The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-17
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.


The SPEAKER announced the regular order to be the
consideration of the bill reported last night from the
Committee Ways and Means to facilitate the re-
funding Of the national debt and the pending Ques
ton to be on the passage of the bill.
Mr.. Mills (dcm.) of Texas asked Mr.. Wood of
New York. to yield to him for an amendment sub
jecting all bonds hereafter issued to taxation.
MIR. woob, (deni.) of N. ". declined to yield for
that purpose and the bill was then passed without
division.
authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, in the
process of refunding the national debt to exchange
directly at par the bonds of the United States bearing
four per cent interest for the bonds commonly known
as ve-twenties outstanding and uncalled and directs
that whenever all such ve-twenty bonds shall be
deemed the provision of this section and all existing
provisions of law authorizing the refunding OF the
national debt shall apply to any bonds bearing five
per cent higher rate of interest that may be
deemable. In any exchange made under the pro-
visions of this section interest may be allowed the
bonds redeemed for period Of three months
MISSISSIPPI IMPROVEMENTS.
The House then at ten minutes past one went into
committee of the whole, Mr.. Carlisle OF Kentucky
in the chair, on the bill organizing the Mississippi
River Improvement Commission and providing tor
the Improvement of that river and the protection Of
its all,lvial lands.
The proposed commission is to consist of five per-
sons to be appointed by the President and is to have
charge of the surveys of tine Mississippi and take
into consideration plans and estimates for the i'm
prOvement or its navigation and the protection OF its
alluvial lands. When such plans are prepared and
approved by Congress it shall be the duty of the
Secretary of War to cause such improvements to be
made An appropriation of $250,000 Is made for the
payment of salaries, and the committee which
ported the bill has amendment added section
approprating $3.s7l,00O for strengthening the Mis-
sissippi levees.
Nearly an hour was occupied in the reading of the
report accompanying the bill.
Mr.. GIBBS (dem.) of La, gave notice that he would
il he had opportunity offer substitute amend
ment appropriating s2,5oo,0oo for the improvement
Of the Mississippi from the head OF the passes OF that
river to the mouth of the Illinois River.
Mr.. REAGAN, (dem.l of Texas gave notice that he
would oher an amendment directing the commission
take into consideration the practicability of i'm
proving the Mississippi by opening additional out
lets for the flow OF that river into the Gulf of Mexico.
Mr.. ROBERTSON dem. OF La, spoke in favor OF the
BILL 1t was for the benefit of no particular person
State section but would inure to the bench. of the
people OF the whole country The origin Of the late
scoilrge which had traversed the south might be
traced to the overflow OF the Mississippi in 1874 fol-
lowed by the high waters of 1875. 1876 and 1877. fol-
| lowed by the hot summer of 1878.
Mr.. ELLIS, (dem) of La, submitted an amendment
substitute appropriating S4,s50.0o0 for the pur
pose of repairing the lcvecs of the Mississippi and
Improving the navigation OF that river. such money
to be expended under the direction Of the chief eng
nee-s OF the army.
Mr. CHALMERS, (dem.) of Miss. said that people Of
Mississippi and Louisiana appealed TO Congress to
give to them that protection which every citizen had
a right to expect from the government With the
Mississippi River improved the South could supply
the whole Union with sugar and the world with cot
ton He hoped that Congress would come to the
rescue of commerce. that even the gentleman from
Pennsylvania tMr. wright)-the most promising
greenback candidate tor the Presidency in 1850
would support the BILL and that the hard hearts
of the Committee Oh Appropriations would be soft
ened. (Applause.)
Mr. ROBINSON. rep.) OF Mass. was in favor of the
bill ITSELF but utterly opposed TO the amendment
appropriating 900 for the repair of the levees
aud IT that amendment were adopted he would vote
against the bill. The government should not he
nlitted to ally plan previous to the report OF the
commission.
Mr. ELLIS spoke in favor of his amendment and of
the levee system generally, which, however, to be
effective must be carried by single head aud
with single purpose He dwelt upon the magni-
tude of the sugar and cotton interests of the South
and predicted that in the of tiiue the south
States would be the great cotton manufacturing
centre of the word. He wanted the work placed in
the engineer corps of the ariny-hands free from
jobs and corruption.
Mr.. ROBERTSON. of Louisiana, proposed that the
debate shall be continued next Wednesday evening.
the previous question then seconded and the vote
taken Thursday.
The SPEAKER (who the floor a member of
the committee of the whole favored the proposition.
The committee rose, aud the order asked by Mr..
Robertson made by the House.
number o< bills were introduced and nppropri-
ately referred
The Senate amendments to the House bill for the
taken mp and CONQUERED in.
Mr.. CIlMER. (dem.) of Pa. in view of the cerc-
monies this evening in honor OF the memory of the
late Professor Joseph Henry. Secretary of the smith
sonian Institution offered resolution for the adms-
sion to the floor of the wives and daughters of
bers. Agreed to, and the House. at Ave O'Clock r. H.,
took till quarter To eight y. M.