The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-06

Nav last. induces me, as a Representative
from louisiana and rs Chairman Of the
to report what has thus far been accomplished
BY us, and submit a few suggestions Tor your
consideration.
The bill providing for q commission Of en-
gineers to survey the whole river and declde
upon q permanent plan Of improvement, has
passed both houses Of Congress. and has just
been presented to the President for his sigma
ture; and the commission will soon be or,
gained and ut work. They will have 1und
of $4,000 to commence with, and will,
trust, be prepared to make preliminary re-
port to Congress as early as next session.
/ sincerely believe that New Orleans and
the whole State are about to participate ID
the benefits of what they have so long
sought In vain-Iiberal. appropriations by
Congress for this great national work. 1
believe the disposition Of Congress In this
respect is unusually liberal on the part OF
Northern as well as s9uthe esaloo emo end
encouraged by a conservative policy. on the
part Of our people, and not frightened OIL by
longer insisting upon theory OF improve
ment which, as separate measure q 81 yo oe
should seek, leaving to skilled engineers the
choice OF the means.
10 illustrate the desirability and wisdom OF
adopting such 9 policy, ] invite your atten-
From the close of the war, In 1866, to the
beginning Of the last Congress, there were, In
ali, twenty-seyen bills introduced Id the Sen
ate or House on the subject OF levees. Not
half dozen more ieyee bills were introduced
during the last, or Forty-fifth Congress, but
none Of them we're Endorsed by either the
Senate or House.
Surely, then. we should abandon dead Is
sues and adopt policy which promises sue
In marked contrast with the adverse fate
of those ievee bills Is our experience during
the present session.
The bill providing for commission passed
the Senate by a vote Of AZ to A. and the House
by q vote OF 1G6 to IL. One opponent In the
Senate, and one In the House, openly charged
that 1t would result in an expenditure OF one
hundred millions OF dollars; but even this as
gertion did not deter members from the North
| from giving the bill an active and hearty sup
port. Mr.. Garfeld's very able remarks on
the bill confirmed my opinion that we should
adopt a new policy for the future. He said,
| In opening: II would oppose this bill, very
decidedly, Ii it committed us at this time to
any plan or theory of managing the Missis-
sippf river" And In conclusion he observed:
| II rejoice on any occasion which enables Rep
mote great national interest. [Applause.)
tSuch an occasion Ia good for US both, and
when we can do it, without the sacrifice OF our
convictions, and benefit millions OF our fel-
low citizens, and thereby strengthen the
bonds OF the Union, we ought to do it with
rejoicing for, Ia doing SO, we inspire our peo-
pie with larger and more generous views,
and help to confirm for them and for our
children, to our latest generation, the indis-
soluble Union and the permanent grandeur
Of our republic. shall vote for this bill"
Applause on both sides OF the Housed
Again: A distinguished member from Mas
ton here, that he would vote fifty millions Of
dollars for the work. il the plan of improve
ment was first determined by skilled engi-
neers.
stlll again: The New York Daily Graphic,
In reviewing editOrially my speech OF last
Congress, in support of the commission, said
Com mercial and sanitary reasons combine
III favor OF the improvement OF the Missis-
sippi river. Let there be no haggling over
Of petty local jealousy. It is not q question Of
a fair share OF patronage but lis what the in
terests Of the whole country demand
+ Now, In the name OF reason, ought we not
to be satisfied IN securing such liberal and
cordial support from the North? And shoulc
we not improve the good opportunity instead
of throwing 1t away by insisting on particu
lar theory Of improvement? What matter Is
it to us whether the levee or the jetty system
, be adopted, providing navigation Is duly i'm
structive floods?
II the commission say levees, Congress vii
appropriate for that plan Of Improvement
But until they do so determine, tbs impolitit
and reclamation which have and will con
tinue to create opposition tn other sections
, OF the country. In speech last January,
said OF the bill: 'ItcontempIates the improve
!, , ment OF the chief avenue OF transportation o
: great commercial nation. 1t also seeks h
protect from floods and pestilence over TWEEN
ty-sfx millions acres Of the most fertile AMI
productive lands upon the face o
the earth. 1t does not, as so oftel
alleged, aim at the reclamation OF thos
g lands or seek to perform work which
D properly belongs to the Individual citizen
}. The word reclamation" Is not used in tn
|. bill. It Is well that we understand the dis
tinction at the outset Of this discussion TO
. the wrong use and confusion of terms hav
8 given the opponents OF river improvement
an opportunity to misinterpret, and therefor
misrepresent the object we seek to accom-
J, plish. The word reclamation has fur
l nished them with the keynote of upjus
criticism. We simply ask protection from
. the frequent ravages Of this great river, owe
] which no power but the general government
nay. have an op
ultivate them a
cordial respons
AL which | hav