Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-07-28
The River and HarbOr Bill In the Senate.
Washington Special. to New York Times.

Wsshin-to Specials to New York Times
Mr.. E1munds in beginning his speech pro
| ceeded to show the steps by which the bill
had been put in its present mOnstrOus shape
the first amendment of the committee which
was disagreed to. was that striki ing out an
appropriation of s. 600 for Frankfort har-
Dor, Michigan. Senator Ferry who had made
the issue. rallied those he called the friends
of the bill, and on a call Of the yeas and
nays had defeated the committee. and there
followed long and caustic discussion about
the character of this amendment. Mr.. Ed
munds spread out the atlas, and asked where
Frankfort harbor was. Senator Christiancy
looked for it in vain, but Mr.. Ferry came
down from the chair and pointed it out 1t
Is in a new part of the State. where there
Is sparse population, and Mr.. Ferry. by
way of showing the great importance of i'm
proving the harbor, stated that there was an
iron furnace at Frankfort. This, when sub
jjected TO Mr.. Edmund>'s sarcastic ANALYSIS.
appeared gauzy pretext for an appropria-
ton, and Nh. Ferry further suggested that
the people had established a college. Ger
tainly." replied Mr. Eimunds. every col
lege should have a harbor" Then Mr..
Christianey called attention to the fact that
there were large agricultural products in
that region, and Mr. Ferry bethought him
self OF giving as another reason that the har-
Dor would be place of refuge. Mr. Ed
munds treated the subject with merciless
and effective ridicale and sarcasm, and his
bright, pungent thrusts were greatly enIoved
by everybody but the unluckv victim. Mr..
Ferry would try again and again to make
some defence OF his action, bat only got
deeper and deeper into trouble. Ii is clear
ly apparent from the line of debate. and the
course of events, that this first break in the
amendment OF the committee in favor of Mich
igan was led by Mr.. Ferry, and sustained by
the advocate of the Usage, the New River,
the French Broad and other similar schemes,
IN accordance with an understanding and
previous agreement. However this NAV be, |
1t Is fact tnat no more indecent appearing |
combination against the Treasury has been |
seen in many day, and those concerned are |
largely Southern Democrats.
The Senate was in session Saturday night |
till very late hour on the River and Har- |
Dor bill. The Senate refused, by two
thirds vote, TO recommit the bill, and Mr.. |
Edmunds's proposal to appropriate $4,000
900 to be expended under direction of the
Secretary of War received but twelve votes.
A proposition submitted by him to have the
bill reconstructed on basis of SIS 800 900
also failed. The bill was brought out of the
Committee of the Whole into the Senate. the
question being concurring in the amend
ments made in Committee of the Whole.
These amendments have brought the bill to
its present outrageous details and proper
lions. 1t is usual to concur in the Senate
with all amendments made in Committee of
the Whole by one vote, except that lew of
The more important are often reserved for
separate action. Mr.. Edmunds on this bill
action upon each of the eighty
amendments by itself This will compel the
senate to reconsider, step by step, every ac-
ion taken in Committee OF the Who'll, be-
ginning with Frankfort Harbor, with its
ron furnace and college. The Senate was
ound to be without quorum, and adjourn
d without entering upon this work. J The
impeachment trial will prevent further ac-
ion on the bill for q few days. In the
Meantime the opponents Of the measure