exceed $700,000,000 and Cemetery of the Pacific will be one of operate locks to lift water traffic to a included therein are structures which are the Nation's shrines. In the face of all higher level without a water supply at depreciable and which have been in use the evidence presented to us showing a the summit. But in 1938 the .Tennessee -' for about 30 years. Having a value of lack of facilities at Guam, which is some Valley Authority built the Pickwick Dam over $100,000,000 replacement of these 4,000 miles from the mainland, the com just below the mouth of the Yello~ structures should go ·forward and im mittee deemed it advisable to recommend River, where this project connects with proved facilities of various kinds are in a merger of Guam and Hawa-ii ceme the Tennessee Ri-ver. order with the least practicable delay. teries in Honolulu as the National Mili That raised the water level about 55 The principal revenue from the Pan tary Cemetery of the Pacific. feet. The Army engineers made a new ama Canal is derived from tolls which TENNESSEE-TOMBIGBEE INLAND WATERWAY survey and, as I have told you before, amounted to $17,642,146.24 in the fiscal Mr. KERR. Mr. Chairman, I yield 20 they came back the most enthusiastic year 194';" as compared with $14,791,- group I have ever seen. They said: We 807.14 in 1946. During the last year or minutes to the gentleman from Mis sissippi [Mr. RANKINJ. h ave found now that we can cut through two traffic through the Canal has settled that sand ridge, put the summit of this to what may be considered reasonably Mr. RANKIN. Mr. ·· Chairman, I was very much interested in what the dis project in the Tennessee River and ·have normal. A study is ·being made of the all the water we will ever need. With 'tolls in the Canal Zone at 'this _time, by tinguished gentleman·from Pennsylvania [Mr. TIBBOTT] said about national de the 18 lakes and dams that will be con the Governor with the possibility of rec structed between the Warrior River and ommending an increase of tolls to the fense. I propose to offer an amendment at the Tennessee, it will give us a slack full amount permitted by law. The tes water route along the -Tombigbee from timony of Governor Mehaffey before the the proper time for ·$1,500 ,000, the amount recommended by the Bureau of Mobile to the _Tenness~e River, 481 miles. committee is to the effect that· the defi Then you have a downstream route, cits which he estiniates for the next the Budget, to begin the construction of the Tennessee-Tombigoee ·inland water down the Tennessee River all the way to couple of years could-be wiped out by an Paducah, Ky., 215 miles, arid then down increase of approximately 10 cents a ton way, the most important waterway de velopment of its kind that has ever been the Ohio River 47 miles to Cairo on the or. loaded ships. A ·deficit which it is Mississippi. estimated will occur within the n{}xt proposed in this country; both for' do mestic transportation and national de The traffic will the-n move count.er· year is approximately $300,000.. This clockwise, come down the Mississippi, g·o increase of cost would be assessed against fense. For more than 150 years-we have been across along the intercoastal waterway commercial shipping. The ships of the to Mobile, then up to the Tennessee and American Navy and of the United States trying to develop a slack-water route from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great down the Tennessee to the Ohio, and Government -use the Canal without the then down the Ohio, into the Mississippi · payment of tolls. Lakes. About a year ago, or a little more, people along the Ohio River started at Cairo. That will provide a slackwater _ One of_the important problems in the route from Mobile all the way to -Pitts· Canal Zone is that of hospitals. Gorgas a movement to try to find some ·way to construct an outlet to the Atlantic Ocean. burgh, Pa:, because they have a slack Hospital was . built over 25 years ago, at water route on the Ohio River. There a time when clinic practice was ·of minor Those problems will be entirely met when this pr'oject is developed. are 46 lakes and dams between Cairo and importance. Now with the tremendous Pittsburgh, which provide a slackwater traffic in and out of the hospital it has It has already -been authorized by both Houses of the Congress on record route these barges can use almost as become so congested that a bottleneck is easily as they can go along the inter· usually present. Limited space in the votes and signed by the President. It is various clinics makes it necessary to use now authorized by law, and that law is coastal waterway. corridors off of wards as reception rooms, not going to be changed. It will also equal a slackwater route thus noise and confusion throughout the All we are asking for now is a reason from the Gulf of Mexico to Chicago, be· hospitals disturbs sick patients. The able appropriation with which to begin cause the 262 miles downstream from proposed -inipro:vements will provide this construction. It not only means where we strike the .Tennessee River to much needed facilities at Gorgas Hos more to us from the standpoint of trans Cairo will offset the 218 miles upstream pital. portation, but, as I-said, it means more from Cairo to the mouth of the Illinois The committee was confronted with from the standpoint of national defense River. Then we have a slackwater route the recent rejection by 'the Panamanian than any other project of its kind that' up the Illinois River into the Great Lakes National Assembly of an agreement per has ever been proposed. at Chicago. mjtting the United States to occupy and I want to talk to you for just a few If this waterway were in operation to· use certain defense sites outside the moments and explain what this project day, the people along the Atlantic sea Canal Zone. Under such circumstances, really means. board would not be suffering for want the committee believes that the expendi From Cairo, Ill., to New Orleans, La., of fuel with which to heat their homes. ture of great sums of money in the Canal is 869 miles downstream. You still have Mr. HESELTON. Mr. Chairman, will Zone for improving and expansion of not reached the mouth of the Mississippi the gentleman yield? existing facilities is not justifiable as long River, which is more than a hundred Mr. RANKIN. I yield. as the Canal and other vital installations miles away. That stream flows on · an Mr. HESELTON. Will the gentleman cannot be properly defended. If it were average of 2% miles an hour. Coming explain how you get across to the east not for these circumstances I would feel down you have no trouble. It is a joy. coast. Is it through an intercosatal inclined to fav.or a program of housing ride; but when you start back, some waterway? Can that not be carried to replace the wooden structures greatly times you will find that river flowing 5 through across North Carolina? needed for the efficient operation of the or 6 or 7 miles an hour. -A barge can Mr. RANKIN. No; but these barges Qanal. only move about 5 or 5% miles an hour can go up this route to the Great Lakes;1 We had bef.ore us estimates on na in still water. So when that river is and can then be carried by boats or tional cemetel.'ies at Puerto Rico, Guam, half or two-thirds full you will burn up barges through the Great Lakes and and Hawaii. At Hawaii the pro~osed all the gasoline in Louisiana ·and not down the Erie canal. 1782 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE FEBRUARY 26 Mr. NICHOLSON. Mr. Chairman, materials those people need, it will reap Let us see what that would mean. will the gentleman yield? the benefit of this slackwater route. Here is a barge [indicating] coming Mr. RANKIN. I yield. In other words, if we had had this down from Pittsburgh loaded with mate Mr. NICHOLSON. Is this a naviga slackwater route for the last year, your rials produced in that area. That barge tion proposition entirely, may I ask the people in the Northeast would not have has 14,000 tons of freight on it. Here is gentleman from Mississippi? suffered for want of oil this winter. You another coming out of the Great Lakes could carry this oil in barges i~to the loaded with automobiles. They probably Mr. RANKIN. It is entirely naviga Great. Lakes and around through the came from Michigan. Here is another tion, it does not have any power develop E'rie Canal if necessary and then down to one coming down the Mississippi River. ment connected with it. the east coast where people are suffering. Each of these barges carries 14,000 tons Again, this equals a slackwater route Let me point out to the gentleman that of freight. Do you know what it would up the Mississippi River to St. Paul and right here in Mississippi [indicating on mean if those barges went back from New Minneapolis on the Mississippi. Every the map] just across from Demopolis, Orleans to Cairo, Ill., along this slack barge that comes down loaded with we have discovered one of the greatest oil water route? They would each save wheat ·or grain or other agricultural fields in the world; and the only oil well $9,800 on their fuel bills alone. products from Nebraska, Iowa, North, that has ever been brought in east of the Here is a table worked out by the Army and South Dakota, Montana, anywhere Mississippi River that produces a thou engineers showing what the savings of else in that area, when it gets down to sand barrels a day in Jasper County, this great project will amount to for up the coast and starts back loaded with Miss., a short distance from Demopolis. stream traffic: Via Tom- Via Missis- Via Missis- Via Tom- bigbee- Avemge Ay~ra!'{e Average From- To- sippi, pet big bee- sa,ings savm!\S per savings per sippi, per tow of Tennessee, Tennessee, tow of tow or ton 3,500 per ton per tow of per ton 3,500 14,000 tons 3,1i00 tons tons tons Houston, Tex .. -----.------•••••••• ~2. 34 ~8, 190 H.!l4 ~6, 7!:0 ~0 .'4 0 H,400 ~5, 600 2.4Q !l, 470 l. eB 6, 5£0 .54 1, 890 7, 560 ~:~~r.ali:Tombigbee-'l'ennessec =~ ======·=== junction======______======~= New Orleans, La ______2. 74 9,590 ). 60 5,000 1.14 3, 990 15,960 Cairo. __ ------______------2.02 7,070 1. 32 4, 620 . 70 2,450 9,800 Padu~ll ______2. 10 7,350 1. 26 4,410 .84 2, 940 11,760 Tombigbee-Tenncssce junction ______2.42 8, 470 .99 3,465 1. 43 5,005 20,020 Mobile, Ala •••• ------.--- PaducahCairo .. _------______2.89 8,365 . 95 3,325 1. 44 5,040 20,160 2. 47 8, 645 .89 3,115 1.58 5, 530 22,160 ·'l'ombigbee-Tenncssce junction .. ______2. 79 9, 765 . 62 2,170 2.17 7, 595 30,380 Port ,Birmingham, Ala.~------Cairo . . _------=------2. 96 10,300 . !)5 3, 325 2. 01 7,035 28,140 Padur..ah ______. ------3.04 10,040 : ~9 3,115 2.15 7, 525 30,100 Tombigbee-Tcnncssee junction ______3. 3t1 11,700 .62 2,170 2. 74 9, 590 38,360 Demopolis, A Ia ____ ------___ ••• ----· ------••• PaducCairo. a__h _------______- 2. 68 9,380 . 67 2,345 2.01 7,035 28,140 2. 76 9, 660 • 61 2,'135 2.15 7, 525 30,000 Tombigbee-Tennessee junction ______Columbus, Miss ______Cairo ______3.08 10,780 . 34 1,190 2. 74 9, 590 38.360 2.83 9, 905 . 51 1, 785 2. 32 8,120 32,480 I Paducah. ______------·- 2. 91 10,185 . ~ . 45 1, 575 2. 46 8, 010 34,440 Tombigbee-'l'ennessee junction ______Cairo .. ______3. 23 11, 30.'i .17 595 3,06 10, 710 42,940 Aberdeen, :tviiss ______2.1!8 10,080 .4fi 1, 610 2. 42 8, 470 33, R80 Paducah .. ______' ______2. 96 10, 3CO . 40 1, 400 2. 56 8, 960 35,840 Tombigbee-Tennessce junction ______3. 23 11,480 .1'3 455 3.15 11,025 44,100 Fulton, 11:iss ••• ------2. 93 10, 255 • 41 ] , 435 2. 52 8,820 35,280 ======: ======: :: === 3.01 10, 535 .35 1, 225 2. 6fi 9, 310 37,240 Tombigbcc-'l'onnessee~:g~c:.ali ~ junction ______3.33 11,655 .08 280 3. 25 11,375 45,500 You will see that if this bargeload to the Oak Ridge plant just outside the point on the Tennessee River, it would went back to Paducah, Ky., and that city of Knoxville. save $38,360 on its fuel bill alone. means at any place from Paducah to· Nobody knows what is ahead of us. There are several hundred million Pittsburgh, Pa., it would save $11,760 on You talk about Nero's fiddling while dollars in this bill that have not been Its fuel bill alone. Rome burned. It seems to me that an approved by the Budget at all. I am not Mucb of the raw material you take· intelligent Congress cannot' afford to re objecting to their development. I stand into that area comes from South Amer fuse · a meager appropriation to start foursquare for the development of the ica. It comes through Mobile. One of construction on this project now, a proj waterways of this Nation from one side these barges of 14,000 tons going from ect that has been approved by every of the country to the other. If they had Mobile to Pittsburgh, Pa., or any point board of Army engineers that has studied taken my advice 10 years ago, you would on the Ohio River, would save $22,160 on it for the last 10 years, and has the not have so much trouble along the its fuel bill alone. unqualified support of General Reybold, Atlantic 'coast today. I have gone If it went to Cairo, and that means Chief of Army Engineers a year or two through this fight for the Tennessee to any point on the upper Mississippi ago, and the unqualified support of Gen River, for the Columbia River, for the or the Hlinois River into Chicago, it eral Wheeler, the present Chief of Army Missouri River, anti for every other would save more than $20,000 on its fuel Engineers. major stream l.n the country. bill alone. It has been authorized by Congress in Here we have a project that means as If it went into the Tennessee River, a provision that passed this House by a much to Pennsylvania as it does to Mis up to, we will say, our defens~ plant at good majority, and passed the. Senate by sissippi; it means as much to Ohio or Oak Ridge, it would save about $30,380. a vote of more than 2 to 1. Indiana. It means· as much or more to Mr. Chairman, the greatest defense Illinois than it does to Mississippi. It project the world ever saw, one that All we are asking is $1,500,000 to begin means as much to Missouri and Kansas means more to us than all the navies the this work. and Iowa and Nebraska and all of those . world can build, is the atomic-bomb plant There will be 18 dains, as I said, be States in the Northwest, and it will mean at Oak Ridge, Tenn. We have spent over tween the mouth of the Warrior River much to the States along the Great $2,000,000,000 on that plant. Not only and the Tennessee, which is only about · Lakes, on around to Massachusetts where do we have to take in the materials, but 250 miles. Suppose you were shipping condition's such as you are now con we have to take in the supplies for the this material from the mouth of the . fronted arise. people there. Warrior River, wher-e the navigation now All I am asking now is that you give This project· will cut the water djstance stops, you may say. Going from there us an appropriation of $1,500,000, just between Oak Ridge and the Gulf of to Cairo, one of these barges would save what the Bureau of the Budget asked Mexico by 786 miles, or approximately, $28;140 on its fuel bill alone.. Going to for, so that we may start this construc 800 miles. It will give us a slack-water Paducah, Ky., it would save. $30,100. tion now, because it is just as sure to route all the way from the Gulf to Oak Any bargeload of 14,000 tons going from come some time as night follows the day, Ridge, because it WQUld give a slack that point to any point on the upper and the sooner the better. water .route into the Tennessee River and Ohio River would save $30,100 . . If it Mr. BREHM. Mr. Chairman, will the we have a slack-water route .from there were going to Oak Ridge, or to any other gentleman yield? 1948 CONGRESSIONAL .RECORD-HOUSE 1783 Mr. RANKIN. I yield to the gentle Mr. RANKIN. In Mississippi, Lou Mr. RANKIN. There is no ice in that man from Ohio. isiana, Texas-- area. Mr. BREHM. Did the gentleman ap Mr. BATES of Massachusetts. We Mr. HESELTON. In that whole area? pear before the committee and present had two tankers within the last week Mr. RANKIN. No. his case? that the oil companies had to give up Mr. HESELTON. It is navigable clear Mr. RANKIN. Yes; I did. because there was no oil at the source through the winter? Mr. BREHM. What reaction did they in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and they Mr. RANKIN. If that waterway were give? ' ' had to cancel the tankers. in there, you could go right into the Mr. RANKIN. Well, I just went be Mr. RANKIN. Well, they evidently Great Lakes right now. fore the subcommittee and asked for the misinformed the gentleman, because Mr. HESELTON. But the Great Lakes appropriation·, and it seems it was left Mississippi produces now 113,000 barrels are frozen. out, and that is the reason I am mak of oil a day. Mr. RANKIN. There may be some ing this motion now. I am going to offer .Mr. BATES of Massachusetts. Does frozen areas in the Great Lakes now, but this amendment to put this amount in the gentleman know where there is oil if you had this waterway opened up you the bill. The Army engineers asked for in Missis£ippi today that an empty tanker . could carry the oil and have it stored. $5,735,000, but the Bureau of the Budget can go down there to and load it and You are going to have to do that at any cut it down to $1,500,000 to begin the bring it up to New England? rate. That is what you have been doing work. Mr. -RANKIN. If you had these oil with your coal. Mr. BREHM. Will that do the job? barges to touch this area he:r:e, you could Mr. HESELTON. Where is the stor Mr. RANKIN. And that is all I am get oil and carry it on through to the age space? going to ask for now, $1,500,000. It will Great Lakes-take it around and down · Mr. RANK N. Anywhere you want to get the work started. the Erie Canal, if necessary. construct it. You have your storage Mr. BATES of Massachusetts. Mr. Mr. BATES of Massachusetts. Let me wherever you want it. You have all Chairman, will the gentleman yield? ask the gentleman. a second question. spring, summer, and fall to carry this oil Mr. RANKIN. I yield to the gentre Mr. RANKIN. Let me finish this first and to prepare for the next winter. r.Ian from Massachusetts. one, please. I want to say to the gentle Mr. HESELTON. We have available . Mr. BATES of Mr.ssachusetts. Every man from Massachusetts that today we 1,500,000 barrels storage in New York river development, of course, must have do not have an intercoastal waterway all harbor area today. We can pick that its economic justification, and I am ap the way around. You cannot take an up by tankers because the ocean is navi proaching the examination of this ques intercoastal barge around the Florida gable there. How can we bring it up tion in the light of the two questions the Peninsula, because you have to go out on the Tennessee and through the Ohio? gentleman raised, .namely, first, the into the. open sea. Now, these barges Mr. RANKIN. Take it through the freezing up of New England. Let me say can come along the intercoastal water Illinois River and up through the Great that a very large source of our petroleum way and up this Tombigbee inland water Lakes. products come from the Gulf coast, east way into the Ohio and Mississippi and Mr. HESELTON. They are frozen . . Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. How up the Illinois River into the Great Lakes. Mr. RANKIN. They may be frozen is this project going to help them out? But you are shut off. The only thing you now, but that is for only a short period Mr. RANKIN. It will give you a slack have is tankers. That is the only way of the year. You have to make the prep water route into the Great Lakes, and you can get oil now. arations before the winter comes. that oil would be carried through the Mr. BATES of Massachusetts.' Vile Mr. BATES of Massachusetts. It is Great Lakes and right on to New Eng..; have 140,000-barrel tankers that are like a squirrel laying up nuts. land. ready to go down there immediately to Mr. RANKIN. You .are going to h:we Mr. BATES of Massachusetts. It is get oil. · to prepare for winter before it bears not a question of our rivers freezing up. Mr. RANKIN. I am going to tell you down on you. It is a question of us not being able to frankly, I am sorry to say this, because But. remember Massachusetts is not get oil, and we need oil now. How is I sympathize with you, but you are going the only State involved. this project going to get us oil? to have that condition for years to come This will benefit not only your area Mr. RANKIN. It will give you a slack unless this inland waterway is provided. but, as I said, it will benefit everyone water route through from the Gulf to The CHAIRMAN. The time of the along the Great Lakes as well as along the Great Lakes. · gentleman from Mississippi has expired. the Ohio, the Mississippi, the Illinois, the Mr. BATES of Massachusetts. We do Mr. EERR. Mr. Chairman, I yield five Missouri Rivers and their tributaries. not need any transportation route. additional minutes to the gentleman It will give us a completed inland-water What we need is oil at the source. from Mississippi. way transportation system the like of Mr. RANKIN. We are ready for you. Mr. BATES of Massachusetts. Now, which the world has never seen. We have plenty of it. a second ~~ uestion, in regard to the eco Mr. SEELY-BROWN. Mr. Chairman, Mr. BATES of Massachusetts. Where nomic justification. If we build these will the gentleman yield? is it? waterways, the gentleman says it· will Mr. RANKIN. I yield to the gentle Mr. · RANKIN. In Mississippi, Lou save transportation costs. man from Connecticut. Mr. RANKIN. Yes. Mr. SEELY-BROWN. Has the gen isiana, Texas, and other States in th~. t Mr. BATES of Massachusetts. Will it tleman any comparative costs between area. result again in increased railroad rates, ·bringing it through this inland route to Mr. BATES of Massachusetts. Well, rates such as the Interstate Commerce New England as compared with bring that is on the Gulf coast. Commission has recently approved for ing that same amount of oil by tanker Mr. RANKIN. I cannot move the oil the railroads? to New England? fields, but we can give you a route to Mr. RANKIN. I do not thirik so. Colo Mr. RANKIN. For the same distance get it up there to you. nel Feringa went before the committee the cheapest way to transport oil is by Mr. BATES of Massachusetts. I am the other day and reiterated the state tankers, the next is by barges, and the t'rying to find out just how this develop ment that it was not only economically next is by rail. ment is going to help any when the oil . justified but that it was more economi Mr. SEELY-BROWN. This is a shorter we get comes from the Gulf coast. The cally justified today than it was when distance. building of a waterway from the Gulf the proposition was first authorized by · Mr. RANKIN. I understand, but these to the Great Lakes is not going to help Congress. inland oil fields here would be in a posi us get oil when there is no oil to get. Mr. HESELTON. Mr. Chairman, will tion to supply these barges that are Mr. RANKIN. Oh, there is plenty of the gentleman yield? going up into the Ohio, up into Illinois, oil. · Mr. RANKIN. I yield to the gentle up into the Missouri, up into the Great Mr. BATES of Massachusetts. That is man from· Massachusetts. . Lakes, or the upper Mississippi with all our problem. Mr. HESELTON. Will the gentleman the oil they would want. Mr. RANKIN. There is plenty of oil state how far south the waterway is fro .. Mr. Chairman, I submit that this there. zen now? amendment should be adopted. · Mr. BATES of Massachusetts.