6i 
First,  let  us  prepare  a comprehensive  plan  for  inland  water* 
ways  development  along  the  lines  pointed  out  by  the  Com- 
mission. Such  a plan  must  consider  every  use  of  the  water; 
it  must  put  the  interest  of  all  the  people  in  advance  of  any 
private  interests  whatsoever. 
A NATIONAL  PLAN  NEEDED. 
Now,  gentlemen,  remember  that  the  way  to  make  the  water- 
way improvement  what  it  must  be  made,  is  at  hand,  and  let  us 
refuse  to  pay  heed  to  anything  but  the  great  common  interest. 
If  you  dissipate  improvements  throughout  the  country  on  the 
ground  that  each  Congressional  district  shall  have  its  share, 
you  would  better  abandon  the  project  from  the  beginning.  I 
want  to  you  to  have  a comprehensive  plan  formulated  by  a 
National  Commission,  because  I want  to  see  that  plan 
genuinely  national  in  scope,  conceived  in  a spirit  that  will  make 
it  genuinely  for  the  use  of  the  whole  Union.  That  plan  must 
consider  every  use  of  the  waters  and  the  preparation  of  that 
plan  should  begin  at  once.  We  need  the  plan.  We  need  to 
have  a comprehensive  plan,  but  that  does  not  mean  that  we 
should  not  begin  the  work  now.  Begin  the  plan,  but  there  are 
certain  features  of  the  work  which  we  already  know  will  fit 
into  any  right  plan  that  is  produced;  for  these  pieces  of  work, 
plans  have  already  been  approved.  Our  precious  policy  of 
procrastination,  delay  and  fitful  and  partial  accomplishment  has 
borne  its  fruit.  Our  waterways  are  deserted,  and  in  return  for 
our  vast  expenditures  we  have  little  or  no  actual  navigation 
to  show.  The  people  are  ready  for  change.  Let  us  have  it, 
and  let  us  have  it — at  once.  If  we  can  pay  the  cost  from  cur- 
rent revenues,  let  us  do  so.  If  not,  let  us  issue  bonds.  I always 
favored  paying  out  of  the  current  revenue  anything  we  can 
possibly  pay.  I would  not  on  any  account  go  into  the  business 
of  issuing  bonds  to  pay  for  anything  that  was  not  of  a permanent 
and  national  good.  I hope  it  will  not  be  necessary  here,  but  this 
is  a great  permanent  enterprise  for  a permanent  national  good, 
for  the  permanent  national  good  of  our  children,  and,  if  it  is 
necessary,  then  it  is  all  right  to  issue  bonds,  so  that  the  enter- 
prise can  go  ahead.  This  work  should  be  begun  at  once.  Of 
course,  there  must  not  be  the  slightest  recklessness  or  waste 
of  money.  No  work  whatever  should  be  undertaken  that  has 
not  been  thoroughly  examined  and  fully  approved  by  com- 
petent experts.  Above  all,  not  a cent  should  be  expended  to 
satisfy  special  interests,  whether  of  a business  or  a locality,  or 
to  promote  any  man’s  political  fortunes.  This  is  too  large  a 
matter  to  be  handled  in  this  way.  We  must  approach  it  from 
the  point  of  view  of  the  national  interest,  under  the  guidance 
of  the  wisest  experts  in  engineering,  in  transportation  and  in 
all  the  uses  of  our  streams. 
