The New York herald., 1876-07-22
Tho River and Harbor Bill.

The weather is too warm for the country
to give much attention to the controversy
between the Senate and the House in the
matter Of economy. There have been angry
debates, sectional strifes committees of con-
ference and no result. We have followed
these debates pretty closely, and the con-
clusion at which we have arrived is that the
democrats are striving to make capital on
their side and the republicans on their side.
There has been an ostentatious pretence of
economy in the army and navy bills and
in the diplomatic service. Small items have
been cut down with parade Of economy.
But when the River and Harbor Appropria-
tion bill came to the Senate from the House
there was a new revelation. This bill is one
Of the gigantic jobs of legislation. Every
Congressman has his district and in every
district there is a creek or stream or inlet or
puddle of some kind. As every citizen
thinks his own puddle the greatest in the
country he expects his representative to
have it dredged or widen ed at the public
expense. So, when the bill is made up,
Jones, who wants Poodle Creek deepened
and Smith, who would like Towser Bend
Strengthened. and Robinson, who thinks
Spaniel Bay should connect with the ocean,
agree to support each others plans. BY this
process of log-rolling bill is made up in
which every member is interested, and which
has items like this -
For deepening the channel Of Poodle Creek
WhoYp en- tors q DorR
For removing obstructons at Towser Bend 80. 60 O00
For opening the inlet to spaniel Bay ......... 1000
This is the River and Harbor Appropria-
ton bill, whi,h appropriates in round num-
bers 81, 600, 900, and which Senator Thurman
characterized in debate as a ''monstrous
bill" Every year this bill has increased.
In 1869 We gave $2,000,O00; in 1870,
s3, 745, 900; in 1871, $4, 40S. 900; in 1872,
S5, Coz, 900; in 1873, 6,2s7, 800; in 1874,
So, PAS, 600, and in 1875 S6662, 900. The
reform House brings the aggregate up to
1000, 900.
The House, which passed this bill and
sent it to the Senate, has been working for
economy. This bill shows the falsity of
that pretence. If there is one expense We
could cut down now it is the improvement
of our rivers and harbors. We could wait q
year or two until we had little more money
until taxes were lower until Uncle Sammy
became President and revived industry
and commerce" But this reform" House.
which has been economizing so valiantly, is
as extravsgant as its predecessors when there
is little capital to be made at home.
The practical way of attending to these
river and harbor improvements is for Con-
gress to waive all control over them Men,
bers, as general thing, know nothing about
such matters. They are not engineers, and
are imposed upon. Their constituents ex-
pect impossibilities. Under the pressure of
constituents they pile up millions which
are wasted. Now the true way Is to submit
the whole question of improvements to the
Coast Survey or the Engineer Corps of the
army. Let Congress appropriate so much
money each year, and let the Secretary of
War or the Treasury have its expenditure.
A board Of skilled officers could indicate
which rivers and harbors needed improve
ment, which were necessary to the public
welfare. The present plan is mschevous,
rs may be seen in the fact that House COM
mitted to reform, and desiring reform for
party reasons, is under so severe a pressure
from home that it votes seven million dol
lars of the public money to improvements
of questionable value.