· Where Mr. RANKIN. Frozen? · With ice? Mr. NICHOLSON. Mr. Chairman, will is it? Mr. HESELTON. Yes. the gentleman yield? 1784 . CONGRESSIONAL .RECORD-HOUSE FE13RUARY 26 Mr. RANKIN. I yield to the gentle ple, and ·then burden -them with appro terprise _and not by the Government. I man from Massachusetts. priations of biHions of dollars to be given ~ am heartily in favor of doing that. If Mr. NICHOLSON. May I ask the gen to foreign countries? that .move would in any way retard the tleman from Missi.ssippi how it is going Patriotism begins at 'home. building . or progress of the Clark Hill to help me in· Massachusetts or my Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. Mr. Chair project I would be against it. It will not neighbors in Rhode Island and Connecti man, I yield 10 minutes to the. gentle do so. In my · opinion, the taking over cut to send this stuff through the Great man from Michigan [Mr. DoNDERO J. and b':iilding of the. power house and the Lakes? Mr. DONDERO. Mr. Chairman, I join installation of the machinery by private Mr. RANKIN. All the stuff does not with my colleagues in words of praise enterprise will expedite the completion have to go through the Great Lakes. and commendation of this committee for of the Clark Hill project. I know of no You t ake \Visconsin and Minnesota. · the work that they have done on this bill. good reason why it should not be done. Every one of you men take the map and It is an arduous and difficult task pre I am giving notice to the House that the see how many of your districts this in paring an appropr~ation bill. I pay par Committee on Public Works, of which I land waterway touches. You will be sur ticular praise ·and respect to the chair have the honor to be chairman, will be prised-all the way · up to Minneapolis man of the subcommittee, the hardwork gin hearings next Monday on that pro and St. Paul, everybody along' the Mis ing, able, and diligent member from the posed legislation. The committee will souri River, everybody along the Illinois, Muskegon, Mich., district, my warm · take into consideration .what the engi · everybody along the Ohio and the Ten friend, the gentleman from Michigan, neers have to say about it, and also the nessee. As I said, it will be one of the ALBERT J. ENGEL. My district does not · witnesses both for and against. greatest assets we can have for our de- : have a dollar in this bill. It does not I believe that wherever .we have power fense plant at Oak Ridge. Let us not have a single project in this b.ill. yet I in any of the river basins of this country, wait and have a Pearl Harbor at Oak rise in support of it. At least the money · no matter where they are located, it Ridge. we· are going to need this outlet, that is provided for in this bill will be should be developed. I am for that. .The this ingress and egress by water, this spent in the United States and will be of reason I am for it is that waterpower is slack-water route into Oak Ridge, and some benefit to the people of the United never depleted. That power necessary to we should begin its construction now. . States. The amount of the reduction create electrical energy which the coun- · They will tell you there is rail trans which the committee was able to achieve try needs, and which is growing in portation to Oak Ridge. But think how is about 21 percent under the amount re greater demand every year, is never de easy it would be for some of the enemies quested. pleted. At the end of the year there is within our gates to disrupt traffic on that Mr. MAHON. Mr. Chairman, will the just as much power and just as much road. Besides~ we need them both. gentleman yield? water as there was at the beginning of Mr. WILLIA..."\1S. Mr. Chairman, will Mr. DONDERO. I yield. the year. That power and energy will the gentleman yield? Mr. MAHON. The gentleman under take the place of other diminishing fuels Mr. RANKIN. I yield to the gentle stands that in reducing appropriations which we have in this Nation, such as man from Mississippi. for certain Government agencies actual coal and oil. They are badly needed 1n Mr. WILLIAMS. A gentleman from savings can be made but that in reduc other activities of the country. Where one of the Eastern States, I think Mas ing the amount of money to be applied we differ-and there is an honest differ sachusetts, asked the question just a mo on ·a given project, say by 40 percent, as ence of opinion among Members-is this: ment ago how this would benefit them is approximately the reduction iri this I am opposed to the Federal Government up there·. whole bill, no over-all saving is made, going into business in competition with Mr. RANKIN. I have explained that. and if there is too much delay an actual its own citizens. I think Uncle Sam Mr. WILLIAMS. I know .the gentle loss will be incurred. should stay in the wholesale field. It man has, but he left out one thing that Mr. DONDERO. I get the gentleman's should sell this power at the bus bar or If I think· he should bring out, wh~t I con point. I am not making this observation at the dam to private investment. · sider the most important thing about in criticism of the committee. The point there is nobody there to buy it, then and this whole Tennessee-Tombigbee project, I do want to stress is that upon the whole then only should the Federal Government and that is that it will force the freight I think the people of the United States, begin to build transmission lines to dis rate down and save them money on the generally, are disappointed and dissatis tribute the power among the people. stuff that we have to ship up there to fied with the amount of reduction in the If the Federal Government will pro them. expenditures of public money. They be- vide the same formula that it does for Mr. RANKIN. Not only that, but it . lieve that such reductions should be more its private citizens in the construction ~~ will enable them to take advantage of widespread and in larger amounts. They and operation of power proJects, as to the swift current of the Mississippi River want public expenditures to be reduced taxes, interest on the investment, amor for the downstream traffic to carry the in greater amounts than they have been tizat~on, and all the other items that go material that they ship to us. heretofore. Be that as it may, I am go into the production of power, there will Mr. BATES . of Massachusetts. Mr. ing to support this bill in the belief that never be ~ny complaint on my part. But Chairman, will the gentleman yield? it will be for the benefit of the people of as it stands today, the Federal Govern Mr. RANKIN. I yield. the United States. This money will not ment does not do that. It tries to make Mr. BATES of Massachusetts. We be expended outside the United States. t~e people of the country think it does, would be very much interested in that if It is because on page 305 of the hearings but it does not. In the first place, they that were the case, but the Interstate where a question was asked by the gen try to weigh down multiple-purpose · Commerce Commission has increased the tleman from Kansas [Mr. SCRIVNER), in dams, where there is flood control, navi railroad rates to the East only within regard to the Clark Hill project in gation, reclamation, and irrigation, with recent months. I presume they would Georgia, that I rise to take the :floor and an unreasonable part of the capital in not increase the rates if it was not neces express my views. The Clark Hill proj vestment in order to make it look to the sary to increase the revenue of the rail ect is list-ed as a flood-control project. people of America that the Federal Gov road. To take away more revenue from The actual fact is that more than 90 per ernment can produce power · cheaper the railroads as a result of the freight cent of it is power. It is estimated that than anybody else in the United States. going to river haul would only result in it will cost $50,000,000-$35,000,000 for That is not true. We are going to be higher freight rates. the reservoir and the dam and $15,000,- called upon some day to vote whether Mr. RANKIN. Let me say to you Mem 000 for the power house and machinery. you believe in public ownership, in politi- bers who are behind the "iron curtain" of The question asked by the gentleman cal management, in Government man discr.iminatory freight rates in the Mid from Kansas EMr. ScRIVNER], a member. agement, or whether you believe in the dle West, the West, and the South that of the coinmittee in charge of this leg private-enterprise ·system, which has you had better join in and help us put islation, was what became of the legisla- . made our country great and strong, and this amendment on the bill. It will be of · tion that was introduced by which private protect the investment of the people of unlimited benefit to your people, as well enterprise would be willing to build the America; who have billions of dollars in as to the people in the areas I have inen- . power house and install the machinery vested in the private utility field. I am tioned. and· save the Feaeral Government $15,- i.nformed that about $15,000,000,000 is How can you· vote this amendment· 000,000 in expenditures. In other words, invested 'in the electric field alone down, deny this benefit to our own peo- the money would be spent by private en- owned by millions of our people. I do 1948 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-· HQ_USE 1785 not think very many people know that· the project will be put off 1 year and The proposed allotment of $30 ,000,000 nearly one-third of that $15,000,000,000 that therefore the Government will lose for the 1949 fiscal year will not be suf- · is held by the life-insurance companies 1 year's revenue from the sale of power, ficient to permit a start at this time on qf this country. Already tl).e attitude of which they compute to be $16,000,000 the powerhouse structure for the initial the Federal Government in displacing gross. Furthermore, the Pacific North- four units, with an installed capacity of private enterprise and private invest west served by this project is in a critical 280,000 kilowatts. The initial delivery ment, and ruining it, has had a very ad- . situation by reason of the dearth of hy- of power will thus be delayed until the · verse effect upon companies who try to dropower, and every effort should be fall of 1954. This delay, in my consid borrow money·to expand their utilities, made to complete, within the shortest ered judgment, is a serious mistake. Ad so that other :people and more people· time possible, all of the power projects ditional funds should be made available can have electricity and electrical power under construction to meet the power now to begin construction on the power in their homes. I point that out to show demands for the area and, at the same house structure and to expedite its com how far we have gone in this. country time, save the Government $16,000,000 pletion at the earliest date practicable towrutd state socialism, as against private a year gross revenue. I am in full ac- to meet the impending power shortage. enterprise and private investments. cord with the over-all program to cut Power demands in the Pacific North Mr. RANKIN. Mr. Chairman, will the Government expenses and the cost of west have increased materially since gentleman yield? Government to the fullest. extent pos- 1941, the total estimated peak load re Mr. DONDERO. Yes; I yield to the sible without crippling essential activi- quirement for 1955 being estimated at gentleman from Mississippi. · ties. This power project is a self-sus- 6,600,000 kilowatts. The present in Mr. RANKIN. I wonder if the gentle taining project and the revenues from it stalled generating capacity in this area man would also vote to wipe out the dis will repay the Government in full with totals approximately 3,400,000. To as criminatory freight rates with which the interest. It is ·not, therefore, a waste of sist in meeting this increased load, the States west of the Mississippi are now Government funds. I believe that while Bonneville Power Administration urges punished, as well as the States in the we are appropriating billions for gifts to expedited construction of McNary Dam. South. foreign nations, much of it for public McNary Dam will provide a 9-foot Mr. DONDERO. The gentleman knows works such as this or for war material, channel for navigation to about 10 miles I am not in favor of discrimination in we should, at the same time, or before, above the mouth of the Snake River and any field. appropriate the essential funds needed will serve the movement of an estimated Mr. RANKIN. In other words, would to carry on worth-while public projects 4,000,000 tons annually, principally in the gentleman vote to wipe out discrim in our own Nation. Unless we develop petroleum, agricultural, mineral, and inatory freight rates that are imposed on our natural resources and keep our own lumber products. Creation of the new the people in the . far Northwest, who economy sound by providing for full pro- pool will incidentally benefit develop~ have to use these rivers as a method of duction, we will not only destroy our own ment of over 244,000 acres of potentially transportation? country but we will, at the same time, irrigable land by the reduction in cost Mr. DONDERO. I have answered the render our Nation impotent to· give any of pumping plants and pipe lirie. gentleman. I am not in favor of dis aid to the war-stricken nations overseas. This project is not a new undertaking. crimination, no matter in what activity it I therefore feel, Mr. Chairman, that it is Last year\this committee approved funds is. The whole fabric of our Nation and not only good judgment but sound gov... .to continue the project and to place it the foundation upon which it is built is ernmental policy to appropriate the ad- on a sound continuing. basis. The budg justice and equity, a fair chance and ditional $10,000,000, making a total ap- et amount before you this year is a con equal opportunity·for all of our people. propriation of $40,000,000 for the fiscal tinuation of your last year's action. The CHAIRMAN. The time of the year 1948 for McNary Dam. This is es- This is one project that has high na gentreman from Michigan has expired. sential if we are to complete it by 1953 tiona1 defense value and at the same Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. Mr. Chair and make the hydroelectric energy avail- tiine its peacetime commercial potential man, I yield such time as he may desire able for the development of the North- -ities are such that it will bring in sum to the gentleman from Oregon [Mr. west which will, at the same time, save cient revenues to fully reimburse the the Government from the loss of gross Federal Treasury. It is, therefore, one ANGELL]. revenues from the project during the of the very few - defense projects that M ' NARY DAM time that it is uncompleted. will fully pay its way. In design and Mr. ANGELL. Mr. Chairman, I would I believe it is worthwhile, in order that operational characteristics the McNary be derelict in my duty if I did not com the record may be clear, that I detail to project is a higher head duplication of mend the chairman of the Subcommittee the House the experience we have at- the existing Bonneville lay-out. To on Appropriations for Civil Functions of tained in the development of Columbia measure the future potentialities of the the War Department, the gentleman from River power and what we may expect McNary project we need only summarize Michigan [Mr. ENGEL], and our col from the operation of the McNary Dam the defense contribution and the factors leagues on the subcommittee for the ex and its power-production facilities to- controlling the actual pay-out perform ceptionally conscientious and hard work gether with a description of the need in ance of the Bonneville plant. they have done in preparing this bill. I that area for this energy. From a survey of all available generat- have . appeared before the committee Mr. Chairman, this improvement, ing-plant records I can safely state that many times during the last 9 years which which includes a dam, power plant, lock, there is no hydro or steam generating I have served in the House and I know, fishways, and appurtenant facilities for plant on the continent that has a per from my own experience, that there has the purpose of navigation, power, and .. formance and financial record better been no committee considering these im.: incidental irrigation, was ·authorized by than the Bonneville plant. This is due portant appropriations during that time the River and Harbor Act approved to the following combination of circum that has been more diligent or meticulous March 2, 1945. Funds for initiating the ·stances: First, the design and construe- in their work. construction of this project were appro- tion wisdom of the Army engineers; sec- I want, however, to discuss the appro~ priated in the War Department Civil ond, the soundness of the Bonneville priation for McNary Dam. The Budget Functions Appropriation Act for the Authorizing Act; third, the high head, recommended $30,000,000 and the com fiscal year 1947 and additional funds sustained continuous-flow record of the mittee has recommended $20,000,000. were appropriated for the fiscal year Columbia River; and fourth, the result- The Army engineers had requested a suni 1948. To date funds in the amount of ing low-cost generation. considerably in excess of the $30,000,000 $7,575,000 have been made available for Some 18 months before Pearl Harbor I for the fiscal year 1948 in order to begin planning and the initiation of construe- addressed the House on the metal and construction~ during ·the low-water tion. Actual fi :;ld operations on this chemical defense deficiencies of the Na period, on the generating facilities of needed improvement were initiated dur- tion. I then pointed out that as of 1939 the dam. I believe that $40,000,000, .ing the spring of 1'947, with the result this- Nation was ill-prepared to fight a 'Which was requested; should have beeri that by June 30, 1948, the north shore modern war because of the lack of mod appropriated in order to carry out the cofferdam will have been constructed ern electrometallurgical and, electro construction program of the Army engi ·and concrete placement for the lock, chemical industrial plant capacity, and neers for the next year. They advise ·spillway, and nonoverfiow dam and fish- that the only way this deficiency could that without this sum the completion. of -ways will have been commenced. be remedied was to quickly expand this XCIV--113 1786 CON_GRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE FEBRUARY 26 Nation's hydro base. Fortunately for the sidy represents repayment of future rec is continuously possible, and there are . country, this committee acted early to lamation costs based on current cost only a few basic industries-like the elec correct the e-xisting defici~ncy at Bonne- levels of reclamation costs of Grand ·tro-metal industry-that operate so ton- · ville. Incidentally I received this early Coulee project that cannot be repaid by tinuously. · clue from the experience of the Michigan the irrigators, and irrigation operational This actual experience shows actual automobile industry; which expanded costs also are not repaid by the irriga payout capability, and the Bonneville rapidly because of the availability of tors. If this subsidy were not picked up Act, which, under the River and Harbor modern electrometals produced with by the power' rate payers it would be Act of 1945, will also control McNary Niagara hydro power. It was the early come a charge on the taxpayer, or the operations, c~J ls for a rate review every Niagara electrometals that made the De- Grand Coulee reclamation project would 5 years to insure a ful(return to the Fed trait automobile industry possible, as not be built. This $324,000,000 subsidy eral Treasury. This statutory require metals required for high strength, high assumed by Oregon rate payers repre ment is included in all power sales con- speed, and lightness-cannot be produced · sents no actual benefit to Oregon. tracts. · · by the older conventiorial methods but Therefore this sizable sum can be con I understand that the House COI!llTiit must come from the electric furnace or sidered as a payment in lieu of taxes and tee has investigators working on such - electric cell. can be rightfully called a tax equivalent, pay-out subjects. I am convinced from As a result of this early congressional as it exceeds what is usually included in long experience with all such details that action Columbia River power produced the term, "tax equivalent." they will- as . any fair-minded expert approximately 40-percent of the metals . Therefore the Columbia River plants will do-confirm these general conclu and chemicals going into this Nation's have met all interest, amortization, re sions and the Andersen audit. The wartime air program. Also produced a placement, maintenance, operational, Andersen certifications, among bankers large portion of our electro welded mari- and equivalent. tax costs-these include and insurance- companies, are univer-· time program, and transformed uranium all cost items-and in addition, have pro sally accepted as independent, free--from into the atomic metal plutonium at the vided a $23,000,000 . profit, called in ac bias, and accurate; · The conclusions re Hanford plant. Stop and think how this counting p.i!actice a surplus. All of these - sulting from Andersen audits confirm all Nation would· have suffered in the last income amounts are deposited directly in the-estimates given t0 my committee by war without such contributions; This the Treasury, and the only way these the Army engineers, Bonnevil-le -Ad-min was s,ccomplished while maintaining a power · projects can secure funds for istration, and the Federal Power Com full financial pay-out, as I will demon- yearly needs is through congressionai mission, -and .also confirm the independ-· strate hereafter. appropriations. This is different from ent return approximate estimates I have For the past several years the account the TVA practice, as that agency has given to the Congress over the past 9 books of all agencies expending Federal access to its revenues and does not have years. . , funds for the Columbia River power de- to come to Congress. This sound return In this connection, it should be stated velopment have been audited by an out- and business base governing Bonneville that the revenues, since the· end ~ of the. side, independent auditing concern of is a requirement of the Bonneville Act, war, have. exceeded- the wartime reve national reputation, namely, Arthur An- and the rates must be such, under this nues,-as.will be ev-ident from an inspec ~ dersen & Co. This accounting _was car- act, as to guarantee a full return to the tion of the la-st 3-years' audits. . . ried out with the approval of the General ;Federal Treasury, and must be reviewed Another available quick yardstiek. for. .Accounting .Office. This auditing con- ~very 5 years to provide for Government measuring the comparative . prodm:tion. .cern is one which does· similar work for jnsurance ,that the full-return, require eapability of McNary is to resort to com-. the largest and best financial institu- ment will .be met. Such a rate-review parison of. operating results called.,.