The New York herald., 1878-02-09
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 1878.
THE RIVER AND HARBoR BILL-APPRopRIA-
TIoNs OF INTEREST TO NEW xoRKERs-THE
HARLEM RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
The River and Harbor bill will bo of unusual inter-
est to New Yorksrs shis session from fact that
is likely TO contribute generous
for the Improvement OF tho wator ways adjacent to
the metropolis For instance, the He'll Gate prove
ment is already down Tor 100000 the agreed
upon In tho preliminary sistings OF the committee
and another 500 900 Is devoted to the improvement
Of the Upper Hudson $50 900 for tho channel Ron
dout and $4,000 for the channel beyond New Ba.i-
moro. extending up to Troy.
The committee have set apart Tuesday week, the
10th ins for hearing Of those who advocate an ap-
proDriation for the enlargement and Improvement OF
the channel Of the Harlem River make that stream
practically continuation OF the Hudson River and
Erie Canal connection OF both with New England
aud the Atlantic Ocean and Europe 1t viii DO rep
resented to the committee that, IN expense of not
over " 0Oo oOo part only of winch will be asked for
to get the work under way, the channel OF the
Harlem River can be deopened 10 fifteen feet
and widened 10 3OO feet, thus allowing all
the great commerce OF the Northwest which now
seeks exit TO the East through the Erie Canal the
Hudson River TO pass through TO Port Morris and
Long Island sound at saving OF twentyiour hours In
time aud OF many thousands OF dollars per day
pensc, to find market both along the great coastway
OF densely populated New England and In Europe by
ocean transportation. The petitions and memorials
asking this shortening of communication between the
West and the East signed by merchants, factors
ana business of all classes In Chicago Detroit,
Buffalo, Fort Wayne, annapolis, Cleveland and
Toledo for the West, and Hartford New Haven for
the East
In EXECUTIVE sEssIoN-EyAsIvz CONDUCT OF
REPUBLICAN SENATORS.
The Senate spent hour In executive session TO.
day discussing the nomination OF Mr. Smith to be
Collector Of the Port OF Mobile Tho report from the
Committee on Commerce was adverse his connrma-
tion and, AZ there was disposition on the part OF
the republican Senators to debate, the majority
of them withdrew from the Chamoor, leaving less
than a quorum present AS without QUORUM 1t was
useless TO protract tho debate, tho subject was do.
ferred until the next meeting Of senate In execu-
tive session. Considerable comment made on The
democratic side ut the evasve OF tho repub.
cans. and toward the close OF the session the charge
was made that II Ill became representatives OF the
Administration party 10 shirk responsibility.
WAR CLAIM BEFORE THE HoUsE-soME
loyal NEW WORKERS FAIL TO OBTAIN
COMPENSATION.
The bugaboo OF Southern claims, which SO dis
turbed democratic dreams In the last President tal
canvass, was exercised to-day by determined but
not very numerous majority vote against wnat is
known as the Alexandria Mills bill. This was a private
claim for compcnsa ton for tho OF
piece of property known as the Pioneer
Mills, near Alexandria, during the war. the
amount being about $lS 900 This boing private bill
day and the bill being reached In the regular order Of
business It's political features gave It such importance
that II took up the whole Of tho session. While It
was defeated by general dlv sion on party lines It
was supported by sucn republicans as Mr. Frye, OF
Maine, and opposed by such democrats as Mr.. Sparks
ol Illinois Tho Southern democrats voted largely
against II ior the reason as was SAID that IT would
nJurs the democrats cause In the tau campaign mol