Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-02-12
WASHINGTON.

" AohlNOAONf II tSbludiJ q. nClC
is no doubt that the immediate con-
trolling cause for the defeat yesterday
of the proposition to transfer the In
dian management to the war depart
ment, was the Cheyenne massacre by
United States troops. Members of the
house who, up to that atOccurrence, have
always been in favor of the tranfer,
changed their opinions, and yesterday
in the negative. Governor Eden, of
Illinois, a man of considerable inhu-
ence in the house. is one of this class
The remark that the Indian might as
we'll be starved to death as killed by
the soldiers, was common on the floor
during the vote. General Garfield, in
short speech, said that several years
ago, while he was chairman of the
military committee, he reported bill
for the transfer, and that it passed and
went TO the senate, where it had good
majority, waiting for its turn for CON
sideration. Pending this an incipient
war broke out in the far West. The
troops killed large numbers of Indians.
and the result was the defeat of the
bill in the senate.
THE WIFE OF SENATOR BRUCE.
For several days there has been
much quiet gossip to the effect that
the wives of certain prominent Demo
cratic senator's had CALLED upon Mrs.
Bruce, the wife of the colored senator
from Mississippi Mr.. Bruce states
that none of the wives Of Democratic
senators have called upon Mrs. Bruce,
but that several Democratic members
from the Northern States and their
wives have called. All the wives of
Republican senators have called.
MINISTER TO BERLIN.
1t is common rumor that Senator
Howe is to be appointed minister to
Berlin. Howe made his peace with
the administration some weeks ago.
1t is urged in his favor that he de-
clined the chief justiceship when
Chase died because the Wisconsin
legislature, which at the time was
Democratic, would elect a successor.
Later he declined the English mission
on the same grounds.
SENATORS INGALLS, AND LOGAN.
Some of Senator Ingalls, friends in
office here are preparing to give him
reception Tuesday night, the object
being to offset the scandal which
comes from Topeka regarding his re-
election. Preparations are also being
made to give Logan a reception on the
evening of the 10th of this month,
when he will arrive in Washington.
THE MISSISSIPPI JETTIEs.
Captain Eads has prepared a review
OF the recent report Of the board of
United States examiners which re-
Gently examined the ietties by order
of congress. The report, CAPTAIN
Eads says, settles efectually the
charge that there would be forma-
tion of bar at the mouth of the iet-
ties, that there would be no reliable
results within the jetties, and that
there would be no permanency to the
works. AS to the modification of the
terms of payment, Captain Eads saws /:
The board finds the following facts /:
First-That the works are perma-
nent.
Second-That great and good results
have been produced thereby.
Third-That $500 will substan-
TALLY complete the works.
Fourth-That the works when com
pleted will probably produce channel
which can be maintained of at least
% or rs feet in depth.
In regard to the amount which will
be necessary to complete the works,
the board says that Mr.. Eads esti-
mates the cost of doing the work thus
summarily indicated at $349,641. The
board is therefore of the opinion that
the work indicated by Mr.. Eads can
probably be done for his estimates,
provided no extraordinary contingen-
cies intervene.
The commission of 1874 estimated
the cost of the works at the sum of
81, ,342, ll0. | agreed, however, to do
the work for S., ,25O, ,000, thus saving to
the government. $92, ,l10 in construc-
tion, and | agreed to maintain the
works for twenty years for 100000
per annum, which maintenance the
commission had estimated at S1300OO
per annum, thus saving $780, 900 more.
1t appears then that $5,25O,000 was
q low estimate for the cost of the
work. The board, as we have seen.
says that $350,0O0 will complete the
work, and it admits that only 1885,
666 has been paid on it up to this
time. We were to deepen the bar
from eight feet to thirty, being a to-
tai deepening of twenty-five feet. Of
which twenty-five feet we have al
ready accomplished fifteen feet, hav-
ing a channel at present of twenty
three feet. This is equal to sixty
eight per cent, which Of the price for
the completed work is $3.50, 900,
from which take 81 100000 paid by
the government, and it leaves 81, so
600, and this less 10 per cent. reserva-
vation makes $l,773,000 unpaid and
already earned. If this sum were
authorized to be paid at once by the
government, it would still retain ST.
S77 900, or $S77 900 to complete the
works, and 81 100000 reserved to be
paid in ten and twenty years. | will
add that if this total sum were at
once paid me, it would not suffice ia
discharge all the debts created by me
in the construction of the works.