-in tions-lal'ge banks and insurance com- requi-rement is included in all Bonneville the power industry-load factor or plant panies-in· the country, and therefore power sal-e contracts. factor. Load factGr·. is a ratio of maxi .their approach can be considered as the In private business, when bonds are mum power production in a year~s time .best obtainable evidence on pay-out ca- amortized the property reverts unencum-: during the year of lowest flow, to the pa,bility. bered to the owner. In the case of maximum theoretically possible if water The last Andersen audit, as of June 30, Bonneville, after amortization, the reve- were always available to run all the ma 1 947, shows that since 1940 the Columbia nue-producing, fully maintained and chines possible. This theoretical factor River power projects-Bonneville, Grand replaced property remains in Federal for McNary is given in Army engineer Coulee, and the Bonneville administra- hands 8,s a debt-free revenue producer. reports as 75 percent, which is much tion, which is the n arketing agency-=. This $324,000,000 reclamation subsidy higher than any other new project in have deposited in the United states is over six times the actual cost of the cluded in the Army list of projects. This Treasury over $105,000,000 of gross rev- Bonneville power plant, and over five is approximately the same figure as was enue from the sale of power. This gross times all power and navigation costs at worked out for Bonneville, based on bet revenue covers all actual costs, including Bonneville. The 7-year surplus of $23, ter than 70 years' flow records. The ·interest and amortiz~tion, to the Fed- .000,000 has paid off all navigation costs actual factor will be higher than this er.al Government, and in addition has at Bonneville, which are not usually re theoretical yardstick, as no industry has .providecl. a surplus or additional profit payable under long-established congres a continuous, uninterrupted consump over all such costs of $23,000,000, in this sional policy; tion, and diversity of use between indus ·short period. The costs that are covered This shows what a high-load-factor tries and the storage available in the by thi.'3 gross revenue include full annual hydro plant can do, as in such cases the pond allows the operation to be fitted to interest charges on the total Federal investment dollar is working around the demand without ·wasting power. Never power investment; complete annual com- · · clock 365 days in a year. This demon theless, this comparative yardstick shows ponent of amortization costs to fully pay strates that Bonneville is a sound, Fed how much better the McNary plant will out the Federal investment in 50 years' eral investment and is paying its way. be than others constructed throughout time; all replacement costs within the Bonneville is not a burden on the tax the country. I can cite an example to amortization period to maintain the payers and is, at the same time, furnish liear this out. property in 100-percent condition; and ing hydroelectric energy at low cost to The Pennsylvania Railroad is the larg all operation and current maintenance the consuming public through private est coal-hauling transportation company costs. utility and municipal distributors. Most in the country. Nevertheless, its electri Ho direct taxes are included in the private industries cannot keep the in fied zone between Washington, D. C., above costs, but the cost covered in the -vestment dollar working so continuously. and New York is propelled by Susque $105,000,000 gross revenue includes, in Therefore load factor is a measure of the hanna River hydro power which operates addition to the s.bove elements, a 7-year work the investment dollar can do. The at a load factor less than half of what proportion of a -$324,000,000 subsidy to Bonneville units have maintained the will be possible at McNary. the reclamation features of the GTand highest load factor of any generating Such facts sQ.ow that produ,ction and Coulee reclamation project. This sub- plant in Am~rica. It is this continuous, financial capability exist at the McNary sidy, which is included in the annual uninterrupted oper~tion that brings in project. Bonneville pay-out costs, exceeds the such substantial returns. The best pri: - Last year when I appeared before you, . equivalent annual tax payment of any vs,te companies in this country only oper I pointed out that over the entire coun private utility. This $32~,000,000 sub- ate between 50 and 60 percent of wh!;tt try power demands were catching up 1948 CONGRESSIONAL. RECORD-HOUSE 1787 with installed capacity. This was, and in the western division of the Northwest ·. spread over the entire Nation, and the is now, more pronounced in California, · power pool. The opinions and facts made project will not be competitive between · public were not those of the Bonneville power Oregon, and Washington than in any administration, nor any other Federal agency, regions. Industrially, the output of this · other State in the Union, and is more but of the operating distribution systems, plant will be used to produce those basic · pronounced in the whole Nation than public anq private, that deal directly', with materials entirely dependent on firm, last year. The reason therefor is plainly the consumers. low-cost power. If these basic materials evident. The new Tacoma statement ought to clear are riot produced in the Pacific North Last summer the Census Bureau put up, once and for all, the doubts and misun west, we will find them produced in Can out interim population-increase esti- · derstandings relative to the power situation. ada, South America, Norway, or Man- · mates. The average increase since 1940 Specifically, the questions debated for churia. All of these basic materials are months have been: Is there a power shortage for the entire United States was 9 per now, or is talk of a shortage merely the defense materials, and we cannot afford cent, whereas Oregon had an increase of propaganda of Government agencies to pro to allow such strategic material produc- 39.2 percent, which was second to Cali mote large appropriations? Will the short . tion to be placed in the control of foreign fornia, which had a population increase age, if one exists or impends, continue into nations. As I pointed out in 1S40, this of 43 pet,cent. The increase in the State the future-and, if so, how long? Nation needs strategic material inde of Washington was 28.6 percent. The The utilities conference says this: pendtnce just as much as it needs politi statistics of the power industry since 1902 ."The people of the Northwest are facing a cal independence, in order to preserve disastrous shortage of an essential element its institutions. show that the long-time rate of increased of regional growth. A shortage of electric ·power consumption practically coincided power cannot be prevented. It h as already Industrii:ti materials from the primary with the national population increase. begun. If the Northwest is to enjoy an or basic industries in the Northwest, such Increased consumption growing out of derly development, adequate electric power as light metals and chemicals, have en population increases is a retained con generating and transmission facilities must couraged the expansion of industries in sumption, even in depression years. be created in a consistent program. other sections. For, example, take ·the There is no. controversy as to future "It is obvious that we' are now in a position Troutdale ingot aluminum plant in my such that new large power-using customers power markets in the Pacific Northwest. coming to the territory would not only jeo district. This plant employs 800 Oregon The estimates of the Army engin~ers, the pardize their own opportunities to continue workers. Only a part of its ingot pro Bonneville Administration, the private to operate but would also deprive present duction is shipped to· a processing plant companies, and the large municipal dis customers of power· supply. Therefore, fail in Chicago which fabricates Troutdale· tributors are so close together that they ure to provide additional Federal gener.ating ingots and employs 2,500 Chicago work all can be considered as checking one . capacity will retard the development of the · ers. The Aluminum Co. of America is· another. All these estimates point to the area." now building a $20,000,000 rolling mill in ·fact that an increased market will exist This seems clear enough to end dh:pute. The power shortage has begun, and it will get Davenport,. Iowa, where approximately by 1954 which will be practically double . worse. There J.s not enough pOWflr to permit 3,000 people will be employed. The the ultimate capacity of McNary. All of the start of large, new industries without Davenport _plant, as well as other east these agencies are urging the early com jeopardizing existing industries and residen-· ern rolling mills, depends on Vancouver pletion of McNary to meet this situation. · - tial supply. The lack of a power surplus dis ingot. With all units installed at Grand Coulee, courages new industries from coming to the I estimate that over 750 fabricators and the completion of McNary by, say, Northwest, and may result in their location located all over the country east of the 1956, we will still see the region short of elsewhere-though power is tight through out the Nation. It is the Government's re Mississippi and Missouri use Columbia installed power capacity. sponsibility, having preempted the Colum River aluminum ingots. ·The records of Therefore, estimating future markets bia River and discouraged private company· the Spokane plant alone show that this by every possible approach leads to the expansion of generation, to supply the neEds plant supplies basic . aluminum to over · same conclusion, namely, that a market of customers, present and potential. 600 widely scattered fabricators. will exist for McNary as rapidly as the The conferees produced the figures to show There are 10 basic-material plants units can be installed. This same situa that even if the approved Federal power proj now using Columbia River power. These tion existed at' Bonneville, and time has ects-most of which need appropriations are completed as rapidly as possible, installed 10 plants have produced during their demonstrated that this same approach . capacity cannot catch up' with estimated short existence over one-half billion to markets-which, incidentally, I used needs until 1954. And this showing does not dollars' worth of basic materials which in my 1940 appearances-proves out. In take into account the unmeasurable factor have been shipped for further processing the early years of Bonneville, this project of demand from new industries that might all over this country. These 10 new basic was called a while elephant, ·but there has apply if there were ~ - surplus of energy, but industries in the Northwest·have paid to · never been a time since 1940 when the h ave been discouraged already by knowledge . of the shortage. date over ·$40,ooo:ooo in Federal taxes, Bonneville units were not fully loaded. $2,500,000 in local taxes, and employ over During the war, and all the ,time since Unfortunately the Northwest has no 7,000 workers. VJ-day, the Bonneville units have oper coal deposits in quantities sufficient to For many years the waste products of ated continuously around the clock at meet the fuel and energy demands. Like the lumber industry have been used f'or loads 11 percent above manufacturers' wise, it has no natural gas. Nature has fuel in the Ps.cific ·Northwest, although rating for these units. been kind, however, to this atea by pro 'proportionately this represented but a The recognition of the power shortage viding it with the great Columbia River small proportion of the total power in the Northwest and the cooperation of and its tributaries, which are an unend generation. These days· are past. Waste the private utilities with the program for ing source of hydroelectric power. This timber products now hav; a much great construction at once of additional gener 'energy needs only to be harnessed to pro er value as a base for synthetic mate ating facilities is shown by an editorial vide ·the entire area with large pools of rials like rayon and chemicals, and are in the Portland, Oreg., Oregonian of energy for turning the whe~ls of industry not now used for generating energy. January 12, 1948, which I call to your at and providing the farms and communi tention: Ninety Percent of the installed gener ties with light and power. It is not sub ating capacity in the States of Oregon It was significant news last year when pri ject to the vicissitudes of industrial un vate and public power agency representatives and Washington is hydro and 10 percent rest and exhaustion. Our great coal steam. In round numbers the 300,000 of the Pacific Northwest sat down at Tacoma fields -and natural-gas supply is consam- · and reached an agreement on the vital ne kilowatts of steam generation in these cessity for maximum development of hydro able. Old Man River goes on forever, or two States now use oil fuel, as trans electric projects on the Columbia River by at least for as long as the sun continues to shine, and this invaluable source of portation costs on coal place this hard the Federal Government. These former fuel in the prohibitive zone. Further feudists, who now find themselves in the energy will be available to the citizens same pickle, held another meeting the other of the Northwest and, indirectly, to the more, oil is now becoming difficult to day, agreed that the power crisis had be Nation. The Columbia River power was secure. The · California fields are being . come ~ore grave, and demanded that Con a deciding factor in helping us to win the depleted at such a rate that the Navy is gress "approve a level . of expenditures sufil last World War, and should we be so un worrying as to its future supply. cient to bring to completion presently au The only way to conserve this highly thorized projects for the production of power fortunte as to engage in another such as rapidly as physically possible." conflict, it will be an invaluable asset. important defense·fuel is to find substi-· Those who signed the statement represent In addition to its defense ·characteris tutes. The only substit11te on the west 90 percent of the operating utility systems tics, the benefits of thiz project will be coast is hydropower. The energy that 1788 CON_GRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE FEBRUARY 2'6 can be delivered by McNary is equiva year. As I have said, if this is not done priation for Clark Hill, and he is now lent to 13,100,000 barrels of oil per year. we will lose 1 year in the completion of using the same obstructive tactics that At $2.50 per barrel, the McNary project the project and by reason of the delay he used a year ago when this issue was has an annual fuel value of $32,500,000. not only will the Northwest be deprived settled fully by the appropriation to Oil saving alone per year would pay out of the vitally needed hydroelectric power continue the development of Clark Hill, the McNary project in a very few years. but the Federal Government will lose and on the floor of the House by a voice As I have pointed out a number of 1 year's revenue from the project. The vote only two or three Members voted times, history shows that nations which yearly loss in revenues by the Treasury against the appropriation for the Clark in the past have permitted the erosion has been computed by the engineers to Hill item. of their resource base have become deca be $16,000,000 gross. The status of the two bills H. R. 3819 dent nations. The undeveloped poten Mr. Chairman, I am not making a mo and H. R. 3826, is exactly the same to tial power of the Columbia and its tribu tion to increase the appropriation for day as a year ago when he testified and taries is equivalent to some 240,000,000 !1.1cNary Dam, which I think ~ hould be said in effect that unless the appropria barrels of oil per year. Thus, with done, for the reason that I believe after tion was held up then it would be too diminishing oil reserves, we are allowing this whole matter is reexamined in the late to prevent further appropriations. annually about a quarter of a billion other body and additional evidence pre The power company has not produced equivalent barrels of oil to be dumped, sented showing the urgent need for this any evidence this time different from that unused, into the ocean. additional appropriation in order to save produced a ye8,r ago when Congress prac The 1947 estimated rate of petroleum a year in construction time as well as to tically unanimously voted further .appro consumption of the United States was supply needed electric energy a year priation for tbe continuation of this about 2,000,000,000 barrels. This 2,000,- sooner, that the additional amount can project. The whole attitude of the 000 ,000 figure is greater than the world's be included in the bill. It is better in power company is to prevent the develop prewar consumption and is some 400,- my judgment to consider it in that man ment of this project, or if developed to 000,000 barrels over' a value double the ner than to attempt to reach final con- have the Government to build tne dam prewar United States consumption. Our . elusions here on the floor at this time. a.nd the power company ' tf) build the petroleum exports- now run about 160,- Mr. KERR. Mr. Chairman, I yield 10 powerhouse which will cost less than 000 ,000 barrels per year, which is bal minutes to the gentleman from Georgia 20 percent of the whole development. anced by a lil{e amount imported. The [Mr. BROWN]. Then they would have to pay no taxes estimated proven petroleum reserve of Mr. BROWN of Georgia. Mr. Chair whatever on 80 percent of the project the United States as of today is about man, I would not rise except for the re if the Dondero bill becomes a law. 22,000,000,000 barrels. At the 1947 con marks of my distinguised friend, the General Wheeler, in his testimony be sumption rate these presently known re- gentleman from Michigan [Mr. DoN fore the Appropriations Committee last • serves will be depleted in 10 years' time. DERO J. I am glad he is supporting the year, said that this project would pay for Since the discovery of the Texas Gulf Clark Hill 'item in this bill. He went itself within a few year:. Then, of coast fields in 1901; the United States on to say that he is going to have a hear course, the project would belong to the consumption of petroleum has doubled ing on next Monday for the purpose of •people of this country-the taxpayers. every decade. Today every piece of considering his · bill which provides that The power from this project will pay not adequate and modern refining equip the Government build the dam and the only the cost of the entire development ment in the United States is being used power company build the powerhouse, but will save the Government from ex at full capacity. · which is nothing less than subsidizing the pending some $12,000,000 or $14,000,000 These few facts clearly indicate that power company. Before the hearing is . to carry out the Government's commit to preserve our defense status we must concluded we expect to show that it