New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-07
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
PROBABLE ACTION BY CONGRESS.

PROBABLE ACTION BY CONGRESS-.
A VAST SUN TO BE SPENT UsELF%LY-THE DELEGATE
FROM UTAH ASD THE MORMON oUEsTIoN-AN
UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT IN MISSISSIPPI AT RACE
PERSECUTION
The House Committee on Commerce has
recommended the appropriation of more than
$1O,0OO,0O0 for the improvement of rivers
and harbOrs, and it is thought probable that
bill in accordance with the recommendation
will be passed in the House to-day. Governor
Murray, of Utah, has given to TRIBUNE
correspondent his views on the subjects OF the
Delegate from Utah and of pOlygamy. An
attempt was recently made by some young
men IN Mississippi to break up colored
theological school, but without success.
DEMOCRATIC ECONOMY ILLUSTRATED.
TIE HOLsE CoMnIITEE ON COMMERCE RECON-
MINDS THE APPROPRIATION OF MORE THAN
$4,000. 600 FOR RIVER AND HARBoR PURPOSES
-lMrR0vEMENTs OF M PRACTICAL DENEFIr
lnY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-Ihe River and Harbor
bill, it is pected, Will pass the House of Repre-
scntatives tomorrow under the gag rule which
forbids any amendment or discussion. This is by
all odds the most shameful Of the "l0g-rolling"
jobs which, under the same name, pass Congress
mended BY the louse Committee on Commerce this
year is so 1919, ,O0O or 50 $50 600 i'll excess of the
estimates Of the Secretary of War. Last year this
appropriate in the slne bill were $3,9G1 900 III
cXcces of the estimates which were $5.Ol0,oOO.
The appropriations for 1880 were a out T2,OOoO0O
III excess Uf tho estimates. and, including Sl I3Oo34
for the jrttes 1t the mouth Of the Mississippi,
amounted TO 70. 752. .l0i. These ti?nrcS show that
a Democratic Congrc IS, devoted 10 " economy and
eager to cut down the wnges Of Government clerks
and messengers paltry go or $i2 month"; con-
tInueq ye~r after year TO rie millions OF dollars upon
the estimates for river ard harbor improvements"
and then votes away the tremendous aggregate with
out allowing an amendment or q word Of discussion.
On at least occasion several rep esenta tatves who
desired to record their votes the negative were
not permitted T. do 80, and The bill went through
with " hurrah" Oh a viva v0ce vote.
OF the money thus to be voted ou, of the Treasury
Tomorrow handrcds of thousands probably mil
lions, Of dollars viii be >quanlcrod on alleged i'm
piovrment- Of su-calleJ creeks and rivers, which
10 atnOunt of " Improvement" would make naVlR-
able even Tor "pulr' boats. In some streams IN the
South more money Is exp ndod IN a year Tor sucli
Improvements y than would ply for every pound
of tic,ghl that wOud be transported II the streams
cOu,d be- made nav gable. several years AGO an
officer of enginceis reported that thc Improvement
OF one OF these streams IN South Curollna To make
il nayIganr iOr "pOT boats wonld cost as much
as II would to bald aud equip railroad along
the bank of the siIeau. The Improvement
OF one OF the streams in Virginia for which apprO-
priafIOns are annually made Will, II s SAID, cost
from $4,000 10 10000 a mil. and when the
work is completed the strram Will float nothing
Larger than Hat boat.
comparison OF the appropriations for the I'M
prnycneilt OF rivers and harbOrS made IN three
wears by a Republican Congress- with appropria-
tons Tor a like period by IA Democratic Congress,
throws considerable light upon tho " true inward
ness " of Democratic economy 80 called. For the
wear 1870, when both branches Of Congress were
Republican. tue river and harbor appropriations
amounted to exactly ~. .00O, 900 although no apprO-
priatIons Tor those purpose had been made for the
preceding year For the year year ISL n9n.
aud for thc year 1872 it was $4.4G760O.
Tho aggregate appropriations for the three years
amounted to $l0,3J3,000. The appropriations Tor
rivers and harburs tor the year 1879 omounted 70
SIS 800 700: for 1850 to $0.752. .10l; and for 1881
to So 076. 800. making total for three years OF
S21 OJl U04. or nearly three times AS much hs u
Republican Congress appropriated ~ hko period
1 he amount recommended by the Commerce Com
IuIltrc and il ~ more likely t. be Increased than
diminished by the Senate Tor the fiscal ycar ending
June 30 1882. Is only $1G3, GOO less than the aR-
grcgatc appropriated by Repubilcan Congress Tor
the three years ended June 30, 1872. 50 much Tor
Democratic " economy"