The New York herald., 1876-07-18
CONGRESS.
Debate in the Senate on the River
and Harbor Appropriations.
Mr.. Conkling's Speech on the New
"Evangel of Economy"
Capital Making for the Presi-
Dental Campaign.
SENATE.


!hs Legislature OF Texas asking for such legislation BY
Congress as will protect the frontier Of that State
against Indians and Mexicans, and also TO reimburse
the State for money expended In defending tho from
tier. Referred to the Committee Military Affairs.
The Chair laid before the Senate the unfinished busi-
ness being tho River and Harbor Appropriation bill.
the pending question being the motion Of Mr.. Thur
to rccommt the bill to The Committee on Appro-
priations with instructions to report bill reducing
the aggregate OF appropriations contained In 1t
to a sum not to exceed s4, oooC COO
Mr. CAMERON moved to lay aside tho unfinished busi-
ness, but withdrew his motion
BOUNTY
Mr.. LOGAN. (rep) ofIll, moved TO make the bill TO
squaze the bounties of those who in tho late
war Tor the Union the special order for
ono o'clock. Rejectcd-ycas 21, nays 20-two- rds
voting in the affirmative.
Mr. KEY (dem.) OF Tenn, voted with the republicans
favor OF the motion, Acssrs Booth OF Indiana
(colored), Hamilton rcp OF Texas aud Sargent rcp
OF Cal, with the democrats against It
THK RIVER AND HARDoR BILL.
The Senate then proceeded with the consideration Of
tho River and Harbor BILL
Mr.. KERNAN, (dem OF N. Y. opposed the passage OF
the bill it came from the House Representa-
tives a. amended by the Senate What the use
of talking about economy and reducing taxation II
Congress would not stop making such appropriations
contemplated by this bilIy 1t appropriated
money in the face of reports of ngneers and officers
many whero there really need appro-
priating anything at all In time like this, when
business depressed all over the country, much
money should not be appropriated He argued that
,hc bin proposed wnstcul expenditure of money and
favored the recommital Of tho BILL with instructions TO
have the amount reduced.
from the House, preposterous and extravagant in
the degree and the Senate had made 1t about twice
bad when it camc from the House. Therefore the
Senate could shake its CORY locks at the House Of
Representatives and say that that body deserving
OF special malediction. To recommit tho bill 10 tho
Committee Appropriations, with instructions to
duce the amount would present to the committee bar
rers which could not be overcome. He favored the
substitute submitted by him 10 appropriate 81 600 900
to be expended on rivers and harbors undcr the
ton OF tho Secretary Of War; and said that In 1869 the
placed the hands OF that Official and there
never period when the public money for rivers
and harbors was more judicously expended.
Mr.. MORTON, (repl OF Ind, said this BILL Il came
from the House Of Representatives. was pretty far
illustration OF the appropriations Of the present
The members Of the Senate aud House, of both
parties influenced to contract appropriations
where their own local interests were involved, but
where the appropriations were not 10 affect them
locally but for the general government, II was
proposed cut them down. The II ouse OF Repre-
sentatves had made no appropriation at all TO pay the
judgments OF the Court OF Claims That retrench-
ment but was retrcnchment by reputation. 1t
attempt to lead to the impression that the demo-
cratic party was running the government at dimin-
shed expense and that the republican party had been
extravagant. All this was for tho purpose OF making
capital for political purposes and the effect of It would
be 10 bring IN large deficiency bills at the next session
He argued that the government was for the good OF
the people and the Improvement Of rivers and harbors
Tor the good OF the people.