will ment for a dependable 7-foot channel adopt oil-conservation measures and sub be nothing less than that. I do not be the year around from Augusta to Savan stitute other forms of energy where _pos lieve that this Congress will undertake nah-a distance of apprmr" mately 203 sible. As I have pointed out a number. to subsidize power companies as outlined miles. The navigation project was ap of times, firm hydropower is a non in the gentleman's bill. proved some few years before the Clark depletable energy base. It will be con Mr. Charles A. Collier, of the Georgia Hill project was authorized, and the tinuously available as long as the sun Power Co. , who appeared before the sub Board of Army Engineers, after spending shines. committee of the House Apropriations $3,000,000, saw that it would cost. $12,- In this brief statement I have pre Committee considering the War Depart 000,000 or $14 ,000,000 more to have a sented the high-light fundamentals ap ment Civil Functions Appropriation Bill dependable 7-foot channel the year plying to the McNary project. The de for 1948, and tried to defeat any appro around. So, at this late date, to change fense potentialities have been demon priation, appeared again on the same the authorization as provided in the Don strated by the past operations of Bonne grounds this year, stating that there is a. dero hili- something never heard of be ville and Coulee, and I have covered our bill to deauthorize the Clark Hill proj fore-means that the Government and petroleum energy base in this presenta ect and one pending for the Federal Gov the taxpayers will not be reimbursed in tion. The production capability of this ernment to build the dam and the power any amount, but practically all the reve plant will be the same as Bonneville, and company to build the powerhouse. This nue from the project will go to the power a general agreement exists as to future was the issue a year ago and he makes company, and, of course, this arrange-· markets. .VV'ith capability and market the same issue now, though Congress ment will amount to nothing less than components established, there can be no settled this issue a year ago by appro subsidizing the power company. How question as to -ayout as the authoriz priating an additional $5,000,000 for the can the Federal Government own the ing · legislation and the Bonneville Act development of the Clark Hill project. dam and the power company own the require such rates as will insure a full Now he says that hearings on the bill to powerhouse? How can they work to return to the Treasury. I feel certain deauthorize have been completed before gether? When the power company says that if the McNary project is evaluated the Flood Control Subcommittee of the that the power is worth so much, and in the terms I have called to your at House Committee on Public Works. In the Federal Power Commission does not tention, its soundness can be verified. this he is certainly mistal{en. The only agree with them, the power company Mr. Chairman, I feel that common witnesses who have been heard on this will stall for perhaps months and years sense and the best interests of the United bill were witnesses for the power com and the people, whose money paid for States Treasury, as well as the economy pany who appeared prior to the time the most of the development, will suffer all of the Pacific Northwest will be served appropriation for Clark Hill was voted this time for the benefits of this project. by increasing the appropriation for Mc out by the Appropriations Committee, The power company witness refers to Nary Dam, included in this bill, from and no hearing whatever has been held a letter addressed to the President, with $20,000,000 authorized by the commit on the bill, H. R. 3826, providing for the a brief, asking the President's approval tee to $40,000,000. The budget approved Government to build the dam and the for a PWA project. He did not attach $30,000,000 and the United States Army power company to build the powerhouse. any importance to this phase of the mat engineers, I understand, requested a So, the bills that he referred to at the ter when he testified last year before sufficient appropriation above ihe $30,- hearings recently held are the same bills House Appropriations Subcommittee, but 000,000 to permit them to begin construe·· and in the same status they were a year after losing in the fight before the Ap tion on the generating faciliti'es this fiscal ago when he testified against an appro- propriations Committee and in the 1948 . CONGRESSIONAL .RECORD-HOUSE 1789 House, he appea-red · before the Sena-te I hope you. will ·act :J:avorably on this appropriation of $4,500,000 was made for Appropriations Committee arid referred project. the development of this project. Even to this letter to the President asking the Just why the power company so sud at that time the power company or any President to set up a PWA project-the denly changed its attitude is not known. of its officers or agencies did not even Government contributing 45 percent and How_ever, it was revealed at a public hear raise a voice against the appropriation. the States and local authorities 55 per ing held by the Federal Power Commis What then is their real reason against cent of the cost of the project-and he sion in Atlanta in October 1946 that the further development by the Govern stated that the people in the vicinity of Commonwealth & Southern Corp. evi ment? They fought with us for more Augusta and the power company wanted dently used its _ persuasive efforts than 11 years for the full development to go in together to develop the project. to change the mind of the Savannah of the project by the Government. He failed to state that when this letter River Electric Co., when State Senator Congress, in authorizing this project, was delivered to the President, that the Brown of South Carolina asked Mr. Ark said that it should be developed in ac President in effect disregarded the re wright, .the president of the company, if cordance wfth plans and specifications quest for a PWA project when he ap a decision to again apply for a Federal of the Army engineers and they were that pointed a special board to make an in license was made in Atlanta or New York, the project should be developed in its vestigation of the feasibility of this and Mr. Arkwright stated the decision entirety by the Federal Government. project and the development of the Sa was made in New York. Of course, The plans of . the Army engineers were vannah River, and that the President everyone knows that the general offices known for many years by the power com did not appoi.nt any member of the PWA of the parent company, Commonwealth pany officers, and certainly were known but on the contrary appointed a member & Southern, are located in New York, many years by the power company be from the War.Department, one from the and that neither the Georgia Power Co. fore the project was authorized. Interior Department, and one from the nor the Savannah River Electric Co. has The Savannah River is a navigable Federal Power Commission. any office there. stream and has been a navigable stream The board thoroughly investigated What more proof do you need· than for many, many years. It belongs to the this project during the 5-month period this statement from Mr. Arkwright, the people. As far back as 1877 large sums ending January 31, 1936. The report president of the two companies: of money were spent to make this river was highly favorable to the construction I d~ not demand that we distrib~te it- navigable and frail boats were used 100 of the project. It was dated February miles above Augusta at that time to bring 29, 1936 and was submitted to the Presi The power- , most of the cotton produced in that area dent on or about March 16, 1936. I I merely say that we h dve the facilities to the Augusta market. · want to stress the fact that this board and the market and are willing to do it if you wish. The Savannah River is the dividing was drawn from three different agencies line between South Carolina and Geor ·of the Federal Government and they That· they favored full development gia. South Carolina is as much inter made a very exhaustive investigation of ·of the project by the Federal Govern ested in the benefits from this project the project. The board had a public ment, and- nothing was said, not even a as Georgia. The Georgir. Power Co. has hearing at Aug'!lst~. Ga., on or ab.out whisper, about any change in the de no lines in South Carolina to deliver the October 2, 1935. Many witnesses ap velopment of this project from 1935 until current, and to pass the Dondero bill peared at this hearing, including bank August 1946. certainly would be unfair to the State ers, busines'smen, farmers; lawyers, and The power company filed an applica or' South Carolina as well as Georgia. ·many other people. · Amop.g the group tion with the Federal Power Commission The power company claims that they who appeared was Hon.· Preston S. Ark late in 1946 ·for a license to develop, and have large sums invested in property on wright, who was president of the Georgia · after a full hearing the Federal Power the Savannah River. They will b.e paid Power Co. and the Savannah Riv.er Elec Commission refused their application. back their money. Tbey will be paid tric Co. Mr. Arkwright made quite a Mr. Collier, witness for the power com back what their property is worth just length,y statement at this hearing and pany a ·~ the hearing before the Approprr like every landowner in the basin whose ' said, among other things: ations Committee a few weeks ago, stated land will be affected by this development. I did not come here for the purpose of that the objection now to the develop They have made money out of the in hurting this enterprise. I came here with ment of the prbject by the Federal Gov vestment. They have received large the view of helping wherever possible. We sums of money for timber_ and also are not in objection or antagonism toward ernment arose when the project was au it. We wish to cooperate with it to the thorized in 1944, containing the so-called rentals from the. farm land. Should the full extent of our abilit y. I would like to preference clause in section 5 of the Flood power company ask for better treatment say that we are here for the purpose of its Control Act. Of course this provision for their holdings than the little farmer support. applied to all the projects in the United upstream who owns his land, or his States and not only Clark Hill. This father. owned this land many years be The witness, Mr. Arkwright, further fore there was any power development stated at this hearing: amendment in the Flood Control Act gave preference in the distribution of power in the State of Georgia. I do not demand that we distril::iute it to local authorities and the REA. Why The Georgia Power Co. has many The power- is the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. power sites on nonnavigable streams 1 merely say that we have t he facilities DoNDERo] trying to change this clause in Georgia which they could develop if and t he market and are willing to do it If only in the Clark Hill project ? Why they would, as · we need more power ·you wish . · should he pick out this one project in everywhere on account of the shortage That shows that as far back as Octo stead of all the projects? Is it fair to of oils as testified to before my com ber 1935 the power company was com the people of my section to say that mittee a few months ago by the Secretary mitted to full development of this project preference shall not be given to the REA of the Interior. by the Government and that the official, and local authorities there but every Power companies sometimes, when the president of both companies, went where else in the United States prefer they have nothing else to talk about, talk so far as to say that "if we do not dis ence shall be given? This statement of about free enterprise. My people who tribute the power we are for it anyway." Mr. Collier that the power company are supporting this project believe in free Mr. Arkwright at this hearing said changed its mind when the preference enterprise, but we believe in competitive further: clause was inserted in the Flood Control free enterprise. If free enterprise is not . Act of 1944 will not hold water when you competitive, then you have monopoly . I state again that company information, This is just exactly what the Georgia records, men, and engineers are at your serv analyze his statement.• The project, ice. Any information we have will be avail mind you, was authorized on December Power Co. has in Georgia. They distrib able to you. Regardless of what plan you 22, 1944, Bear in mind that the ·first ute practically all the current in Georgia, may finally 'recommend, we stand ready to appropriation for the .project was made and they are not going to let anybody cooperate to the fullest extent in making in December 1945, a year after the power else ·distribute any if they can help it. available to you any information we may company knew about the so-called pref Why do not they develop many other sites have which you think pertinent to your in ·erence clause. The power company did in many other sections of the State in vestigation. . not . even whisper an objection a year stead of going to one side of the State In concluding his statement Mr. Ark afterward when an appropriation of next to the South Carolina line and ask - wright further said:· $1,000,000 was made. In May 1946 an ing.that they be permitted to control the 1790 · CONGRESSIONAI.; RECORD-HO_USE FEBRUARY 26 power by building the powerhouse at the fer dam, electrical substation power demn these projects. I am sure they are expense of the Government. My people lines, and control roads. needed. I shall gladly support them, but want this project. developed by the Fed Three active projects in process in- I call attention to two indisputable facts: eral Government in its entirety as au . elude the construction bridge over the First, the greatest record flow on the thorized. This was the position the of Savannah River, the east embankment Missouri River is only 591,000 second feet, ficials of the power company took until which is about 40 percent complete, and or more than 50,000 second feet le1:s than 1946, and I certainly do not believe that the main contract for· the concrete dam the measured record flow of the Little after all these years, after an authoriza and appurtenant works which has been River; and, second, that although hun tion and three appropriation bills, this started. dreds of millions of dollars of Federal Congress is going to repudiate solemn Therefore, I hope the amount of the money has already been spent and other acts passed by the Congress just in order appropriation recommended by the Ap hundreds of millions are by this very bill to satisfy a power company who changes propriations Committee will be approved committed to be spent on flood-control its ·mind at will to the detriment of the without a dissenting vote and that the structures on that drainage basin, not taxpayers of this country. Congress authorization will not be changed in any one dollar of Federal money has ever does not act this way, never has, and · bill now pending or any proposed bill ·been spent ·in the construction of any never will, regardless of which party is in undertaking to change the will of Con project in the whole Little River basin. power. . gress just to satisfy the power companies I realize that the Bureau of the Budget · The officials of the power company now who desire monoply in this field at the has also repeatedly overlooked this vi are trying to make the issue one of public expense of the taxpayers of this country. tally needed project. We have not, how power against t:rivate power. This is not Mr. KERR. Mr. Chairman, I Yield 5 ever, had an opportunity to present 'the the -issue at all-after authorization and minutes to the gentleman from Texas need to that agency. They "move in three appropriation bills-because the [Mr. POAGE]. mysterious ways thei~ wonders to per power company fought with us 11 long Mr. POAGE. Mr. Chairman, the com- form," and the committee:has in this very years, and it is too late for them to be . mittee has had a most difficult taslc. I -biU inserted a number of nonbudgeted heard upon an issue of this character do not rise in critical anger, but rather items. · · · at this late date. in respectful appreciation of their many I must, therefore,· lay these facts be Mr. Collier is trying to hold up this difficulties. I cannot, however, but feel fore ·you, my colleagues, .and solicit your appropriation, which would mean prog a sense of disappointment at my appar interest and cooperation iri behalf of the ress of the development would be stopped rent inability, and the apparent·inability ·worst flooded valley in the United States. and no contract carried out. This within . oi the fine citizens of central Texa:;; who · A valley that has no well financed organ itself shows that all he wants is to defeat year after year have m;:tde the long trip ization to constantly plead its case. A development of this project. up from Tex ~ s in order to explain to this . valley inhabited by the little People of The power company officials have been committee the critical need for flood America.who are struggling· against over lobbying on this Dondero bill for some control on the lower Brazos and its prin . whelming odds. I plead with you to give time. They lobbied last fall at the extra cipal tributary, the Little River. . those little people protection at the ear- session of Congress. Several members I know the committee has sought to liest opportunity. · of the Committee told me ·that one Mr. be fair. I know the Gommittee has sought The CHAIRMAN. The. time of the Maudlin, who is a lobbyist here for the to allot the funds at its command to gentleman from Texas has expired. Georgia Power Co., talked to them those projects where, in its judgment, Mr. CASE of South Dakota. · Mr. about the bill. This may be all right, these funds would do the greatest good. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the gen but I do not think it is quite fair. I Since it seems so clear to me that the tleman from Kansas [Mr. SCRIVNER]. suppose he was registered as a lobbyist Belton Dam is the most needed flood Mr. ·scRIVNER. Mr. Chairman, with last fall. They are even here now in control project in the United States, I the flood of oratory about flood control, droves, cont:l.cting members of Congress feel chagrined that we have so completely . my remarks may seem to be anticlimax; to pass the Dondero bill to subsidize the failed to impress the committee with the yet the subject is important to the peo power company of my State. It is rather ·vital necessity of this project. ple of America, the taxpayers who are . strange to ·me that the author of the bill, Why do I say the Belton Dam is the affected. who lives more than a thousand miles most needed project in the United States? Probably most of you have not paid a from the project, should know any more I know that we are all prone to see the great deal of attention to the language about the project and all the circum need for our own projects, and to over in the report found on page 16, relating stances attending same than the people look the merits of other projects. Maybe to the Panama Canal, and the fact that, who live in that particular section. I I have done that, but let us impartially although the law provides for a maxi venture to say that the gentleman will test this project. mum rate of a dollar per ton per loaded not get one vote from Congressmen who I assume that loss of life is probably ship, and less for those in water ballast, live within 600 miles of this project be the best measure of flood damage. In · the present rate for the usage of the cause they know what it means to the one flood alone there were 164 people Panama Canal is now fixed at 90 cents taxpayers of this country and they do drowned below the Belton Dam site on per ton. That means that the operating not expect to subsidize the power com the Little River. What similar valley has expense of the Panama Canal is between pany in any respect. · suffered such appalling tragedy? $300,000 and $600,000 a year less than Eighteen construction contracts for I assume that the volume of water the amount received from toll charges. the Clark Hill project have been carried by a stream is a reasonable yard There is not any reason why the tax awarded. Of these 18 contracts, 10 stick as to the size of its floods. The payers of America should be subsidizing were completed by January 1 of this year. maximum flood of the Little River has ·the shipping interests, not only of Amer Among these completed jobs were the been measured by the United States ica, but particularly of foreign countries, access railroad at the site of the dam, the Army engineers as 647,000 second-feet at this stage of the game. About half first stage of the west embankment, of water. That is more water than was of the ships going through the Panama quarry explorations, the access railroad ever measured on either the Mississippi Canal are other than American registry. on the South Carolina side of the river, or the Missouri above their juncture, and There is no reason why, if he would, the salvage of the water system from Fort yet the bed of the Little River can ac President of the United States could not Jackson, installation of telephone lines, commodate but a fraction of the water increase this toll rate without any delay. domestic water supply for Government easily carried by the channel of either of I am taking this opportunity of asking use, foundation explorations, a field lab those two streams. Truly this Texas my friends on the Democratic side of the oratory, office building at Clark Hill, stream must owe its name to the fact that House who may have some little influ garage and pP.rmanent soils laboratory, it is too little to carry the water. ence with the President, as