Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-06-12

GERS of = engineer corps OF the army, whose
duty it shall be to examine and report plans
and estimates for the improvement OF the
Mississippi river; and the closing of breaks
and crevasses of the river, and to report at
the next session as to the cost and compar-
alive utility of the several plans. clause
of the section appropriates five thousand
dollars to defray the expenses of the commls-
sion.
Senator Burnside said the commission con-
templated by the bill, as it stood before the
senate, would result to the detriment of the
public service and end in corruption.
Senator Beck said he was not opposed to
the improvement of the Mississippi, but the
effect of the amendment providing for this
Mississippi river improvement commission
would be to destroy the usefulness of the
engineer corps of the army IN making surveys
OF the Mississippi river. As he understood
it, the head of the commission was to be
civilian. The whole truth of it was to put
the whole Mississippi river under the control
of Captain Eads. lie favored a proper i'm
provement of the river by removing all OBJ
struchons therefrom, having 1t properly
lighted; and thorough system of levees, but
he did not favor any experiment which would
require the government to expend thirty or
forty million dollars.
Senator Dawes submitted an additional
section providing that no part OF the
work provided for by the fourth and
succeeding sections shall be undertaken or
contracted for until the appropriation there
for shall first have been made by congress.
Agreed to.
Senator Cockrell, in reply to Senator Beck,
denied that Captain Eads had anything to do
with the proposed improvement commission
ers; he denied that the head of the commits
sion must be a civilian, and said that he pre-
pared this bill himself Mr.. Eads's bill vas
presented in the other house of congress.
After some further discussion the substitute
of Senator Burnside was agreed to-yeas, 33;
nays; 10.
The question then being on agreeing to the
substitute of Senator Burnside for the amend
ment OF the commlttee-belug Senator
Cockrell's proposition for the improvement
committee-it was rejected, leaving both
propositions out of the bill.
Senator Allison submitted an amendment
to the clause appropriatlng $4,000 for I'M
proving the Missouri river at Omaha City,
Nebraska, so as to insert, And at Council
Bluffs, Iowa" Agreed to.
The appropriation for the canal around the
cascades of Columbia river was increased
from $75, 600 to 5000, 200 by vote of 20 to
20.
Senator Howe submitted amendments in
creasing the appropriation for improving the
harbor of Sheboggan, Wisconsin, from $1,000
to $4,000, and appropriating $40, OO0 for COM
river, in that State. Agreed to.
Senator Mathews submitted an amend
ment appropriating $4,000 for constructing
an harbor of refuge at or near Cincinnati, to
protect the commerce of the Ohio river from
ice-hoes. Agreed to.
Senator Window submitted an amendment
providing for the survey of the sources of
the Mississippi river, with a view to con-
structing reservoirs, etc. Agreed to.
7sSenator Morrill, submitted an amendment
to the second section of the bill directing the
secretary of war, at his discretion, to cause
examinations, surveys, and the estimated
cost of the improvements proper to be made.
Agreed to.
The bill having been considered in commit
tee of the whole, was reported to the senate
and the amendments made In committee con-
CURED in. The bill was then read the third
time and passed-yeas, SIS; nays, "a.
Senator Sargent reported back the defcien-
cy appropriation bill without amendment.
and it was taken up in order that it should
be unfinished business tomorrow.
After executive session, the senate adj
Journed.