EH M2-07

CHICAGO DRAINAGE CANAL.

COMMITTEE ON INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Washington, D. C., Wednesday, February 20, 1907.

The subcommittee on the bill H. R. 24271, consisting of Hons. Fred C. Stevens, William C. Lovering, and Charles L. Bartlett, met this day at 10 o'clock a. m., Hon. Fred C. Stevens in the chair.

There appeared before the subcommittee Mr. Charles L. Walker, of Rock Island, Ill., representing the State of Illinois; Mr. Robert R. McCormick, president of the board of trustees, sanitary district of Chicago; Mr. George A. Schilling, president of the board of local improvements, of Chicago, Ill.; Brig. Gen. George B. Davis, JudgeAdvocate-General, U. S. Army, and Hons. Howard M. Snapp, William W. Wilson, and James McKinney, Representatives in Congress from the State of Illinois.

STATEMENT OF MR. CHARLES L. WALKER, OF ROCK ISLAND, ILL., REPRESENTING THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

Mr. STEVENS. What is your full name, Mr. Walker, and in what capacity do you appear?

Mr. WALKER. My name is Charles L. Walker, and I appear for the State of Illinois and the canal commissioners of the State of Illinois. Mr. STEVENS. What is your official position, if any?

Mr. WALKER. Attorney for the canal commission.

Mr. STEVENS. Is that a statutory body?

Mr. WALKER. Yes, sir.

Mr. STEVENS. What is their function?

Mr. WALKER. They have charge of the Illinois and Michigan Canal and its lands and property.

Mr. STEVENS. That is the land of the canal described in this bill, H. R. 24271?

Mr. WALKER. Yes, sir.

Mr. STEVENS. Will you please state to us in detail what the position of the canal commissioners of the State of Illinois is concerning this bill, and why?

Mr. WALKER. Well, the canal commissioners and the State of Illinois, as represented by the governor, are opposed to the bill for many reasons. One chief reason is that the State of Illinois has not abandoned the canal or any portion of it. There is no expressed intention to abandon it, so far as I know, and the people at the last election voted against any disposition of the canal.