head of their and a number of minor items of con The committee was undoubtedly im administration, to call this matter to his struction. pressed with the violence of the floods attention, asking him to exercise his Of the remaining eight contracts, five in the Middle West last spring. This ap authority to raise the toll rates on the are practically complete. These are the propriation bill contains funds for many Panama Canal to the full maximum of diversion channel, east approaches to . projects to the upper reaches of the Mis $1 per ton, thereby bringing in to the the construction bridges, first stage cof· souri and its tributaries. I do not con- Treasury more than enough to offset the 1948 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 1791 deficit of operating the Panama Canal Angeles River is not enough in view of upon it further since the justification for and possibly leave a few dollars to apply the amount raised by taxation by Los it ha·s been presented by the Corps of En upon the huge investment which we have Angeles County flood district. How gineers. It may be of interest to note, there. It is not a hard job to do. It many other counties in the Nation are however, that the local contributions re could be done in a matter of 30 minutes doing as much? quired for acquisition of right-of-way or an hour, at the most, and would be a Flood-control work in Los Angeles and reconstruction of highway bridges great relief to the taxpayers of this Na· County is performed by two agencies: on this work will amount to $1,197,000 tion. Not only that, I feel that with the First. The Corps of Engineers, which which is being financed in the county's increases in costs that are bound to come is charged with expending to best ad flood-control district budget for the com with some of the rebuilding and recon vantage the funds for flood-control work ing year. struction that must take place in the made available to them. as a result of May I close this statement by sum Panama Canal, .there will eventually your appropriations. marizing the needs of Los Angeles County arise the necessity for an even greater Second. The Los Angeles County flood toll charge for the use of this passage for Federal flood-control appropriations control district, which has charge of for the fiscal year 1949, as follows: way. We, therefore, suggest that the flood-control work financed from reve legislative committees of the House and Los Angeles-San Gabriel Basin nues received from its taxpayers and the and Ballona Creek: the Senate consider immediately this State of California. Permit me to re Whittier Narrows Dam ______$8, 000, 000 matter so that there, will be no undue view the funds budgeted by the Federal Los Angeles River______4, 150, 000 delay in presenting this question of and local agencies for flood-control work Lopez flood-control basin___ 750, 000 increasing the tqll charge on the Panama in our county during .the last 2 years and Tujunga Wash______3, 000, 000 Canal. that proposal for the next year: Compton Creek ______1,726,000 Mr. NORRELL. Mr. Chairman, will Sawtelle-Westwood------2, 750, 000 the gentleman yield? Planning______500, 000 Fiscal Fiscal Proposed Mr. SCRIVNER. I am glad to yield year year fiscal year Total ______20,876,000 to my colleague from Arkansas. Hl47 1948 1949 Santa Ana River Basin: San A:ri- Mr. NORRELL. The gentleman has ·tonio flood- .contr~l basin______2, 500, 000 made a very fair 'statement; but I am Federal funds, ex informed, although I do not know, that pended by Corps of Grand totaL ______23, 376, 000 Engineers_------$3,898,000 $5,931,000 $4, 138,000 the Panama Canal has never been self Local funds, expended sustaining. Does the gentleman know by Los Angeles Gentlemen, all that we ask is that, County tlood-control recognizing the potential flood menace whether that is correct or not? district: Mr. SCRIVNER. You will find in Local contribution that exists in Los Angeles County, the to Federal proj- tremendous population that is expanding General Mahaffie's statement in the ects______854,856 765,583 2, 298,000 hearings, at page 601, that this year the Maintenance of ex· into potential flood disaster zones there; operating expense will be somewhere in isting works . . ____ 1, 363, 151 1, 468,919 1, 871, 104 the magnitude of the flood-control 0 projects that 7 years ago were authorized the neighborhood of $300,000 more than ~;~k~~~~-~~-t:~!. 1, 571,509 2, 418,703 13,303, 177 the income from tolls, and he antici for this county; and the efforts that the pated the loss would rise to a figure of TotaL...... 3, 789, 516 4, 653,205 '7, 472,281 county is itself making to improve these $600,000 next year. conditions, you grant appropriations for Mr. REED of New York. Mr. Chair 1 Includes $1,388,500 of State funds allocated to district. flood-control work there that, in rea man, will the gentleman yield? Could anything be more convincing sonable period of time, will give real Mr. SCRIVNER. I yield. . than this tabulation to prove that Los protection, and not temporize with this Mr. REED of New York. Just as a Angeles is by no means asking Congress problem. · matter of information, were there any . to relieve it of all its flood problems? The Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. Mr. Chair treaty arrangements with other nations Board of Supervisors of the Los Angeles man, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman with regard to the question of tolls? County Flood Control District has for from Connecticut [Mr. SEELY-BROWNJ. Mr SCRIVNER. No statement was years levied the maxi1imm tax rate per Mr. SEELY-BROWN. Mr. Chairman, made in the hearings <;..S to whether tolls mitted by law in an effort to expedite the I have asked for this time in order that were effected by treati~s or whether they flood protection of its citizens at the earli I might be permitted to ask the gentle were fixed by this statutory authority. It est possible date. The State of California man from Michigan [Mr. ENGEL] certain may be the gentleman can find it in the has joined in this effort through the ap questions. hearfngs if he wishes. There is a full propriation of millions of dollars for the I am concerned in particular with item discussion of the subject. Also in the purpose of meeting the local require No. 9 as described on page 294 of the hearings he will find the number of ships ments-for Federal projects in the State. using the Canal, the nations from which hearings before the Subcommittee of the Is there any other area in the Nation Committee on Appropriations on · the they emanated, the :fiag they flew. that can show a better record in coping There were some one-thousand-nine Civil Functions Department of the Army with its flood-control problems? Do you appropriation bill for 1949. hundred-odd American ships, 892 British, know of any area similar in size in the and the rest are scattered among vari On January 27, 1948, I addressed a Nation that faces a greater menace from letter to him. I read from this letter: ous countries. flood hazard than Los Angeles County? Mr. REED of New York. I wonder if Hon. ALBERT J. ENGEL, Do you believe it would be right to appro Chairman, Subcommittee on War we are getting similar concessions on priate but $4,138,000 ·there when the canals controlled by other governments. Department Military Functions and actual needs are for nearly six times this War Department Civil Functions, Mr. SCRIVNER. I have no informa amount and the county, through its Committee on Appropriations, House tion on that, but judging from the gen flood-control district, is doing all that it -of Representatives, Washington, eral trend of things I would say that we can to reach this goal .' D. C . . are not getting similar concessions. My MY DEAR CoLLEAGUE: As you know, an recollection is that some attempt was In the opinion of the flood-control en item of $320,000 is included in the budget made for reci-procal use by our ships in gineers of Los Angeles County, the estimate of the Army engineers for flood con Suez without success. amount of Federal funds that should be trol general, for Norwich, Conn. The CHAIRMAN. The time of the appropriated for the next fiscal year is The project in question was authorized in $23,376,000. the 1941 Flood Control Act, and is part of gentleman from Kansas has expired. the Thames ,River development. It consists Mr. McDONOUGH. Mr. Chairman, I The budget before you includes for of channel improvement ( f Shetucket River ask unanimous consent to revise and ex Los Angeles County only one item, of immediately upstream from its conflux with tend my remarks at this point of the $4,138,000, according to published no the Yantic River at . Norwich, and it pro RECORD on this subject. tices, which is intended for the improve vides for deepening and widening of a ledge The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection ment of 1% miles of the Los Angeles Riv rock constriction in' the channel. to the request of the gentleman. from er upstream from Tujunga Wash, . and · The project will be 70 percent complete with funds available through 1948, and the California? the reconstruction of a bridge at Fire- amount requested in the 1949 budget is There was no objection. . stone Boulevard, with appurtenant chan p'rincipally for rock excavation ' and to make Mr. McDONOUGH. Mr. Chairman, nel paving. We ·fully concur in the need final payment under the existing contract. the appro~riation of $4,138,000 for Los for this improvement but will not dwell The total estimated cost of the project at 1792 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE FEBRUARY 26 Norwich was $1,044,000, and the amount along the lines of the Ohio statute deal This, of course, only involves initial allotted t o date is $724,000. ing with this subject. It is bad enough work. There are alternate sites under It is my h ope that your committ ee wi_ll be to discriminate against the bona fide vet consideration by the Army engineers at pleased to act favorably on this matter so that this project m ay be completed. erans of the District by denying them a the present time. Complete construc Such advices as you might care to give me vote without further discriminating by tion work will not be undertaken until a on this m atter would be very much appre denying them the chance to obtain a decision is made by General Wheeler of ciated by m e. bonus. the Army engineers, as to the correct and Very sincerely yours, Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. Mr. Chair proper site for the dam. However, the HORACE S EELY-BROWN, Jr., man, I yield 5 i:n:inutes to the gentleman $700,000 carried in this bill will be suffi M em be1· of Congress , Second from Iowa [Mr. LECOMPTE]. cient for this year with a little balance Connecti cut D istrict. Mr. LECOMPTE. Mr. Chairman, I which I trust will be made .available from This project is one of the most impor take this opportunity to commend the the unexpended planning fund provided tant units in the comprehensive-plan for chairman and the members of the Sub last year to enable the Army engineers protection against flood damage to the committee on Appropriations for the to start construction work on the great city of Norwich. This city suffered dam Clvil Functions of the War Department Red Rock Reservoir, such work to con ages of nearly $2 ,006 ,000 during the flood, because this committee has really per sist of land clearance, access roads, of 1938. The completion of this project formed a very valuable service and has temporary buildings, and possibly the re will do much to eliminate further done it in a magnificent waY. The com moval or changing of some transmission damage. · mittee listened diligently and attentively lines. This, above all, is most convincing I-am disturbed to find that my letter to requests from all quarters of the coun to the State of Iowa that the great Com of January 27 was not made a part of try seeking flood relief, reclamation, mitte~ on Appropriations, and ,particu the permanent record of the hearings. navigation, soil conservation, and hydro larly the Subcommittee on Flood Con In order to make the record completely· electric power appropriations, and out of trol, is interested in the welfare of the clear, I would appreciate having your all of the requests, with and without people along the Des Moines River of advices at this time as to why the funds, Budget approval, the committee has Iowa. namely $~20,000 in total, needed to com- been able to reduce the President's I appreciate the fact that the cl;lair - plete this project, were eliminated from budget substantially below the figures man of the committee, the gentleman this appropriation bill. - submitted by the Director of the Budget ·· from Michigan, Congressman ALBERT Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. When I and· still ·has been able to present to the ENGEL, last summer visited the . flood went·over this project with the engineers House of Representatives a complete devastated area, the city of Ottuma, and prior to the time that we took it up in flood-'cont.rol-waterpower-bill that,· in the valley where the ;river overflowed, · the committee _with regard to· ·cutting my opinion, generally speaking, will have and has shown that he is conscious of ·. $100,000,000 from the total, I was advised the· approval of the. country as a whole. and has a sympathetic interest in the -by the engineers. that we could take this Mr. Chairma~ . I want to express to the welfare of this region in southeastern $320,000 out of the budget because of the committee my appreciation for the' sym ·Iowa, and we feel deeply grat~ful to him. fact that the local community had. not pathetic interest that it has shown in the We want him to visit IQwa often, and met its obligations with regard to coop difficulty we are having in the Des Moines the same invitation is extended to all River Valley in Iowa. There is not a members of the Appropriations Com- eration on this project. That is the note mittee. . I have in front of me on this project. valley on the face of the earth as rich as that valleY, nor is there one that as ·of In all I think that there will be ap Mr. SEELY-BROWN. I thank the the present time produces as much per proximately $1,000,000 for initial con gentleman and yield back the balance acre of agricultural products, one that is struction work on the Red Rock Reser of my time. contributing more to the world supply voir when the proper site has been deter The CHAIRMAN. Th.e gentleman of food, as the Des Moines River Valley. mined by Gen. R. A. Wheeler and his from Connecticut yields back 1 minute. Last year this valley suffered a terribly staff. Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. Mr. Chair disastrous flood which washed out thou- . The CHAIRMAN. The time of the man, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman sands of acres of corn in June, caused gentleman from Iowa has expired. from Ohio' fMr. BREHM]. the death of four persons at Ottumwa, Mr. ENGEL of Michigan . . Mr: Chair Mr. BREHM. Mr. Chairman, I ask · Iowa, and resulted in physical damage man, I yield 8 minutes to the gentleman unanimous consent to speak out of order in the city of Ottumwa, Iowa, alone, of from California [Mr. WELCH]. - and to revfse and extend my remarks. $11,500,000 as estimated by the staff of Mr. WELCH. Mr. Chairman, among The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection the United States Army ·engineers. This the most important civil functions of the to the request of the gentleman from does not take into' consideration any War Department i$ the work of the Corps Ohio? direct damages. For example, the great of Army Engineers on flood control. In There was no objection. industrial plants were shut down for a cluded in this bill are items relating ·to Mr. BREHM. Mr. Chairman, I want week or 10 days, not a wheel was able Folsom Dam and· the Cherry River proj to say a few words in behalf of the vet to turn, and these losses were not taken ects in California. The Cherry River erans of World War II who reside in t e into consideration. The damages to project is to become an integrated part District of Columbia. Certain States, crops washed out along the river have of San Francisco-Modesto-Turlock flood including Ohio, have voted a bonus, or never been fully computed, and damages control, water, and power project. The submitted the question to ·the voters and in other cities than the one I have Folsom multiple dam, in keeping with the they voted in favor of paying a bonus to enumerated have never been computed. President's policy, will become an inte World War II veterans. I think it no l feel deep appreciation, and I believe the grated part of the Central Valley project. more than right, since the question can people of the State of Iowa realize that Flood control, as it applies to semi not be submitted to the folks of the the Eightieth Congress has a sympa arid California, means conservation of District because unfortunately they are thetic interest and is conscious of the snow and rain waters which normally not voters, that legislation should be pre needs of our great State. Down through come to that S__tate during the short sea sented to this Congress and that we sub:. the war years, Year after year, the State son from October to April. To hold stitute for the voters of the States and of Iowa produced 10 percent of the basic these waters for beneficial usage instead the nonvoters of the District, in deciding food products of the United States. of permitting them to run unharnessed, this question of whether the veterans The flood problem along the Des and at times cause great damage in their of the District should receive a bonus. Moines River and other rivers is some mad rush to the Pacific Ocean, means It seems to me no more than right and thing we have not been able to handle that dams, including dams for multiple proper that the v-eterans of the District ourselves and, therefore, we have come purposes are imperatively necessary. of Columbia receive the same treatment to the Federal Government for help. Such dams will serve a dual purpose. as the veterans of the 48 States of the The Army engineers, after careful study, They will not only protect valuable farm Union. I will wait a day or so and if have come to our aid and recommended lands, but they will assist in meeting the the chairman or some member of the an appropriation in this bill which covers critical shortage of power. Veterans' Affairs Committee does not an item of $700,000 for initial construc California not only is suffering ftom offer legislation dealing with this subject, tion work on the Red Rock Dam and the greatest drought in her history, but then I intend to offer a bill patterned reservoir along the Des Moines River. · it also suffers from a severe shortage 1948 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 1793 of power from one end of the State to That effusion appears in the CoNGRES The gentleman from ·Pennsylvania the other. The greatly increased de SIONAL RECORD of February 23, 1948, page [Mr. GRoss] has insulted the South. · We mands for both water and power ·pri 1554, under the name of Representative are used to that, although it is strange marily have been caused by the tre CHESTER H. GROSS, of Pennsylvania. that farmers in one part of the country mendous incr'ease in population taking i thought Pennsylvania had gotten should find themselves being taxed and place· in California. · In 1940,'the Census over this kind of silly talk long ago.