Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-07-22
FROM WASHINGTON.

Special TO the Courier-J Ournal.
WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE adj
ministration has taken upon itself the
authority to nullify the river and har-
Dor bill by specifying particular por-
tlons Of the law to be executed. OF
the seven millions appropriated, it has
been decided that only about thirty
per cent. is available and can be used
1t will be remembered that when the
bill passed the President, under the
advice OF Secretary Sherman, prepared
veto for the bill in fact Secretary
Sherman dictated the veto message to
the Presidents stenographer, but
other influences prevailed. Then Mr..
Sherman stated that all the money
should not be expended, as he could
not afford it. The bill does not come
under his jurisdiction, but belongs to
the war department, whose engineers
superintend all these public works.
1t Is an interesting point, that in the
allotments made the money is to be
put where it will do the most good for
MIR. Sherman, whose whole aim in the
public business Of the country is to
gain Presidential strength for himself
de IS the controlling spirit of this
administration, and, by encroachments
upon the other departments. has
brought down upon himself the en-
nifty Of at least one other cabinet
member. As before stated, these al
lotments are made in States where
Grant is strong and Sherman weak.
Notably is this the case in Louisiana
and Sonth Carolina in the South and
Michigan in the North. The full
appropriations are made available for
the works named in the bill in those
States
THE RIVER COMMISSION.
There will be an attempt made
when congress meets to amend the
law creating the Mississippi river
commission in several particulars, and
Judging from the sentiment in congress
when last in session there will be no
difficulty in passing such a supple
mentary act. The law will be amend.
ed so as not to make it obligatory on
the President of the United States to
name one Of the army engineer mem
bers OF the board as president of the
commission. The object in doing this
is not to change the present organiza-
tlon, but to relieve the members from
civil life of the position in which thew
are naturally placed by the discrimi
nation. Another amendment will be
to increase the salary of the civil
members Of the commission. who re-
ceive under the present law but three
thousand dollars a year, which is less
than the regular pay of the army en-
gineer members Of the board.
MR.. HAYES ECONOMY.
Mr.. Hayes last fall said to the
department clerks that they might
contribute to the campaign fund, and |
allowed it to be understood that he |
would make a personal contribution
All the members of the cabinet gave
SlOO, and it was expected Mr.. HAYES
would follow Grants illustrious ex-
ample and give ten per cent. of his
salary, or $1,000 to the fund. At that
time Charley Foster was there at the
head Of the Republican congressional
committee, and your correspondent
interviewed him on the subject. He
then said the President would con-
tribute to the fund in some way |
maybe by giving to the local campaign
committees in the districts. of one or
two of his Ohio friends who were
running for congress. The truth is
ne has never given cent. and has not
done so this year, preterring to allow
the clerks to be bled for the money to
elect his friends to office, so that he
may be able to continue to save
$4,000 year of his salary.