The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-04-25
Only o Crumb.

The river and harbor appropriation
bill In Congress furnishes curious ills
tration az to the distribution of the pub
lie moneys. 1t is heterogeneous mass
of items, without any regular sequence
or order, and is so arranged as to secure
the support of the requisite two.thirds.
as few members will dare to vote against
an appropriation for their own districts.
The total appropriation amounts to near
ly $1,000, GOO, in addition TO which there
Is great number Of new surveys order
ed, which will be the sources of new
appropriations next year. OF course,
many of the appropriations are justifia-
bic and necessary. but it is believed that
SS,186,GGG will cover the entire amount
of tneae, while the remaining IS ,000, 600
can and ought to be s-.ved. Thousands
OF dollars ara appropriated to make rivers
and create harbors where nature has
scarcely given the hint CT them.
Ashas been customary in the manage
ment of government money, the North
ern States are given the lions share.
Leaving out of the account the $34O, 900
for the general improvement OF the Mis-
sissippi River, as belonging equally to
the South and North, the Northern States
are to receive from this appropriation the
sum of $3,789,300, while the Southern
States are given $2,335,50 The inc.
quality becomes more apparent when we
reflect that, i'll past years, the dispropor-
ton has been even greater, which leaves
more necessary work to be done in the
Southern States than if this section had
been drawing its quota regularly. In
fact, the figures are more nearly equal
than for many years, for the reason that
Southern Democrats are making their
influence felt to some extent, and we re.
gret to say in most partial manner.
Let US examine the figures to ascer-
tain how the case stands. This distribu-
ton is proposed as follows: Alabama,
100000; Arkansas, $265,OO0 Florida,
$4,000; Georgia, $4,000; Louisiana,
$4,000; Maryland, 500. 900: Misaisainni;
$4,000; North Carolina, $135, 900; South
Carolina, $4,000; Tennessee, $461 900 ;
Texas, S283, 900; Virginia, $210 500; West
Virginia, $272,000. Only the pitiful sum
Of five thousand dollars for the river and
harbOr improvement of South Caro-.
lima, and what makes the matter more
humiliating, the crumb thrown in this
di. ection is SET down to the credit of
Dad ddy Gains District Not that the
sGole individual from Charleston has any
further interest in the matter, except to
cast his vote for the general scheme, and
thus help 70 swell the number Of votes
pledged for this distribution.
II will be exceedingly difficult, for the
reasons already assigned, to accomplish
any serious changes in the bill now be-
fore Congress. But the manifest inius-
tice of the measure as it now stands will
induce our Democratic Senator and Rep
resenatives to make the effort, at least.
If the combination already formed can
be broken up, 30 that each item of the
appropriation bill can be scrutinized and
discussed, there will be some chance 20
increase the amount for South Carolina.
Charleston hnrbor alone would demand
ten times the sum allotted, if the interests
of our commercial metropolis are right
fully consulted, and there are other To-
calitiea deserving recognition. Why not
make the Consaree and Broad Rivers
naviga6ls for light draught steamboats, /?
Cbl,sHlbia Regisier.