Mr.. MAxEY (dem) OF Texas, said he in favor of
economy but he could not support the substi-
tue OF the Senator from Vermont (Air. Edmundsl He
could never vote 10 give 10 ono man The power to DIS
tribute $4,ooo,o00 II Congress could place all the
money for tho Improvement Of rivers and harbors In
tho hands ol the secretary OF War it could place all tho
money for the support Of the army IN his hands, all
the money for the navy in tho hands OF the Secretary
of the Navy, and all the money for tho support Of
Indians in the hands Of the Secretary Of the Interior
IN short to 90 50 the sen.sS . might rs we'll declare be-
dispose OF this money or provide for its disbursement
The Senator New York tMr. Kernan) was greatly
Naxcy then read from report sent to the House OF
Representatives by the Engineer Department,
n1w1g the s4sm for and har
chow that Now York had received during
that period S32 7O3 "a, and said the American
than called for by this bill, Delaware had received
over $2,0oo000 Maryland 81, ,537 81; Ohio,
81 406 97S Is, exclusive OF the amount for tho
provemcnt OF the Ohio River. He coptended that hb-
eral appropriations should be made Tor the improve
msnt OF rivers and harbors Tic world moved, and
Congress must move with it, The country could get
along without steamboats, without railroads, without
printing presses but the Lord deliver him from such
gct-aony-
Mr.. CoSxLlSc, (rcp) Of n. Y. said the Senator from
Texas r Maxcyl in quest Of sectional comparison.
had fallen upon the State Of New York, going back
nifty years. and had brought to notice that
81, ,00J, 900 had been devoted TO public improve
ments situated within the limits OF New York State
and, second, that that sum had been voted by the
whole American people; that tho whole American pco-
pie had taxed for it He argued that this 81 900
ments, great national highways Standing, as New
York had always done by the try by the honor of
The country, by its credit It determined upon its
revenues the general government ever had paid
BY or In the Statc OF New York. That period marked
many cpochs OF trial both in war and peace II COW
Dred tho epoch which brought the Senator's State
Texas) into the Union. IL covered the expenses of
fought Tor the admission OF that State into the
Union when one hall 0l the country, Including the
Of Texas arrayed under the banner Of revolt
the state OF New York yielded ninety per of those
loans and those revenues which made the American
Republic OF the great Powers OF the earth Alter
the volume should be closed, and the student Of
mote iuturity overlooked this fact no would hardly
conclude that II became OF tho state
OF the Stale oi New York with the
that millions had been expended within her borders
Mr. Marcy said he made no complaint about tn csc
improvements New York. He had doubt the
interests OF commerce demanded them.
Mr. CoNxLIxG, resumng, argued that this bill as 1t
eamc from the House illustrated one OF tho most
rcious and scsndalous practices in our legislation He
gan referred to the improvements IN New York State,
and said he could assign good reasons Tor the
penditure OF tins 81 900 900, which seemed TO loom up
70 befcr. the Senator from Texas While the income
AK existed New York, with etcnth Of the popua-
lion OF the county, paid moro than onetnrd Of the
entire tax Now New YORK, with tenth or eleventh
or tho population, yielded to the general govern
ment ono. third OF the entire revenue. over
sixty per cent OF the entire customs revenue was
The 81, 600, oOo expended in New York for improve
ments bad been bestowed upon three works First,
thcre He'll Gate with Its rocks endanger ng all the
coastwse commerce OF the country; next there Was
the Hudson Rver the great outlet Tor the cereals and
products ol the wcstthe Hudson River and The Erie
Canal which might be called part Of II, now
aoa,cd a. commerce. tenfold greater than that
U the river Rhine, traversing, II did,
even sovcreisntics OF the Continent OF Europe
rhc third work tho harbor Of Bunao-tnat harbor
which ardlocked and protected not only the prope
Icrs OF New York, but the floating properly OF every
State, the product OF every wheat ec anu OF every
pasture lying west OF the city OF Buffalo scekn ng
portaon TO tidcwatcr II IN reviewing these Dgurcs
ind facts any Senator could dcducc argument In
avor OF improving creek 10 Obtain twenty inches oI
water SO be IT, Nr Conkiing then spoke OF the pnkcr
Of Congress improve rivers and SAID u would puzzle
he honorable Senator from Texas 10 vindcalc the pro
visions OF this bill on the basis that appropriations had
been made for the greatest harbor in the country.
He had doubt OF the power OF Congress TO appro-
pirate money TO improve naveabe rivers, and no had
no doubt OF the wisdom Of exercising tnat power. He
would 60 great way In voting for these improvements
but II should be remembered that from comparatively
small bcgnnings great abuses had grown. He then re
icrred TO the River and Harbor Appropriation bills
since 1869. showing an increase, and said u the
49, Ia sx