The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-02-15

On the Duties and Powers OF the Committee
ON Levees and Improvements Of
tho Mississippi River.
lin the House OF Representatives. January ii,
1891
The House having resolved itself into COM
mittee Of the whole, and having resumed the
consideration Of the report OF the Committee
ON Rules, Mr.. Robertson said:
M Choirmdn.-I send to the Clerks deck
and ask To have read two amendments, which
at tho proper time viii be proposed on behalf
Of the COMMITTEES on Levees and Improve
ments OF the Mississippi River. to the pro-
posed rules reported from the COMMITTEES on
Rules.
The Clerk read A. follows:
Rule 10. In line 25. page 81, strike out III
and insert "t3"
Rule IL. In clause Il, on page %, insert ITO
the Improvement Of the m Mississippi river and
its navlRRble tributaries and all surveys and
estimates relating thereto
Mr.. Robertson Mr. Chairman, as chairman
OF the Committee on Levees and Improve
ments Of the Mississippi River, deem II my
duty to explain the exact position occupied
toward the House by the committees over
which have the honor to preside. The Com
mittee OH Rules has taken and refrAined from
| such action In references to that committee ~
TO compel the Intervention Ut this onmmittee
TO rectify It's acts Of omission and commission.
In the first place. while advancing this
committee on the list from the forty-Bxth to
the twenty. first. aud thus acknowledging It's
importance, the COMMITTEES on Rules has
failed to assign tts duties tas In the case OF
every other committee), leaving them indie
terminate, md q blank space only for their
subsequent insertion.
econdiy--The Committee on Rules has re-
duced the number Of members OF the commit
tee from thirteen to eleven without assigning
| any reason therefor, and In contraventiOn OF
the action Of this House. which added the two
members now proposed to be stricken on.
In regard to the first matter y brief history
OF the committee from Its inception to its
present position will show that the ex-
act extent Of Its duties never have
case OF four other committees OF the
House whose duties the Committee on
Rules has now endeavored to assign, leaving
the COMMITTEES on the improvements Of the
course has been taken do not pretend posi-
| lively to know, but presume 1t has arisen
from doubt as to the full scope and extent
OF the authority OF this committee over mat
ters cognate to It's title, which l shall now
| propose to explain.
The committee into which the present COM
mittee has expanded was originally merely
select committee OF the HOUSE, to which
was referred oil bills and matters relating to
| what WAS termed the Mississippi levees
In the Forty-fourth Congress It was made
| one OF the standing committees Of the House
by resolution which did not define Its duties
In any manner, except Ia 30 far as they might
be ascertained from its title. Under this title
the committee proceeded to take jurisdiction
over and act upon all matters reierred to 1t In
regard to the levees OF the mississippi river.
AT the first session Of the Forty.tifth Con-
| press Il WAS resolved by the House that the
Committee on Levees shall be styled Commit
tee on the Levees and improvements OF the
| Mississippi RIVER" thus by its title greatly
enlarginR the scope and sphere OF Its authori-
| ty and jurisdiction over al proposed improve
| ments Of the Mississippi river, OF whatever
character they might be.
The committee, Of which was at that time
chairman, proceeded thereupon to consider
such bills az were referred to them, not only
looking to the protection Of the allnyni ianas
ment Of the navigation Of the Mississippi river.
The committee, after thorough examination
end full discussion Of all matters submitted to
them, came to the unanimous conclusion, and
80 reported In their formal report to the
House on the third Of May, 1873, that they
considered 1.-THE questions Of river improve
ment and the protection OF alluvial lands Al
intimately and inseparably connected" The
report further proceeded to say:
hBy resolution Of the present session the
Jurisdiction OF the committee has been ex.
tended, SO as to include questions relating tc
the improvement Of the river as we'll as Ques
tons relating to levees and AlluviRl lands
Notwithstanding nature made them interde
pendent. At present, however, all parties ir
interest admit that levees are necessary aids
to the Improvement OF navigation. Youl
committee therefore, in accordance with theil
new jurisdiction and the fortunate adjustment
OF rival interests, report bill combining
these two very important questions
81 The bill therein referred TO provided Tor the
formation OF a permanent commission to OK
anime and decide upon some adequate ant
comprehensive plan OF improvement OF tn
. lower Mississippi, as we'll as for the protec
tion OF the alluyial lands OF the Mississippi
J delta from overflow.
In all Its features In committee Of the whole
and finally adopted by the House by an over
whelminK majority, irrespective OF sectiona
, or party lines, thus giving the sanction OF tn
: House to the committees construction OF II
duties and powers.
At the first session OF the present Congress
a similar bill, reported from this committe
j to the House, entitled IAN act to provide 10
3 the appointment Of q Mississippi river com
mission for the improvement Of said rive
. from the head OF the passes near It's mouth
| | Its headwateTs," was. passed under suspen
J sion Of the rules, amended In the Senate b
Z increasing the number OF the commission
. which amendment WAS concurred In by tn
0 House and became law, under whic
I the commission Is now acting. This, Of course
: Is another indication OF the interpretatio
9 given by the House Of the jurisdiction, pow
o ers and duties OF this committee.
81 BY section 5 Of this act the commission
. empowered and authorized to make surveys
8 examinations and Investigations into tn
1 tributaries Of the Mississippi as we'll as tn
a main trunk OF the river itself. thus embractn
the tributaries within the scope OF the power
E assigned to that commission.
Q From this brief statement Of facts, 1t mus
J, be obvious that the same powers granted
d the commission should appertain to the CON
| mittae: and the amendment now proposed b
t the committee for better defining Its power
o and duties should be adopted by the House.
Y The propriety and necessity OF extendln
8 the jurisdiction OF this committee over u
+ nayigable tributaries, as we'll as over II
- m al trunk IF ho Miaajocipp} are evident.