New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-18
TEN MILLIONS VOTED AWAY.

..ss,cr OF THE RIVER AND HARBoR BILL IN THE
BotsE-RECoKD OF THE MEMBERs-hoPEs OF
syS.TE AMENDMENTS.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TBIBUNEl
w,su,xGToN Feb 17.-When the River and
uarho hill was taken up in the House of Represen-
.at,vssto to-day. Mr. RobesOn of New-Jersey moved
% commit it to the Committee on the Judiciary with
:~strrction TO report it back to the House with an
amendment confning the expenditures therein ap-
ronriated to rivers harbOrs and streams within the
admiralty and maritime jurisdiction OF the Onlted
States Mr. Robson afterward explained 10 d
Tp,nryF correspondent that one OF his purposes III
making this motion was to have the Democrats
commit themselves on the Observation-Disclosures hot the
streams upon which the National Government hiahes
nnblc improvements under National law. Ahe
vote OIL this amendment was 80 to lo2. An ANALYSIS
oftbis vote shows that so Republicans, q Oreeh-
hackers. 28 Northern Democrats, and 4 southern
nemocrats voted in the affirmative; while 81 Re-
publ;cans II Northern Democrats and % southern
Damocro+s voted in the negative. The four South
ern Democrats who voted for the amendment were
Fright. of Tennessee Alexander II. stephens. Of
Georgia and Knott and Oscar Turner, OI heniucAI
The bill was then passed by a vote of 1913 TO ST.
An ANALYSIS of this vote shows that G3 Republicans
% Northern Democrats and Grecnbackers and 10
Sonthern Democrats and Greenbdckers voted for
the bill while 49 Republicans, 2S Northern
Democrats and GreenbacherS, and only South
srn Democrats voted against it. 1t is understood
that q number of the Democratic votes against the
bill were o,casioned by the fact that certain nlem
bers of the dominant party were not allowed as
large share of the plunder as they Thought they
ought to receive. OILY few Southern Democrats
had reason to complain on this score. careful
study of the bill in the light of engineers reports
forces the conclusion that items to the amount OF
RlSO0OO0 to Sc, ,OO0.D00 ought to have been struck
put of the BILL and that of this amount least nine
teptLs are 10 be expended on rivers, creeks and
bayous south Of Mason and DlXon's line. The op-
ponents of the bl rather than have the cry of "sec
lionalisrn" raised against them in the House. d:d not
dwell on this fact
good many Of the Republican members who
voted for the bill did 50. admitting that it contained
many appropriations TO which they were opposed.
hut feeling that it Was fair bill as could be got
through the present House OF Representatives.
They say: 1--WE believe in useful internal i'm.
provemen.s and We feel that it would be national
calamity If nO appropriations for that purpose were
to be made" There is great deal OF truth in this
remark.
The Republicans promise that when they obtain
control of the House of Representatives they will
try to pass a River and HarbOr bll to which the
people of the country will not object. They also
hope that the Senate will amend the present bill.
There is certainly great opportunity for the Sen
ate 10 improve the measure, but its friends in the
House are very much afraid that it VIII not pass tie
Senate at all There IL general impression among
both the fine ads and ths opponents OF the bill that
the exposure o. ITS Inequalities and ahsurlties Will
prevent a Committee on Commerce from bringing
In another such bill for some time 10 come.
The Senate Select Committee Ou Transport atlon
Routes TO the Seaboard to-day, after further dis
cussion of the relative merits of the vaIlous route
proposed for ship canal between the Chesapeake
and Delaware BAYS, decided to report, as suEsii-
tute for all the pending propositions provision for
a new survey and examination Gf the whole subject
BY the Engineer DepartmeDt. This provision VIII
be offered as an amendment to the River aud Hay-
Dor bill.