New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-03-24
NEW ORLEANS WEDNESDAY, MARCH a. 1875 q


The Levees in tho United States Senate
The history Of the effort made by Senate
Alcorn in the Senate to secure the aid o
the government of the United States fo
the levees of the Mississippi and it's failur
by the loss of one vote Is as follows:
March Mr.. Chandler called up the bill
in committee of the whole, for the i'm
prOvement Of rivers and harbors, making
the statement that it appropriated $1,000,
600 for that purpose. As the bill then
stood it contained nothing in relation to
either levees or jetties, and it was Mr.
Chandler's wish that the bill should pasi
as it was with no additions for any purpose
The five minute rule was applied to dis
eussion. Mr.. West introduced the jetty
bill as an amendment, and it was unani
mously agreed to, Mr.. West stating not 8
dollar was added to the appropriation, bu,
only the responsibility of payment afte,
the work was completed.
Mr.. Alcorn, stating it had the approval
Of committee and was recommended by
the Committee on Commerce, offered the
following amendment:
SEC. -. That the sum of So, 42O, 900, or 40
much thereof as may he necessary, b. and
the same hereby is, appropriated out of any
| money in the Treasury not otherwise apprO-
p lated, to be drawn on the warrant and
applied under the direction of the Secretary
OF War, upon estimates to be submitted BY
the chief engineer of the army, in closing
existing breaks or gaps in levees, or in nee
essary repairs, or in building such new lines
of levee along the shores of the Mississippi
river, in the States of Missouri, Arkansas,
Mississippi and Louisiana, as may be neces-
| sary to secure, as far as possible under this
| appropriation, the country within the dis
! tricts named from the threatened flood of
the Mississippi river; ont Of which sum,
$32O.OOO shall be appropriated within the
| district of and State Of Missouri; 81 ,OO0, 900
shall be appropriated and expended in the
district of and State Of Arkansas: $500 900
in the district of and State of Mississippi;
and III 500 600 in the district Of and State OF
Louisiana.
1t was also provided that no money
should be paid except to the lowest bidders,
and only for work done under the direction
of the Secretary of War.
Mr.. Chandler raised the point of order
that the amendment was not german
which was overruled.
Mr. Alcorn spoke of the revenue such an
appropriation would ultimately return to
the treasury; of tie necessity of saving the
people from flood and starvation, and read
letter of approval from General A. A.
Humphreys to the Secretary of War.
Mr.. Clay ton said the Senate should con-
slider that at the close of the war the i'm
poverished South paid $50, 900 of tax on
her products.
Mr.. Chandler said the South had been given
20, 100000 of acres to build the levees and
had squandered them. He claimed the
government was not rich enough to com
mence such system.
Mr.. Alcorn desired to reply. but his time
having expired Mr.. Boutwell, objected and
said the proposition was to keep the land
given to the States in condition for cultiva-
tiOn. 1t would be as we'll to propose to
fence in the Yves tern prairies
Mr.. West showed the ideas of Mr.. Chan
dler were extravagant, and that the lands
had been sold to build the levees, which.
the war destroying, the people were now
too poor to build. He said:
We would gladly reconvey this great |
charity, which is constantly thrown up to |
ua, which is no advantage to ns-we would |
gladly give that back to the United States |
if the government would assume the Obliga- !
ton that now devolves on the States. That |
is what we have done with the swamp
lands.
Messrs. Boutwell, and Chandler called for
The yeas and nays, and the amendment was
agreed to by the following vote:
Yeas-Messrs. Alcorn, Bogy. Boreman,
Clayton, Conover, Davis, Dennis, Dorsey,
Ferry Of Michigan, Flanagan, Gordon,
Hitchcock, Johnston, Kelly, Logan, Merri-
;Psnssa; ssggr"sue' Stevenson West and
Nays-Messrs. Allison. Bayard, Boutwell,,
Carpenter, Chandler, Conkling, Cragin,
FentOn, Frelinghuysen, Hamilton of Texas,
damlin, Howe, jones, Morrill, of Maine,
Morrill, of Vermont, Oglesby, Pratt, Sar-
!ent. Scott, Sherman, Stewart, Wadlelgh,
Vashburn and Wright-24.
Absent = Messrs. Anthony, Brownlow,
Cameron, Cooper, Eaton, Eamunds, Ferry
f Connecticut, Gilbert, Goldthwaite,
lager, Hamilton Of Maryland, Harvey,
INGALLS,, Lewis, McCreerv, Mitchell, Morton,
samsey, Robertson, Salisbury, Schurz,
stockton, Thurman and Tipton-24. i
This advantageously disposed of the mat
er for the time being, and other amend
1ents relating to improvements in various
ections Of the country we're considered.
lfter some four or five hours discussion the
uestion came on concurring in the amend
tents made in committee of the whole.
[essrs. Sherman and Conkling desired to
void reconsidering them seriatim, and it
<l,>k 49, l
9 reserved as desired by Senators. After
le adoption of the 100000 appropriation
IT the Hennepin canal Mr.. Sherman pro- ;
osed considering the levee amendment and =,
roceeded to oppose it. In addition to the
Djection that the amendment was sur
rise to everybody but the mover, Mr..
herman said:
call the attention of my honorable s
lend from Mississippi and all Senators 8
ON the Southern States who are interested
the levee question to the fact that after q
ng debate and full consideration the Sem n
e of the United States have by a unani-
GUS vote, without q division, put upon
ls appropriation bill scheme to improve
o mouth of the Mississippi river. be- i
we it is wise one. well considered, ap- | B
owed by engineers, approved by scientific r,
en-, which will accomplish the result pro- +,
'sed. That is one of the great works for "
9 Southern States, one of the most i'm a.
rtant achievements that can be accom- E
lshed for them; of more advantage OF
them and to the whole country than any :,
her single improvement. 1t is now about r.
be put into successful consummation.
le plan is agreed to by both houses. The b1
Il has already passed the House, and it is III
W agreed to by the Senate as an amend y.
snt to this bill. 1t is a most important "
ature of this river and harbor bill. l
peal to Senators from the Southern States, b,
it wise to put on this prOnositiOn which | g