· Only insulted by one who calls himself a rep Bureau reported the population of Cali recently, in fact, Pennsylvania's people, resentative of farmers from another. fornia to be 6,907,370 persons. Between acting through the' courts and the legis The gentleman from PennsYlvania [Mr. July· 1, 1940, and July 1, 1947, the popu lature; became so sick and tired of it that GRoss] asks that we cease using marga lation increased 43 percent to 9,876,000. they forced a dairy-bloc legislature to rine, a product of cottonseed oil and In the single year from July 1, 1946, to drastically lower license fees on mar patronize butter. We ask only th~t we July 1, 1947, the State:S population in garine. ·As a result the number of retail be allowed to patronize what we please. creased over 350,000 persons, which stores in the Keystone State selling mar If Mrs. Housewife, Southern or Northern means an increase of almost 1,000 per garine now is five times the number that wants butter, I shall be the first to help day. It is, therefore, imperative that were selling it before the court and the her to it. If she chooses margarine, that every acre-foot of water in the state of legislature acted. is her privilege and without that very 'California should be impo"unded for ag They like margarine in Pennsylvania. essential privilege our entire system of ricultural, industrial, and domestic use, Why not? It is a good, pure food prod . enterprise. and business progress is be and that every potential kilowatt of uct. At the national average ·of con come a Socialist state. I know of no hydroelectric power should be developed, sumption Pennsylvania is. using at least other product taxed with the sole' real either by private capital or public en 115,000,000 pounds of margarine every 12 purpose of forcing the consumer to buy terprise, to meet this enormous unprece months. Practically no butter is made in another. Yet that is exactly what the. dented shift in population which has Pennsylvania. Federa! antimargarine law does. Im been taking place in such a short period - In Bible times tl:e Canaanites hit upon agine what a mooing there would be of time. a wonderful expedient to keep them safe from the golden cow if anyone dared from harm. They set up a large golden suggest, for an instant, and, in all fair Mr. Chairman, this population move ness, butter also be taxed. And I would ment exceeds any other population calf and worshipped it. . We know that this happened, because the people who be the first to resist suoh an at empt. change that has taken place throughout Let us look again' at Mr. GRoss' State. our entire history in a similar length of caught them at it and took over the coun try wrote it down as a lesson. In Pennsylvania today are more than time. It is a condition over which the 10,000,000 persons. Well over two-thirds State of California has no control. · I have a suggestion to make to the of them live in urban places. They work The already serious shortage of water good people of Pennsylvania, taken from the philosophy expressed by the gentle for wages and salaries. They buy their and power catJsed by the population in food at the corner grocery. To them; crease is further aggravated by the man from Pennsylvania [Mr. GRoss), and another knight of the butter-knife margarine has become an indispensable dryest winter in' California's recorded part of their diet. It has the same, or weather history. The situation has be recently, in this august Chamber. I suggest that the great steel and indus better, nutritional value as the best but come so grave that the Governor of Cali ter. See the report in the American fornia has declared an emergency, the trial might and genius of the Keystone State be respectfully drawn to a halt. Medical Association Journal, February first result of which is that nearly one Let them abandon their business of mak - 7, 1948. It offers them some relief ·from half of the counties of California are ing the sinews of modern civilization and pressure on the family food budget. And browned out. Every. pos~?ible step_· hu~ turn to the creation of a gigantic iron not to be overlooked-it supplies a gap manly possible is beiri,g taken to conserve cow .. Let the skilled workers of Pitts in the diet which has been created in both water and power. burgh, 84 percent of whose families, on large part by the dairy industry's in It is, therefore, of the utmost impor.;. a national average, use margarine on ability to ·increase butter ·production. tance, Mr. Chairman, that these impor their tabies, be entrusted with this mon Pennsylvania produced a total of only tant flood-control projects be carried umental task. Let the iron Bossy be 17,805,000 pounds of butter in 1946. That forward at the earliest possible moment painted yellow, the color of artificially was less than 2 pounds per · Pennsylva to avoid future catastrophes of this kind. colored butter, and let all good Penn nian, and only a fifth of the relatively low Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. Mr. Chair sylvanians fall down and worship it, or national per capita rate. man, I yield such time as he may desire be declared guilty of high treason. For I am not btking the great State of to the gentleman from South Carolina this is exactly what the gentleman from Benjamin Franklin as the only example [Mr. BRYSON]. Pennsylvania [Mr. GRoss] and the Penn of the golden cow's domain. So long Mr. BRYSON. Mr. Chairman, I ask sylvania butter bloc would have them do as Federal law taxes and restricts mar unanimous consent to proceed out of and the whole country do. After all the garine, the golden cow is receiving the unthinking worship her keepers demand order. gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. GROSs] considers, so it appears, that the from every State in the Nation. The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection to But lately there has been a great res the request of the gentleman from South 0.002 percent of his 'State's population whose farms sell butterfat are more im tiveness throughout the land of the Carolina? golden cow. Hundreds of newspapers There was no objection. portant than the ~9.998 percent who do other things for a living. have actually come right out and said U!3ING FOOD RESOURC~S TO MEET FOOD NEEDS · I have nothing against Bossy. She that the golden cow was going too far. Mr. BRYSON. Mr. Chairman, I have is a most useful part of our food supply Millions of consumers found themselves just read a remarkable testimonial to the and our economy. Yet I object to this going to the trouble of m1xing margarine South. It is by a northern gentleman worship of the golden cow. The butter in their own kitchens, and, in this day who apparently has never seen the South. boys would have us believe that the of modern pure food packaging and serv Nor apparently has he seen much of this golden cow is a kind of idol, a god, to ice, they want to know why they should country's vast and diversified resources be worshiped without question. Has pay this tribute. Thousands of small grocery stores find themselves hemmed and economy. Thi~ is what he says: the golden cow produced a third less in by Gov~rnment red tape and regula If the people down South, instead of using butter than before the war so that there oleomargarine or no spread at all, would use is a scarcity of butter? Let no one ques tions and severe license fees simply be dairy. products, they would have the will to tion her right to the votes of Congress. cause they choose to offer margarine to live, the will to build schools and · educate Has the golden cow refused to make more their custo'hlers, and this is their tribute. their children, without trying to draw on butter in the interest of bigger profits Every food store is her tax-collector's States like New York and Wisconsin. They from milk and cheese and ice cream? office, every pound of this table spread is will want to do things and they will look like Step up, pay your $1 a pound for her taxed to her edification. But still, ac people who can do things when they begin cording to the Department of Agricul using dairy products in the South. They product-artificially colored-and keep should have milk bars and ice-cream parlors silence. Does the golden cow demand ture, she cannot produce more butter. instead of soda fountains and drinking Coca that, e•ien if you cannot get butter, No wonder there are at this moment Cola. They should be using dairy products margarine be taxed a:Qd taxed off every more bills than ever before in this House three times a day and should be producing it counter in the country? That is the to repeal or modify the discriminatory, in their own community. logic of the golden cow. costly antimargarine law. No wonder 1794 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE FEBRUARY 26 men in both parties, in all sections, are of utilizing cheaper and equally effective tax on margarine can, as the gentleman giving their support to this movement. methods of producing food. Margarine, from P~nnsylvania seems to think, aid It is high time that this tribute to the made from vegetable oils, is a shining the well-being of the South or any other golden cow come to a speedy and un case in point. It is no accident that mar community is beyond my understanding, regretted end. garine is as popular as it is today. It is and that of the millions of American con For this is a national, not a secttonal inevitable that, under the free workings sumers who have stood this margarine or even a Pennsylvania issue. This is an of our system of enterprise, it should be, tax nonsense long enough. issue of the consumer. It is not an for margarine makes use of more efficient Insults at the South have no point. issue of party or of class. It is not an methods of providing the same nutrition The margarine movement is a national, issue of farmer against user. It is purely at less cost and the same, if not better, not a southern movement. It is bi an issue of the overwhelming mass of the nutritional results. partisan and it represents the great ma people of this country, and the over This is progress. It is the kind of prog jority. We reg;et that the butter bloc whelming repugnance of this country to ress that is absolutely necessary if we are · sees ·fit to smear the soft drink indus flagrant monopoly and discrimination, to carry out our grave responsibilities as try. Nor is it clear why soda fountains as against the selfish interest of a very a nation, if we are to succeed in main are inferior to milk bars. But this is small but well-organized group. taining the American standard of living all of a piece with the cobwebby philoso I heartily agree with the gentleman under the conditions of our time. It is phy that would put a golden cow across from Pennsylvania [Mr.-GRossJ that th~ national progress that benefits the. whole every route of trade, that would block country should have more good milk and Nation. It is not progress to insist that all progress so that one industry might ice cream. The nutritionists say that is one product, a minor product of one in be served just as in medieval times fool a good thing, and the Department of dustry,. and whose distribution largely ish kings were given the power to im Agriculture has gone so far as to set a emanates from a relatively few areas, be poverish their own subjects and fill their goal pf about 653 pounds per person for permitted to tax another food. Who own coffers. the concumption of milk and whole milk benefits? Not the mass of consumers Fortunately, one ray of light, has products. We are still a long way-85 who pay the bill, and at the same time refuted the gentleman in his own State. pounds-from achieving . that goal. ~, re forced to do without. A Member from Pennsylvania has in Meanwhile, only about 14 percent of our Margarine taxes are in the same cate troduced a bill calling for drastic modi total dairy operation is butter. Why, gory as old-time pagan worship. They fication of taxes on margar-ine. It is a then, this devotion to the golden cow? are a kind of superstition-the outworn, consumer bill. - It has . strong support From the standpoint of the dairy indus· antiquated superstition that one small from both parties throughout the Con try's contribution to our national nutri group can ride roughshod over the others gress. Wild assertions and demagogic tion, it is a false god indeed. at the expense of the general welfare, attempts to set up the idol of the golden We are asked to cease from spreading and that one section of this country has cow in this Congress are in contrast to margarine on our bread and take up $1 the right to exact tribute from another ·the thousands -of letters we are receiv- butter. Well, in ·1946 the South Atlantic ·section or class. Far from trying to draw ·ing from -individuals throughout the ·States together put 27 percent of our on States like Wisconsin and. New York, ·land -who' demand something be done -to milk supply into butter. At the same as · my colleague from Pennsylvania ·provide margarine relief. time our friends in Wisconsin put in less implies, the South is increasingly de May the day of the golden cow soon than 2 percent of theirs. In South Caro veloping its resources so as to provide be over. She is a faithless, un-Christian lina we produce per capita more butter more for more people at less cost. How ·goddess. All attempts to artificiaHy re than New York, Pennsylvania, New many Southern products are staples else strict trade in someone's selfish interest Hampshire, and 12 other States. Six where? Interstate trade is a foundation ·have proved vain; and so shall it be for Southern States, including South Caro stone in our country's prosperity and .the margarine tax. The margarine law lina, produced in 1946 between 5 and 10 greatness. It was one of the basic issues has not increased. the supply of butter. pounds per capita, while 4 more produced on which the Constitution and Union -It has not made butter cheaper. It has between 10 and 15. Only 11 States pro. were erected. Today there persists a not checked the steadily mounting con duced more than that. The South is dangerous reliance on interstate trade sumption of margarine nor its recogni well represented in the butter-producing barriers to provide unsound protection tion by science and food -experts alike set. against competition. The State of as a pure and nutritious food. It has But we are interested in a fair deal for Washington has raised a high barrier not provided any real revenue. It has all parts of our agriculture and industry. · against margarine, a product of the not made our Government better, or In 1946 this country produced 3,447,000 South and Midwest, but we have notre more efficient, or more useful. It has tons of cottonseed, the equivalent of well taliated against Washington~s apples and not helped anything because monopolies over a billion pounds of cottonseed oil other widely used products. The State have no concern with public welfare. and 3,0(. 0,000,000 pounds of cottonseed of Ohio is a great manufacturer of rayon, It is the profitable task of this Con.,. meal. Today, cottonseed oil provides but our cotton States do not propose to gress to abolish margarine .taxes im nearly as many units of food-fat nutri erect a tariff against rayon though it is mediately. I am proud to take pa'rt. It tion as does butter. Cash income from a sharp competitor with cotton. Vast is a stroke that will benefit not just the cottonseed oil in the producing States quantities of products flow between the South, but the East, the North, the West. exceeded that of butterfat by nearly six States, cheapening costs and making The Clerk read as follows: times. Cottonseed meal affords an in possible our enormous productive ca CORPS OF ENGINEERS dispensable contribution to critical live pacity. Only one is singled out for re UIVERS Al\TJ>- HAiiBORS !,.ND FLOOD CONTROL stock and poultry feed supplies-and strictive tax treatment, and that is mar To be ir..1.mediately available and to be ex in 1944, for example, a third of the high garine. The gentleman from Pennsyl pended under the direction of the Secretary proteill dairy ration was cottonseed or vania would have us turn the clock of our of the Army and the supervision of the Chief cottonseed meal. ' own interstate trade back to the dim time of Engineers, and to remain available until The food-fat picture is radically when nations wrongly thought they expended: Provided, That the services of changed today from what it used to be, could increase their wealth by forbidding such additional technical ·and clerical per even within the memory of every Mem the importation of products of other na sonnel as the Secretary of the Army may deem necessary may be employed only in the ber of this House. Today vegetable oils tions, just as England once outlawed Office of the Chief of Engineers, to carry into provide the major part of the food-fat - calico-and then turned· around and be effect the various appropriations for rivers supply. Without them we would have a came the greatest cotton fabric supplier, and harbors and fiood control, surveys, and fats and oils shortage of frightening size. for her time, of any country in the world. preparation ~or and the consideration of Butterfat, useful as it is, now contributes The restrictive tax on margarine is a river and harbor and flood-control estimates . only a part, and not a major part, of our positive deterrent to progressive agricul and bills, to be paid . from such appropria food-fat nutrition. This is a basic change ture, trade, and adequate nutrition. It tions: Provided further, That the expendi in our food habits arising out of improved violates not only the principle of inter tures on this account for the fis'cal year 1949 shall not exceed $1,250,000, and the Secre use of our food resources. state trade but also the principle of free tary of the Army shall each year, in the In these days of increasing pressure on opportunity to produce a thing that is budget, report to Congress the number our agricultural resources we are becom needed, and produce it with the same or of persons so employed, their duties, and the ing aware of the tremendous importance !mprove.d quality and at less cost. How a amount paid to each: Provided further; That 1948 ·coNGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 1795 the various appropriations for rivers and har.:. of the Holyoke Water Power Co., 'of Hol neers to carry out the purposes of this appro bars and flood · control may be used for the yoke, Mass., illustrate. the diflicUlties priation, inclutling such printing, either dur purchase, in the fiscal year 1949, of 500 pas imposed on further private development ing a recess or session of Congress, of surveys senger motor vehicles (of which 356 shall be authorized by law, and such surveys as may for replacement only) and 10 motorboats, of hydro. be printed during a recess of Congress shall ·and the purchase (not to exceed 7), mainte Connecticut has no huge fast-running be printed, with illustrations, as documents nance, repair, and operation of aircraft. streams but private capital has in the of the next succeeding session of Congress : years past developed the power possibili.; Provided, That no part of this appropriation Mr. MILLER of Connecticut. Mr. ties of the streams we do qave. But in shall be expended for any preliminary ex Chairman, I move to strike out the last addition to ·the hydro plants the Con amination, survey, project, or estimate not word. authorized by law; $151,831,300: Provided fur necticut companies have . built modern ther, That from this appropriation the Sec Mr. Chairman, we have had a good steam plants. deal of discussion on the question of retary of the Army may, in his discretion and It is a tragedy that any State should on the recommendation of the Chief of Engi public versus private power development have to have a brownout because of the neers based on the recommendation by the this afternoon. Last evening I hea.rd lack of hydroelectric energy which was Board of Rivers and Harbors in the review of over . the radio an -announcement that brought about by a drought. Before we· a report or reports authorized by law, expend the Governor of the great State of Cali spend huge sums of the taxpayers' money such sums as may be necessary for the main fornia had found it necessary to impose tenance of harbor channels provided by a to further expand the development of State, municipality, or other public agency, a brown-out in seven counties through hydro plants, we should certainly make out the State of California to conserve outside of harbor lines and serving essential sure that we are not going to drive the needs of general commerce and navigation, electricity in that State. privately owned companies out of the such work to be subject to the conditions That announcement brought to mind areas in which we may build federally recommended by the Chief of Engineers in the fact that the residents of the State owned hydro projects. Either the pri his report or reports thereon: Pr ov ided f u r of Connecticut were in· a very fortunate vately owned companies must be per ther, That not to exceed $3,000 of the amount position insofar as having an ample sup mitted to grow and prosper or we will herein appropriated shall be available for ply of electricity is concerned. We face the necessity of having the Federal the support and maintenance of the Perma have not asked for nor have we received Government embarking on a program nent International Commission of the Con a single dollar of Rural Electrification gresses of Navigation and for the payment of building steam plants as well as hydro. of the expenses of the properly accredited Administration money, . nor is there a Mr. DONDERO. Mr. Chairman, will single line of REA wire within the con delegates of the United States to the meeting the gentleman yield? of t?e Congresses and of the Commission. fines of the State of Connecticut. We Mr. MILLER of Connecticut. I yield. do have, however, a sound system of Mr. NICHOLSON. Mr. Chairman I Mr. DONDERO. Has the gentleman offer an amendment. ' privately owned but State-controlled any figures that he could give the House public utilities. The electric-light and as to the amount of taxes that private The Clerk read as follows: power companies within the State of enterprise in the electric power field pay Amendment offered by Mr. NICHOLS ON ~ On Connecticut have been developed by pri page 7, line 18, strike out "$151,831,300" -and vate capital under our free private-enter into your State treasury of Connecticut? insert "$152,581,300." prise system. It is a matter of record not Mr. MILLER of Connecticut. I do not a single one of the great war inQustries have the figures readily available as to Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. Mr. Chair were closed down for as much as an hour the amount of taxes that private enter man, I make the point of order that the during the war period because of the lack prise in the electric-power field paid project is not authorized by law. I wit h of pow~r. Two of the largest power into the Treasury of the StE.te of Con hold the point-of order so that the gen companies in Connecticut are right now necticut, but I do know that these pri tleman from Massachusetts may address expanding their plants and equipment. vately owned companies throughout the the committee. Something over $10,000,000 will be spent State paid a total tax-local, State, and Mr. NICHOLSON. Mr. Chairm an, I' by these companies for expansion pur National-of _approximately $12,000,000 assume that· the gent-leman from M ichi..:. poses during the coming year. last year . gan is right insofar as this concerns Recently my attention was called to The Clerk read as follows: Provincetown Harbor, but ,he would be a chart prepar~d by the Edison Electric RIVERS AND HARBORS very much mistaken if he . included all Institute. This chart showed the gen Ma:intenan«_e and improvement of existing of the. harbors. We have received very erating capacity of all electric power river and harbor works: For the preservation little in the rivers and harbors bills re plants contributing to the public power and maintenance of existing river and harbor cently for river and harbor improve supply in the Unit ed States. works, and for the prosecution of such proj ments· in the Massachusetts · area. I This graph showed, first, capacity ects heretofore authorized as may be most realize the' gentJeman from Michigan is desirable in the interests of commerce and talking about Provincetown, so I am go owned by the tax-paying, business · navigation; for survey