, 1870-06-15
THE RIVER AND HABBoB BILL

!
a bill. commonly called River and Harhor
bill, which provides for, perhaps, one OF
the most reckless aud uujustihable ezpen-
ditures of the public money ever commit
ted by any Legislative assembly. !
The bill appropriates, among other sums,
$3.50, 600 for continuing the work on the
Louisville and Portland Canal Thst canal
cost s5,ooe, 600. Fifteen years ngo it
ceased to do enough business to pay for
keeping it in repair. The commerce. which !
once needed such canal had left the river
and had resorted to the railroads. Con-
g1ess then appropriated the entire earnings
Of the canal to any person who would
enlarge it The job WIS under
taken, and, utter contracting a debt OF
81, COZ, ,0oo, the work was abandoned Since
then, Congress hes been impoTtuned to pay
this debt and expend 81 1,eoO. coo more
money enlarging the ditch Two years ago,
the Secretary of War allotted $3.50, 600 to
this work, and now the House OF Represen-
tatires has voted as much more. The Ohio
River has recently bean brldged at the Lou
isriIle Canal! and what little use there WIS
for such canal has been completely OBJ
viated. The cans1 answered all purposes
rk navigation when steamboats, were the
.mly mode OF transportation, but now, when
-Ftaa.nboats hare left the Ohio River to re-
ten no more, Congress listens acceptably
10 request to enlarge the canal to admit
steamers which arc not ssehng admission
The folly aud vanton waste Of money shown
by this appropriation is exhibited by sne
fact that neither the city Of Louisville, nor
its Board of Trade, nor any other body, pr1-
,ate OF corporate, would accept the canal as
Hee gift, ana be conpellsd to pay the az
penses Of opening and shutting its locks,
and Of casus1 repairs- This money 1s o'-
rect donation from the National Treasury
no g1vr some contractor one OF two years
job
Upon the brink Of the Falls of ST. An
tbony number Of persons have built saw
mills. These mills are so arranged That tho
logs enter On the upper side OF the mill, are
caught by machinery, sawed, and pass ont
at the other end in the shape Of lumber,
which is then built into 1afta, and moved
down the river. The stone over which tne
water falls is wearing away rapidly, and, IN
1e.s checked. vii either destroy these mills
or require their removal further up tht
atream. The Engineer Corps sent m oface'
m there, Who reported that this wearane
axay of the rocks could be arrested by put
ing an apron upon them, thus protecting
them against the action OF the wates.
He also reported that cana
might ba built around the tails, and, II tht
canal were large enough, navigation nigh
be continued above the falls by vessels az
niying there from below. Ths Honse o o
Rspresentatives, moved by the piteous s1f
nation Of the mill-owners, has appropriate
$4,000 to put an apson on the ia1ls, l
other words, has voted that mucn none
for purely private purpose
The House has alsb voted $1bO,ooo
build canal alongside the Wisoons'
River, from Portage City to the mouth
the river. This work will cost $5,ooo,"
and, wear after yea1, this appropriation
which is merely the entering wedge OF
big job to sell to the government Il
property Of private canal company who
stock is at presapt OF Little value, will ha
to be repeated.
The last Legislature Of Illinois vot'
ayay, to a railroad company, the iand ly'
1t he bottom of Lake Michigan, and
front Of the city Of Chicago. Against II
Legislation the city Of Chicago has p1
tested. Il is intended, Of course, to bu'
IN mter harbor in the lake As it NJ
stands. this outer hArbor is the property
a prirate railroad corporation, by col
af title at least At II
moment the House of Representatives
te1poses and appropiates 5000
be expended IN the construction OF 70
outer harbor. The work is to be done
the government For whose benefit? T
apnropriation is q direct gratuity to t
rai1road company, which, at the pub
-neDse, vii now be able to reclaim
take possession Of the submerged lands
In the list Of expendituresfor the con1
vear by the city Of Chicago, is an item
2o0, 600 sos azodgins and koopsng in ord
the river and barbor. Ihas money Las
be raised by direct ta1ntion upon the peo
of this city. We have thirty miles
river front property, all of which
heasily taxed. By this bill the COVE
ment interposes to impair the value OF
property, aud, at the national expense
build IN outer harbor, to be held
owned by railroad corporation.
1he bin, in Ike manner, e1pends
puh1ic money on scores of other prip
jobs, making the National Treasury
almoner for all the beggazs and lazzaron
the country.
General Logan, By way Of burlesqu
the whole bill, moved to amend it by
nendiue $50, 600 for Calumet harbor, q
fns1lx. The House voted the money to b
a hat4,or at that point!
The House Of Representatives vi
,,assed this bill ia the sama which has
fused to reduce taxes, lest the governn
1ro,,ld not have revenue This is the 3
House which voted to tax steel rails II
cent and to increase the duty on co
cloth. It il the sanne House which,
Yesterday, refused TO abate the taxes or
clothing and the utensils Of labor; "
refused to take the tax of horse shoes
vacon-tres, and OF the cotton shirts
calico dresses OF tho people~ But ,
ths same House had the dist1ib,
Of the money thus raised by tare
w,s lavish ip its bounties TO I
sturdy mendicant thht asked to hav
mill built, his real estate improved, AZ
contracts enlarged at the public exE
A more pitiab1e exhibition of the wea
md uuftness Of the present House Of
,..aartativas to hsye change Of the
money Vas neve. made than n .hs :,
passing this bill It is stated gas U
81 .e,1d chanoe the character O