The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-01
THE LEVEE BILL.
hts FRIENDS WILL DEMAND A VOTE
ON 1T NEXT "WEDNESDAY.
How the southern Representatives View
their Treatment. aud their Proposed
Acti0n-Thc Election Laws 90 he Dis
cussed I'm Joint Caucus Democratic
Indignation over Recent Arrests.
LSpeclal to the Demoorat.l


Especial to the Democrat
WASHINGTON. Jan. Silt is not probable that
a vote on the levee bin will be again postponed.
The report Of the Board OF Engineers In an
swer to Gibson's letter was received and sent to
the government printing office yesterday. and
will be- out TO. morrow. 1t indorses Robertson's
bill for the appointment OF commission. and
also favors the appropriation Of not less than
s2soo!o0o for use during the ensuing year. Upon
tho strength OF this report. In addition to the
work already done on the subject personally
among members, our delegation have decided
to take the chances Of vote. and the previous
question will be called on Robertson's bill and
amendments next Wednesday morning. after q
session for debate on Tuesday evening. 1t is
probably safe to predict that Robertson's bill.
amended to appropriate " 800 900 to 81 3.oo0 900.
will pass the House next Wednesday.
The following arc extracts from the Engin
GERS report bearing on the subject. In response
to Gibson's letter. OF November II. 1878: " The
evees. where they have been permanently es-
tablished. do to an extent. afford protection and
give need, facilities to commerce and navlga-
iion. and wore they permanently established
throughot the river. they would develop large
additional commerce and afford the kind of
facilities Just mentioned for It's transaction. We
believe. therefore, that the levee system, II un-
der; AIKEN. should be matured and developed In
connection with the navigation and improve
mont"
These are the conclusions OF tho board which
bear directly upon the point urged In Gibson's
letter. which embodied the principle of an i'm
mediate appropriation to begin work. The
report OF the engineers Is unanimous. be-
ing signed by Gen. J. M. Barnard. Gen. u. b.
Towens. Gen. II. q. Wright. Col. 9. u. Comstock
and Major Chas. II. Suter.
The Epenin0 Star to- night says There Ia a
movement among leading Southern Represen-
tatives to have Joint caucus called TO arrive at
some understanding as to what policy is to be
pursued with reference to the Improvement OF
the Mississippi river and building OF levees.
Surface indications point unmstakaby to the
fact that the Southern Representatives are
growing quite restive over the treatment which
these measures have received at the hands OF
the Forty-fourth Congress-. and the prospect
that the Forty-f fifth Congress does not seem In
elned to trent them with more favor than its
pred -cessor. Those woo urge these improve
ments say the Mississippi river is great ma
tional highway for inland commerce In this
country and they are tired OF having plans for
It's improvement continually snubbed. Those
anxious for an understanding Say that II these
improvements are 10 De continually kicked out
OF Congress. they will uaite In any move TO de-
feat improvement schemes In any other section
OF the country. and even 90 so far as to an
tagonixe appropriations for public buildings.
This IL. In part. true. but such caucus will
not be had unless Robertson's bill should be
beaten next Wednesday. A Joint caucus Ia
called for Monday night for variety of busi-
ness. and there will be some informal discus
sion Of the levee measures during its delibera-
tions. Among the subjects to be considered at
the caucus Monday night Is the recent indict-
ment OF Representatives. elect Hull. OF Florida.
and King. Of Louisiana. under the Federal
election laws Judging from the expressions
have heard from Democratic members on that
subject to-day. the attitude OF the caucus will
be very decided. going, II necessary. to
the extent Of refusing to vote an
other appropriation bill for any department
of the government till that Infamous
aot Ia repealed. Blackburn leads In this move-
ment. lie said to-day In conversation that this
Indictment and order for the arrest OF King
and Hull was the first attempt made by the ex-
ecutive power to take the Legislative power by
the throat In an English speaking country since
Charles i went down to tho House of Commons
to demand the bodies OF Rym Vane and Hamp-
den. This expression Is fair index of the
temper with which the Democrats In Congress
generally view this high handed procedure.
There is fun ahead. A. @. b.