of northern and north managed companies; second, municipali western lakes and other boundary and con ing to talk about it. ties; third, cooperatives, po'wer districts, necting waters as' heretofore authorized, in Mr. Chairman, we are entitled to your State projects; fourth, federally owned cluding the preparation, correction, printing, consideration. I have been a Mem ber projects. and issuing of charts and bulletins, and the of Congress just long enough to find out The taxpaying, business-managed com investigation of lake levels; for prevention that we are sending billions of dollars to panies were installing hydroelectric ca of obstructive and injurious deposits within the harqor and adjacent waters of New York Europe and Asia. Then when something pacity at a very uniform rate from 1920 City; for expenses of the California Debris is proposed for the benefit of Province to 1932. During this period they in Commission in carrying on the work author town, a little town in Massachusetts, stalled slightly over 4,800,000 kilowatts ized by the act approved March 1, 1893, as where they asked to have a breakwat er or an average of 400,000 kilowatts a year. amended (33 U. S. C. 661, 678, and 683); for put in so that they may furnish you , From 1932 to 1947-and I might point removing sunken vessels or craft obstructing people with food_ throughout the United out that the Federal Power Act was or endangering navigation as authorized by States, then opposition is made. to it. We passed by Congress in 1935-they only law; for operating and maintaining, keeping in repair, and continuing in use without in raise millions of pounds of fish and our installed 550,000 kilow~tts. The post terruption any lock, canal ( exce~ the Pan peqple go out and take their lives in war period indicates an improvement ama Canal), canalized river, or other public their hands every time they go out. We but still less than half of the 1920 to 1932 works for the use and benefit of navigation want a breakwater in some little town in rate of growth. The major part of the belonging to the United States; for payment Massachusetts, but most of you people growth in hydroelectric capacity from annually of tuition fees of not to exceed 100 want to take care of somebody over in 1935 on has been in socialized Federal student officers of the Corps of Engineers prbjects under the planning and control at civil technical institutions under the pro Europe or Asia or wherever it may be. of the United States Engineer Corps and visions of section 127a of the National De All I asked was to give a half million the Bureau of Reclamation and the TVA. fense Act, as amended (10 U. S. C. 535); for dollars to take care of some of the proj The same holds true for the scheduled examinations, surveys, and contingencies of ects that we want in Massachusetts. For rivers and harbors; for the execution of de many years we have had very little ap installations during the next 5 years. tailed investigations and the preparation of The difficulties encountered by the · plans and specifications for projects hereto llropriation from the Federal Govern Georgia Power Co. in getting approval fore or hereafter authorized; for printing and ment. What is the matter with we peo for the completion of their Furman binding and office supplies and equipment ple in Massachusetts? Is there some Shoals plant and the pr~sent difficulties required in the Office of the Chief of Engi- thing wrong with us? The gentleman 1796 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HO.USE FEBRUARY 26 .from Mississippi wants to feed us oil. . The CHAIRMAN. The question is on Jore asking for the small amount the Bu Well , if you feed us oil through Penn the amendment offered by the gentle reau of tne Budget .recommended. sylvania we will take it, but if he wants man from Massachusetts [Mr. NICHOL- We are being· asked to spend mon.ey to take me up through the St. Lawrence soN]. . all over the world. I presume it is known and the Great Lakes and up into Canada, 'l;'he amendment was rejected. to everybody in the House that American I am against it. The only thing I am · Mr. RANKIN. Mr. Chairman, I offer money is being used today to rebuild the asking you to do is to give us this half an amendment, which I send to the Dnieprostroy Dam in Russia, lend-lease million-dollar appropriation. All I am Clerk's desk. . money, if you please, and has been for asking the Members of Congress to do is The Clerk·read as follows: some time. to vote for this. It has to go to the Amendment offered by Mr. RANKIN: On We are asked to send $570,000 ,000 to Senate. If the Senate does not want to page -, line 18, strike out "$151,831,300" China, and $17,000,000,000 to· Europe. give it to us, it is all right with me. That and insert in lieu thereof the following: All we are asking here is for $1,500,000 to will be up to the two Senators from "$153,331,300: Provided further, That from begin construction of one of the most Massachusetts. this appropriation, $1,500,000 shall be uti valuable projects that -has ever been pro lized for initiation of construction of . a The . CHAIRMAN. The time of the waterway connecting the Tombigbee and posed' for the service. of our own people, gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Tep.nessee Rivers, Ala. and Miss." one that will benefit more people from NICHOLSON] has expired. Pennsylvania to . Montana, from the Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. Mr. Chair TENNESSEE-TOMBIGBEE INLAND WATERWAY Great Lakes to the Gulf, than any other man, I withdraw the point of order and Mr. RANKIN. Mr. Chairman, this is -project of its ldnd ever proposed . . I rise in opposition to the amendment, the amendment to which I referred a few I hope the committee will accept the for two reasons. First, the committee did moments ago. The Chief of the Army amendment or that it will be adopted not put it in .the bill. In the first place engineers asked for $5,735,000. The Bu without a dissenting vote. there was no budget estimate; in the reau of the Budget reduced that figure Again I call.your attention to the table, second place that project is not author to $1,500,000-that is the funds with showing what the savings of this project ized by law. which to start this project. lam there- ·Will amount to for up-bound traffic. ViaMissis·l ViaTom- ViaTom- Via Missis· big bee, . A:verage ·j A yerage A ycrage From- 'l'o- sippi, per sippi, per bigb'ee- Tennessee , ~ av ings savmgs per savmgs p r ton tow of Tenn1lssee, per tow of · per ton · 3 ~~~t~~s 14~g~ f~n s 3,500 tons per.ton 3,500 tons ------~------l ------l------l ------·l ------l ------l------1 ------ B ouston, Tex .. ------______. ___ ;: ______• Cairo ... __ ....!. __ ...... -.-.-.- ~2.34 ~!1, 190 :$1.94- $6, 'i-£0 ~· $0,10 ' *1, 100 $5,600 Paducah ...... ------2. 42 8, 470 . 1. 8$ .54 1, 890 7, 560 Tombigbee-Tenncssee junction ______2. 74 9, 5\JO 1. 60 -~:~~~ 1.14' 3;!190 15,960 New Orleans, LU------Cairo .. ___ .--...... ------2.02· 7, 070 . 1. 32 4, 620 • 70 2, 450 9,800 Paducah. ___ ...... ____ •. ___ .. 2.10 7,350 1. 26 4, 410 _ . 84 2, 940 11,760 Tombigbce-Tcnn e~see junction ______2. 42 8, 470 .99 3, 465 1. 43. 5, 005 . 20,020 Mobile, Ala .• _._------Cairo ... _.------.------.. ------2.39 8, 365 . 95 3, 325 1. 44 5,040 -20, 160 Paducah .... ____ .. _... ______------2. 47 8, 645 . 89 3,115 1. . 58 5, 530 Tombigbec-'l'enncssec junction ______2. 79 9, 765 .• 62 2,170 2.17 7, 595 ~;~~ Port Birmingham, Ala ... ______Cairo ______...... ------2. 96 10,300 . 9.5 .. 3,325 2.01 28,140 Paducah .... __ .. ____ ..... ______------3. 04 10, 640 .89 3,115 2.15 ~:g~g 30, 100 'l'ombigbee-Tenne~see junction ______3. 36 11, 760 . 62 2,170 2.74 9, 590 38,360 Demopolis, A Ia. __ : _----- ______.• _____ Cairo .. ------. ___ ...... ------2. 68 9, 380 . 67 2, 345 2.01 7, 035 Paducah ______.______: . 2. 76 9, 660 . 61 2,135 2.15 7, 525 - ~:6~ To!Dbigbee-Tennessee junction ...... ~ 3.08 10,780 .34 1,190 2. 74 9, 590 38,360 Columbus, Miss. -----·------Ca1ro .. ------...... ------2.83 9, 905 • 51 1, 785 ' 2.32 8,120 32,480 Paducab _... .. __ . __ .. _. _. __ . _.. _•. ___ ... 2. 91 10,185 .45 1, li75 2.46: 8, 010 34, 440 Tombigbee-Tennessee junction ______3. 23 11,305 .17 595 3.06 10,710. 42,940 Aberdeen, Miss ______• ______•. ------_-----___ Cairo .. ______...... ------2. 88 10,080 .46 1, 610 2. 42 8, 470 33,880 Paducah ...... ___ ... ______------__ '2. 9fi 10,300 .40 1, 4.00 2. 56 8, !l60 35,840 To!llbigbee:Tennessee junction ...... 3. 28 I 11,480 .13 ·, 455 3.15 ll, 025 44,100 Fulton, Miss .. _-,------Ca~ro ______...... ------2. 93 10, 255 . 41 1, 4.35 , 2.52 8, 820 35,280 Paducah ___ . __ ._ ... ___ .. _.. _.... ----- . ~- 3. 01 I 10,535 . 35 1, 225 2.66· 9,310 37,240 Tomhigbec-Tennessee junction ______.____ 3.33 11, 655 .08 280 3. 25 11, 375 45,500 I I I The Army engineers say there is not advanced: Just give us a little bit of atomic age, to furnish materials to that another place on eatth where the traffic money to start this; in other words, give· plant, it just· does not make sense to me. can be transferred· from one .major us a little slice of ham and we will come . I was at Oak Ridge. watershed to another with so much ea:se, for the whole hog later on. I spent· 2 days at Oak -Ridge in April so little expense, and with such tremen This project will cost $136,000,000, if. ·1945. Seventy-five thousand people were dous savings in transportation costs and we are going to construct it on the basis living there. The houses, the schools, distances. · which sound eng"ineering says it must be the theaters, the railroads, the water Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. Mr. Chair constructed on. It means approximate works system, the electric-light system, man, I ask unanimous consent that all ly $13,000,000 or $14,000,000 . next year everything that · was built there, were debate on this amendment and all and approximately $27,000,000 for ea'ch · brought into that community by rail. amendments thereto close in 20 minutes, of the 4 years thereafter. Let us. have The materials to manufacture the bomb the last 5 to be reserved to the com no misunderstanding about this: When were brought into that place by rail. mittee. next year rolls around we will again be When I listen to t:be gentleman from Mr. RANKIN. Mr. Chairman, as far confronted with a ceiling on appropria Mississippi I wonder how they.ever built as our side is concerned ·we are ready to tions, regardless of whether the Repub the town down there or how they ever vote on it. . licans are in power or the Democrats; made the atomic bomb. Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. Then, Mr. · and this tremendous annual appropria Mr. Chairman, some reference has Chairman, I modify my request and ask tion for this project will come out of all been made to oil. We had hearings in .unanimous consent that all debate on the proj. cts that may be put in future the Deficiency Subcommittee of the Ap this amendment and all amendments bills. It will come out of your projects, propriations Committee, on the expor thereto be limited to 5 minutes, to be not out of mine, for there is not a single tation of oil. We had people from the used by the chairman of the committee. flood-control project in my district. Bureau of Mines, the Departments of the The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection I was rather surprised by my good Interior and Agriculture, and others to the request of the gentleman from friend, the gentleman from Mississippi there to testify. We took every one's tes Michigan? · [Mr. RANKIN] , and he has been a good timony who had anything to do with oil. There was no objection. friend of mine. We served together on The record shows that we are consuming Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. Mr. Chair the Veterans' Committee for 8% years oil much faster than we are able to pro man/ this is the same amendment which and I love him, but when you couple duce it. The result is a great oil shortage, was defeated on the floor of the House talk about the atomic plant with trans and all the transportation in the world last year and the same argument was portati(m at 4 or 5 miles an hour in an will not supply oil that does not exist. 1948 CONGRESSIONAL· RECORD-HOUSE 1797 We do not produce enough oil. There is are made by localities, but not on the for other purposes, in accordance with the no question about that. part of the cities. provisions of the Flood Control Act approved Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. Mr. Chair June 22, 1936, as amended and supple Mr. Chairman, I ask the Members to mented, including printing and binding, and vote against this amendment and all man, if the gentleman will yield, we ofl!ce supplies and equipment required in the amendments which will increase the took out of this bill Norwich, Conn., be 1 Office of the Qhief of Engineeers to carry amounts provided in· this. bill cause they did not comp1y with require out the purposes of this appropriation, and The CHAIRMAN. The question is on ments, and that is in this very bill. for preliminary examinations, surveys, and the amen9ment offered by the gentleman Mr. DAVIS of Georgia. I thank the contingencies in connection with the flood from Mississippi [Mr. RANKIN]. gentleman for answering the question. control, $321,282,000: Provided, That funds I want to make this observation, that appropriated herein may be used for flood The amendment was-rejected. control work on the Salmon River, Alaska, Mr. DAVIS of Georgia. Mr. Chair Atlanta is the industrial center of the as authorized by law: Provided further, That man, I move to strike out the last word. Southeast. It made great contributions funds appropriated herein may be used to Mr. Chairman, the budget which was toward the winning of the war that we execute detailed surveys, and prepare plans prepared and submitted had in it an in have just emerged from. Even now the and specifications necessary for the con significant sum of $67,000 to be used as a Army is sending .its emissaries through struction of flood-control projects heretofore part of the advanced planning for the out the United States making prelimi or hereafter authorized or for flood-control Buford Dam on the Chattahoochee River. nary arrangements, possibly for use of projects considered for selection in accord ance with the provisions of section 4 of the near Atlanta, Ga.· Last year the sum of centers such as At~anta, in the event Flood Control Act approved June 28, 1938, $250,000 was made available for this ad we get into another emergency. and section 3 of the Flood Control Act ap vapced planning and is now being used. I have here an article in Tuesday's'At proved August 18, 1941 (55 Stat. 638): Pro On page 8 of the report appears this lanta Journal, written by Morris McLe vided further, That the expenditure of funds language: more, in which it is stated: for completing the necessary ·surveys shall not be construed as a commitment of the While the Buford Dam may be an impor The Army holds a meeting here of reserv ists. It is concerned with quartermaster Government to the construction of any,proj tant part of the comprehensive river SY,stem ect: Provided further, That no part of this plan for the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, supplies, the muscles in back of military strength. appropriation shall be available or used to and Flint Rivers, its construction will pro maintain or operate the Garrison (North vide a source of water for the city of Atlanta In another part of this article it says: Dakota) Reservoir at a higher maximum that witnesses from that part of the coun normal pool elevation than 1,830 feet, or try indicate is greatly needed. The city of The Army is after game. This is its first such industrial survey. for constructing dikes or levees which would Atlanta is not, however, providing any con be required by a higher maximum normal tribution toward the construction of this So that the Army now is making plans pool elevation than 1,830 feet for operating dam, and, inasmuch as it stands to benefit such dam. to a great extent, it appears that some sub to be prepared in the event that we get stantial contribution should be made toward into another emergency. Why wait until Mr. MAHON. M ~ . Chairman, I offer the ultimate cost of the dam. an emergency is actually upon us to finish an amendment. planning this dam? It cannot be built in Now, Mr. Chairman, I am willing, at a few weeks or months. Now, you have The Clerk read as follows: ·any time, at any place, to take my medi called upon Atlanta and that area, and Amendment offered by Mr. MAHON: On cine and to be dealt with on the same page 9; line 2, strike out "$321,282,000" and we have responded, and we expect to insert "$320,082,000." basis as everyone else. I want to ask the continue to respond, but where is the distinguished chairman of this subcom wisdom in spending billions of dollars in Mr. MAHON. Mr. Chairman, I ask mittee if there is any other instance in Europe for security purposes and cutting unanimous consent to proceed for 10 · this bill where any city has been asked an insignificant sum out of an appro additional minutes. to make a contribution to any project priation bill here of $67,000, when this The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection because it stands to benefit from it? planning ought to be going ahead every to the request of the gentleman from Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. Mr. Chair day? There is no wisdom, as I see it, Texas? man, if the gentleman will yield, I will to delaying the planning of the dam to There was no objection. say "Yes"; that Los Angeles is making a protect the water supply for an industrial Mr. MAHON. Mr. Chairman, I am contribution toward projects right along. center upon which the United States re going to discuss something which is of May I say to the gentleman that last lies to the extent that it does rely on vital concern to every Member of the year we had up the Apalachicola-Chat- Atlanta, for the sake of saving $67,000. House who is interested in flood-control . tahoochee system. Allatoona will be This compares to the enormous amounts projects. I believe that every State in finished in another year, and we have we are spending for security like a fly in the bill money to start the Jim Wood the Union has a flood-control problem speck to the back of an elephant. Mr. and that such problem ought to have the ruff Dam on that same river down there; Chairman, we not only want this $67,000 is that not correct? attention of the Congress, and that there placed back in the bill but we want half should be an equitable distribution of Mr. DAVIS of Georgia. That is cor a million additional to complete this rect. flood-control money. It is just as my able planning. chairman said in talking about the Tom Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. We are The CHAIRMAN. · The time of the building one dam at a time before we bigbee project, if you start a series of gentleman from Georgia has e~pired. huge projects y.ou must proceed rapidly go any further on the rivers. Mr. SMITH of Ohio.· Mr. Chairman, Mr. MAHON. Mr: Chairman, will the I move to strike out the last word. toward the construction or you waste a gentleman yield? Mr. Chairman, looking at this bill, I see lot of Federal money. So it is of vital . Mr. DAVIS of Georgia. I yield to the that it provides $104,434,854 more than concern to the Members of the House gentleman from Texas. the same bill provided last year. I want to know more about the flood-control bill Mr. MAHON. I would like to say to to remind my Republican colleagues of than they actually know about it and the gentleman from Georgia that there the promises we made to our constitu have the opportunity to know about it. are numerous flood-control projects ents that if they put us in power, we Members, of course, are busily engaged throughout the country where the cities would reduce the operating expenses of with other important duties here. are making very substantial contribu -the Government. Now, so far we have In order to make perfectly clear what tions. I know that is true of some of done nothing of the kind, and here is I am talking about, I want to say that the cities in Texas. I think of four at another illustration that we are not do I am talking about $180,000,000 which the moment-San Angelo Reservoir; ing what we promised. I am just won this bill provides which is not in the Brady Creek project, Grapevine Reser dering whether someone can tell me when b1;ldget; I mean a project of that mag voir, and Hard's Creek-and I am sure we are going to begin to make good on mtude. Not all the money for the com there are numerous others throughout our word. pletion of the project is included, of the Nation that are making contribu The Clerk read as follows: course. Oniy $1,200,000 is included for tions to projects from which they FLOOD CONTROL the project. Of course, though, as my benefit. Flood control, general: For the construc chatrman has said, if you get a slice of Mr. DAVIS of Georgia. I understand tion and maintenance of certain public works ham you have to follow it rapidly with there are instances where contributions on rivers and harbors for flood control, and the· whole bog on these projects. That 1798 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE FEBRUARY 26 is the way it works and that is the way compelled to say, "We are loaded down Oahe there is the White River, which it should work. · · · now with three Missouri River projects comes in, which carries considerable silt, May I say with respect to our com in North and South Dakota that are cost but the Oahe Dam would riot in any ·way mittee that I agree with my able chair ing us a half a billion dollars; you will affect . tJ:Iat. , man and cooperate with him on most have to wait a few years until we com . Mr. CASE of South Dakota. Would matters that come before the committee. plete some of these." the gentleman like the actual figures o!l I certainly agree with him much more It i-s a very serious situation that con the silt situation? often than I disagree with him. The fronts us. It is ea'sy to say that this bill Mr. MAHON. Well, we cannot go into gentlem·an from South Dakota [Mr. is below the budget, but I do not think great detail on the silt situation, but if CASE], who so ably and well represents it should be. You do not save any money the gentleman wishes to make an obser his own State and who is also a member when you delay the construction of a . vation I will yield. of the committee, and I usually agree. house. If you delay putting the roof on · Mr. CASE of South Dakota. I will not All ·the ·members of our committee and just leave the structure exposed and make an· observation, but I will give you usually agree. We generally agree on tal{e 4 or 5 years to build it, you are not . the Chief Eng!