New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-07-21

A msiority of the delegations from
twenty. four States of this Union voted for
this bill in the House. The sixty-six MAJ
iority for the canal bill in the House COM
prised members from twenty flour States in
the Union, majority of whose delegates
voted. Now. as to the Senate TranspOrta-
ton Committee, which is very able and
wise committee, find that the States of
four of the Senators belonging to it gave
large msj0rities for the canal bill in the
House And don't remember of any bill
passing the House of Representatives with
so large a majority in which SO many States
of the Union were represented in the MAJ
iority vote of their delegations that eveH
ever failed in the United States Senate.
The Senator from Louisiana attacks the
bill l admit that the bill is not exactly
what we would desire, but believe prac-
teal legislator should take what he can
get, when he can not get what he desires.
rather than take nothing, and that is one
reason why supported this bill. l knew
it was an entering wedge that we could
continue to drive three or four years until
we got what we wanted, and in the mean
time construct the canal.
Look at the history Of. the railroad legis~
Iation. Take the Union Pacific railroad,
the legislation for which began in 1862, and
is not done yet; but the road has been rum
ming for years. And while / have stated
that fact will state anOther-that none of
those bills for the Union Pacific or the
Northern Pacific railroads ever passed the
House as they came from the Senate. All
great measures are subject to improvement
or change by either house. If the Senate
| doesn't like this bill of ours, why don't they
make one of their own9 Why don't they
90 earnestly to work and make a canal
| bill to suit themselves and send it to us :
| Then If we don't like it we can amend it
and send it back to them, and if they d.
not concur in our amendments then we
could have committee OF conference and
have it adjusted to the tastes of both
| houses-pass the bill and have it go intos
| operation. That's the way great measures
are passed through Congress.
| The Senator referred to the engineer
| corps and to the insufficiency of the report
submitted to Congress by them. Now, the
| engineer corps needs no defense at my hands.
! The works of improvement in the harbors
and rivers of this country that the en-
| gineers have surveyed and improved is
| abundant proof of their wisdom and ability
| without one single word from me. But, /
| will add that in no single case in the history
. of this country for forty years has Congress
| stood by its own Judgment IN opposition to
| that of the engineers. Congress is not com
| posed of engineers, and they have no right
! ro have opinions as such; have none, nor
| do think the honorable Senator from Lou
isiana has either. When the question of en-
| cheering comes before me take the best
| tights that are attainable; and the best,
both in this country and in Europe, are .
agreed and tell me that the jetties are delu-
sion, humbug and fraud and can never
be successfully operated.
General Sypher, who had been applauded
several times, was here Interrupted 30
much. that President Sandidge said:
Gentlemen, l must ask you to preserve
l or6o hov nd hQ nf
Senator West without interruption, and
must ask you to refrain from any Interrupt
ton of this speaker. Courtesy to him, and
the Chamber demands it.
General Sypher continued: Now. I think
nv friend alluded to me in one little TO
mark, which / can not help noticing, and
that is, he said ''this bill was mere clap
trap believe he denominated it .
"delusion and fraud BY which Congress-
men expected to get great glory and re.
election. Well. perhaps they do. Bnt I
| ~ fcoNTINUED on EIGHTH RAox,I