Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-22

Making the whole number in the bill ........... 95
In September 1880, the Committee Commerce Of the
House. after preparing their bill sent copy OF TO the ar
Department. and received the remarks Of the Colonel Of To-
biographical Engineers upon the various items contained
most OF which he approves and thinks the proposed additional
be properly expended 1t is not little remarkable,
however that have word from the Secretary Of War
upon the subject His letter, if he wrote one, is given
His sanction is here. The responsibility of the Admin
islraon for these changed appropriations have not
ceived.
Nor it less remarkable that single change made
in the BILL far appears, to accommodate to the report
OF the chief engineer in those where ne dsavows all
knowledge OF the work. and IN others where ne speaks with
much doubt either the work itself the amount pro-
posed presumng instead Of estimating, well where he
considers preliminary surveys necessary does not appear
that his remarks caused the slightest change But nothing
place in striking light the dangerous tendency Of
this procedure of the observations made upon the
bill by the chief Of the corps
He states that there three Of the objects of which he
knows nothing
OF one that the precise plan and objects are unknown
but that the amoun,(s is probably adequate for the
fiscal year. s..
Of another that the Department not aware of the plan
authority, but that the amount in the bill 000 ade
quate to the accomplishment Of such work, and would do
well.
Of another that, question Of harbor improvement it
is unknown. STILL THE appropriation OOO carefully
preserved. F"
In another 900 are appropriated for work. though the
bureau contemplated the next session to present
connected SYSTEM and archaeological plan, &c.
Of another that if the work is formerly contemplated
(showiDg how vaguely the matter is lef,) the amount
000) adequate but that most careful preliminary
examination should be made before any other work
menced. II
Of another, that presuming (whence the presumption
is stately this be in continuation Of former works.
the amount (Sl6,000) is sufficient for the year.
Of another that the bureau is not informed the subject
The plans and estimates whatever they may be- the
result ofoperaons there. Notwithstanding the appropriation
(S20, O00) is yet in the bill.
Of another that the surveys essential any prel
minary measure.
That Of another no survey has been made since $780,
But the most dangerous innovation upon system
mains yet be noticed There nine objects appropriated
for in this bill for which have not single word from the
War Department
The amount Of the work be thus provided for without
the shadow Of authority responsibility, without surveys,
pans estimates, and without the least knowledge Of their
true condition, so far we know, is S3s5,000.
Nothing exhibits the uncertainty Of all this matter better
than the reference of the chief engineer to lines l42 IA
4s, $50, applied to the bill before This bill
from the House, and with have the remarks Of the chief
engineer with which have been comparing it, He refers
to the objects of the bill by the number Of lines and among
these are the following:
The improvement of the Ohio above the falls Louis
vlle $50, 700
The improvement. Of the Mississippi river below the
rapids, the Ohio below the falls at Louisville and
the Missouri and Arkansas rivers. FAC, 900
And Tor the Illinois and Tennessee rivers, $4,000 ~
EACH. 1O0,OCO
The improvement of the Red river .......... $4,000
Now, sir who would dare even to conjecture that Of
the important objects in these lines the improvement Of the
Tennessee and Illinois, not there when the engineer
made his report and to which Of he had not the slight
est reference
And yet is The report was made in reference TO the
first bill Of the House. for which that before subst
uted and thus the engineer appears sanction what he had
seen, and to speak Of two Of the works. those for the inn
provement Of the Tennessee and the Illinois, as old and
weuknocn Subjects" though dollar had ever been
pended upon either under the authority Of the General Gov
And well, therefore, may the Senator from Ohio
CBAs have corrected what he supposed when
said that these two objects had not been sanctioned by
the Department He turnedto this part Of the report in sup
port Of bis views, but after oil he wrong And yet with
oil these proofs and error required to push
this bill through unchanged and instantly
1.-THE above abstract hastily prepared, and its cacua-
may not be accurate though they enough 80 for the
support Of the general conclusions Mr. CAss has been told
since the session, that there Of papers before the
Committee on Commerce Of the House, and reported back TO
their Clerk where they yet remain, unknown to the Senate
or single member Of IT, Not the most distant ausion
made TO them, and whatever may be their contents they
could not influence the action Of the Senate Of the House.
have since learned from undoubted horty that these
remarks merely intended by the committee OF the House
to communicate additional information to Congress without
assuming an official character.