~eer's statement as made this bill except for the disagreement saving any money. You would just be : on page 411 of the hearings last year: abo1,1t $1.80,000,000, which is for the con engaging ·in wishful thinking. When you It has been estimated that the annual struction of the Oahe Dam in South st.art building a house, you have To put a averag~ silt in the Randall Darn is 184,000,000 Dakota. Of course, only an initial in roof on it and complete it. That is the tons, or about 113,000 acre-feet. Of this stallment is .provided in this bill. cheapest way to handle it. That is the . quazitit~ about 47 ,000 acre-feet per year will . way it is with flood-control dams and be retained in Garrison Reservoir, -leaving All areas of the Nation, as I say, should about 65,300 acre-feet. per year to be contrib receive c·onsideration. At this time in . projects of that kind. I have not the uted to the Fort RandalJ Reservoir by inter South Dakota the Randall Dam is under slightest doubt. that if you fully under vening tributaries until the Oahe Reservoir · , construction·. It is a $.152,000,000 proj stood the situation you would vote to begins storing wa~er. · eliminate the $180,000,000 fo:~; the Oahe ect. It is not 10 percent completed as In other words, in 10 years' time you yet. Just north of there about 300 miles project ~t this t~me and ta~e it up ag~in · within a few years. There are some non · would have 650,000 acre-feet to put into in North Dakota on the Missouri River, · a 5,000,000 acre-foot dam. there is under construction the· Garrison budgeted proJects. in the bill for flood . control, but they are all small, and I have Mr. MAHON. The engineers have no Dam, a $177,000,,000 project. This bill fear....:_neither does anyone else have any provides $25,000,000 for that project. no objection to them. In 'fact, there are a couple in my own State. One of them fear-that the delay of this Oahe project The budget is $30,000,000. This bill a few years will cause any serious trouble . provides $16,000,000 for the Randall proj is for flood control. I have no objection . to anything that. is within reason, but as to silting. . . · · · ect, and the budget is $20,000,000. My One of the main silt probie.~s ·· is at point is that this whole bill for flood . this thing, gentlemen, go_e~ entirely too far. While it requires an initial expendi Garrison. After they sto.p the flow of the control provides only · $320,000,000 for water and close the ·dam that wiJ.lc be general flood control, but in this bill now ture of only $1,200,000, yo1,1 y;ill within a couple of years have to appropriate an handled in a · fairly ·satisfactory way. under consideration there are projects Of course, Oahe Dam should be built · ifl North and South Dakota which are or nually $30,000,000 and $30,000,000 again and th~n $35,000,000 because you will · later. I only speak for delaying· it and will be in process of. construction which proceeding in a more orderly fashion and will require $509,000,000 for completion have to spend money that way for eco- . nomical construction. At the same time fairer way for all Members of' ttre House. within the next 6 or 7 years. I · am I have offered this amendm'ent· to with- speaking of the three projects. That is you have got to be spending on these two projects, thirty million annually, forty . hold $1,200,000 for the beginning of any about the sum of money we expended to construction at this time. Instead of construct the Panama Canal. That million annually, a hundred million dol lars a year. You can do with these facts providing $_30,000,000 which is needed for would represent an expenditure by the Garrison this year, the committee cut it Federal Government in North and South as you desire, but I wanted to make my do~n. What we ought to do, if we are Dakota of about $400 per capita, accord position clear. It may be argued that you must con gomg to stop floods on the Missouri, is ing to the 1940 census. It approximates to hasten the completion of Garrison an expenditure of $5 an acre by the Fed struct the Oahe Dam for some reason or other at this time. It is not in the Dam and hasten the completion of Ran eral Government for every foot of land in dall Dam. Then, after they · are ap South and North Dakota over the next . budget. The engineers would be glad to construct all projects, even the $2,000,- proaching completion, if we have the few years. Someone might very prop money, we can go ahead then and com erly say, "Well, is not the gentleman tak 000,000 worth of projects in the bill. But Garrison Dam, a $177,000,000 project is plete the whole half-billion dollar enter- ing a narrow view of this thing?" and if . prise. In other flood-control projects I said no more, I would be taking a nar only 10 percent or less completed at this time; let them finish that dam before tens of millions of additional dollars are row view. I agree that this flood-control being spent in oraer to meet this problem program involves the Missouri River, a . they start Oahe. Randall Dam, a $152,- 000,000 project, is less· than 10 percent on the Missouri River. I respectfully very important river. There are other completed; let them finish that before suggest that this amendment ought' to be projects in the course of construction or we take up these others, in fairness to adopted by the Congress. I put these planning that approximate about other sections of the Nation and in fair figures down here [indicating_figures. on $2 ,000,000,000 on the Missouri River, ness to other Members of the House of blackboard], they are pretty big, they are $500,000,000 of which is above Randall Representatives. pretty bold-and, as I say, they represent ~he equivalent of $400 in Federal expend Dam. So I cannot, as your representa It may be said that Randall Dam will tive on the committee, sit idly by ~nd let be washed out if you do not construct Itures ~o every man, woman, and child, this bill which is now before us carry Oahe. That is utter nonsense. No engi accordmg to the 1940 census, in North three projects which must be completed and South Dakota. I thin!{ we ought to neer would suggest that Randall Dam slow down a little. within 6 or 8 years, if the money is to would be washed away if Oahe were not Mr. CURT~S. Mr. Chairman, will the be spent economically, and which will constructed. It would be amazing if that call for an expenditure of $509,000,000 gentleman yield? were the situation and the engineers did Mr. MAHON. I yield. when we are only providing for general not tell the committee about it. They flood control something over $300,000,000 construct these dams so that they can Mr. CURTIS. I do not represent either annually for the entire Nation. It means let the water flow through if the flood is . of the Dakotas. I think it is well that that this small area might very well get too big to handle. the Committee take into .consideration ~he fact that the· Missouri River Basin about one-third of the flood-control Again, it may be said that Randall Is a unit comprising one-sixth of the money of the Nation. If you vote for Dam will silt up if you do not construct area of the United States. The flood this huge project at this time, which is Oahe at this time. Well, the engineers control pro.blem begins at this point·and not in the budget, tben you will not be tell me that certainly for 4 or 5 years affects a great many States lower down able to come before the committee later after the completion of Randall there the line. and say, "I have a project, gentlemen of will be no dangerous silt deposit there Mr. MAHON. That is right. the committee, which I want included," because Garrison is taking care of the Mr. CURTIS. The project ought not . because the committee would almost be main silt' problem. It is true that below to be charged against the Dakotas, for 1948 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 1799 it benefits all the States clear down to of the Nebraska line, control and hold have taken a different position. The the Gulf. back indefinitely for navigation, for irri other members of the subcommittee who Mr. MAHON. That is right. all the gation purposes, or for any other purpose had the benefit of the full hearings all States down the line. It must be remem you want to use it. joined in, and have supported the action bered also that we are spending tens of I do not want to start the ;;l.ctual con taken by the committee. I have thought millions of dollars lower down on the struction of Oahe Dam now. I want the that perhaps the gentleman was misled Missouri River between Randall Dam preliminary work done and ready so that because he was under the impression and Kansas City and St. Louis. when we get into the actual constructicn there had never been budget approval for Finally, Mr. Chairman, let me sum which will require th~ big money we will this item, the Oahe dam. As a matter marize as follows: not be delayed. of fact, I have in my hand House Docu The bill before you approves the be I attended an Indian tribal council in ment 406 of the Eightieth Congress-that ginning of construction on flood-control North Dakota. They were there 4 days is this Congress-first session, in which projects which are not in the budget and trying to decide whether to sell land to the President submitted a supplemental which will require an expenditure of the Government or not. We have Indian budget estimate for $6 ,000,000 for this more than $200,000,000. How can those treaties which make it very difficult. We project . along with many others for who boast of their desire for economy in have been trying for 3 or 4 years to get ~hich funds are. carried in this bill. Government vote to increase the budget that land proposition settled. We have Mr. MAHON. Mr. Chairman, will the estimate by what is equivalent to $200,- not settled it yet. We earmarked $5,000,- gentleman yield? 000,000, I hope that my motion to elimi 000 for that purpose last year. There is Mr. CASE of South Dakota. I yield nate the beginning of construction on the Indian land in the Oahe Dam area. to the gentleman from Texas. $180,000,000 Oahe Dam-not in the budg This $1,200,000 is to be used, first, to build Mr. MAHON. There is no budget es et-will be approved. access roads so that we can get in to the timate, is there? The CHAIRMAN. The time of the land, and, second, to buy the land so that Mr. CASE of South Dakota. The es gentleman from Texas has expired. when we get ready to build the Oahe Dam timate was not repeated in the budget Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. Mr. Chair we will nofbe delayed. for 1949, that is true. But the Bureau man, I rise in opposition to the amend Mr. MAHON. Mr. Chairman, will the of the Budget did go over this program ment and ask unanimous consent to pro gentleman yield? and did submit a budget estimate of ceed for five additional minutes. Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. I yield to $6,000,000 for the Oahe dam in the pres The CHAffiMAN. Is there objection the gentleman from Texas. ent Congress, so this is not in the class to the request of the gentleman from Mr. MAHON. The gentleman says he of projects which have never had budget Michigan? does not want to start construction on approval. There was no objection. the Oahe Dam. Does he feel that prob In any event, the gentleman from ' Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. Mr. Chair ably a very small approp'riation like the Texas has not displayed his usual acu man, the Oahe Dam was in the budget $1,200,000 should be made for 3 or 4 years men in grasping the comprehensive pro ' estimate last year for $6,000,000, but was before we get into the big money? gram proposed for the control of floods not · included in last year's appropria Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. We should on the Missouri River and the key posi tion. The figures which my good friend go in there and start to acquire this land tion of the Oahe Dam in that program. from Texas gave include, of course, the and do preliminary work there now, so He has spoken as if the only object of power installations, and the generators, we will not be blocked like we were at a flood-control project was to scatter • powerhouses and equipment. Garrison Dam. I made it perfectly clear some dollars around and he has spoken · There has been no controversy in the in committee that I do not want to start as if this were a project primarily for the committee of a personal nature at any actual dam construction until we are benefit of South Dakota. Neither idea time. We have been friends; we are going further advanced on the dams at Randall is correct and the argument does not to remain friends. Nothing personal is and Oahe. reveal the understanding ordinarily ever going to enter into the committee's Mr. MAHON. That will be 3 or 4 years. · shown by the able gentleman. deliberations if I can prevent it. Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. I figure Now, let us get down to a discussion What we must have in the Missouri about 1952 or 1953. Probably in 1953. of the merits and urgency of Oahe Dam Valley and in the Mississippi Valley is a We might come in with some in 195Z. for flood control. policy of flood control and protection: Mr. NICHOLSON. Mr. Chairman, will When you set· out to prevent ravages protection by building levees, control by the_gentleman yield? from river floods, there are two ways you · building dams. What has happened Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. I yield to the can proceed: One way is to build dikes ·heretofore, Mr. Chairman, has been that gentleman from Massachusetts. or levees. The other way is to build levee district No. 1 fenced the water out Mr. NICHOLSON. Mr. Chairman, I dams and thereby create reservoirs to and robbed nature of its natural storage would like to ask the gentleman if he store up the floodwaters so that they can place and threw that water on district has ever been up at Cape Cod? be released in an orderly manner. Often No. 2; district 2 threw the ;water on dis Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. Yes; I have a combination of the two methods is trict 3, and so on down the river. When been up to Cape Cod. I know the situ required. all this water gets to the southern end of ation up there. If the gentleman will For years people on the lower Missis the river, there is so much water that no get his project authorized by law, we may sippi and lower Missouri have cried for levee can hold it. be able to help him, but we cannot help protection froni the waters that poured Let us ·see what Garrison; Oahe and him unless he does. on them from the north. Hundreds of Randall Dams are intended to do. Fort Mr. NICHOLSON. That is something, millions of dollars-private and public ·Peck, Mont., is completed. The water anyway, Mr. Chairman. have been spent building dikes and backs up some 90 miles; draining an area The CHAIRMAN. The time of the levees. In places they have helped, but some ·three or four hundred miles above gentleman from Michigan has expired. ·all too often the levees were topped and For t Peck. The distance from the Mr. CASE of South Dakota. Mr. damage has been done along the lower drainage area from Fort Peck to Chairman, I move to strike out the last Missouri running into thousands of mil Randall is approximately 600 miles. word, and I ask unanimous consent to ·lions of dollars. In. the 2 years of 1943 These four dams, Garrison, Fort Peck, proceed for five additional minutes. and 1944-the direct dollar damage alone Oahe, and Fort Randall drain an The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection ran to $116,000,000-all below, all far area nearly 1,000 miles long. I was at to the request of the gentleman from south of the Dakotas. Garrison Dam last fall. The day I was South Dakota? And right there, inay I point out that there 28,000 second-feet came down the There was no objection. the volume of water a riv.er carries is not Missouri River at Garrison; 21,000 sec Mr. CASE of South Dakota. Mr. the measure of its flood danger. It ·ond-feet came down from and through Chairman, I am not sure just w:py the is: First, volume in relation to size of the Fort Peck Dam and 7,000 second-feet gentleman from Texas has proceeded as the channel; second, the distance and out of the Yellowstone River. You can he· has in this matter. Somehow, I feel character of country through which the press a button at Fort Peck and shut off that if he had not been confined to his volume passes if the river goes out of 75 percent of the water. When these home with a severe cold for a part of the its banks. three dams are built you will be able to time when we had hearings, he would The annual flow of the Missouri River press a button and stop all water north have been better informed and would has varied, roughly, from about thirteen 1800 CONGRESSIONAL · RECORD-HOUSE FEBRUARY 26 to thirty-two million acre-feet per year. among the worst that the country has was made by the gentleman from Mis The average is about twenty-three mil ever had. ·souri [Mr. C.ttNNON] in 1944, when a flood lio,n. The measure cif its flood threat is In 2 years, 1943 and 1944, the dollar was ·on. · He said: the amount of that water which comes damage alone from floods on the Mis- The Missouri River is establishing a new down in a short space of time, and the . souri River, according to the Army engi channel at its ·mouth: 'The confluence of vast distance the Missouri travels, carry neers, was $116,000,000. That was dol these two great rivers is being moved 26 ing its distress not to one city, nor to a lar damage. Omaha, alone, spent $500,- miles upstream. _· A new river is being opened single short valley of a ·few miles before 000 to repair damage to its municipal through what was a short time ago inland it reaches the _sea, but to a hundred water system. T]1e Army engineers did . fields ._ Through this new avenue water is rushing at the rate of 17 miles per hour. ·towns and cities and millions and mil not compute the crop loss from 3,000,000 It has .'engulfed whole sections of the M. K. lions of acres of rich bottom land before acres of H:md, black-bottom river land, : & T. Railroad and the Burlington Railroad. it reaches the sea. From the head · put out of cultivation in Iowa, Nebraska, It has obliterated interstate highways. It waters of the Missouri in Montana to the Kansas, and Missouri in critical war has broken the pipe line 'Yhich runs · from Gulf of Mexico is the longest stretch years, and much of it ruined. The gen Texas to New York, which has heen carrying course of any river in America; the tleman from Texas said it would cost the oil witho_ut which the New England drainage basin is one-sixth of the area $509,000,000 to complete the three dams. States would have endured the greatest pri of the United States. · . Much of that would came back. in the vation. Dikes and levees ha·ve proved insuffi ·sale of power, but if none of it came back, That -was the flood of 1944. You in cient. When you have t<.., fall back upon it would be a cheap price to end for all New England, who have been feeling-the reservoirs, you have to build those ·reser time the floods on the Missouri River at · pinch of a fuel-oil shortage, remember voirs where God made a place for them Sioux City and Omaha and Council ·- that. Continuing: far enough downstream to catch the Bluffs and ~ansas City and St. Louis and It is sweeping away the cables carrying waters you must hold back; far enough all the rich lands between and what the · electric current from the .Keokuk Dam to upstream to protect the areas which Missouri adds to the lower Mississippi metropolitan St. Louis, and steel towers sup need it .most; and with all bluffs close all the way from St. Louis to the Gulf - porting the transmission lines are at the together for a dam and a' large reservoir of Mexico. -bottom of the river. It has res!sted all efforts area above the dam. No, this is not a matter of flood-control - to curb the. current and hold 'the levees and In the .case of the Missouri, the place benefit ·to South Dakota. Trhe Oahe railroad embankments and railway cius · for the reservoirs happens to be in the Dam is for the benefit of the area below loaded with .. rock for revetment have been undermii1ed and rolled into the river. It Dakotas, where the bluffs ·at certain Sioux City, and it was part of a compre- . has . destroyed light, telephone communica points are only a mile to a mile and a . hensive plan approved ·by the Congress tions, and sa11itary systems. So rapid has · half apart, and the flood valley ap ·in 1944 after the Committee on·· Flood been the rise of the waters that it has been . proaches the character of a wide gorge . C ,( 1808 . CON·GRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE FEBRUARY 26 - RELIEF OF CERTAIN OFFICERS AND EM of Washington entitled "Centennial of less dictator-ridden, democracy-loving, PLOYEES OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE the Woman's .Movement.'.' peace-seeking peoples !rom bondage. Mr. JONKMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask POLAND EXCERPT FROM ADDRESS BY ARTHUR BLISS LANE unanimous consent to take from the AT POLISH-AMERICAN · CONGRESS, BOSTON, Speaker's table the bill
HOUSE FEBRU~RY 26 the PRESIDING OFFICER
