New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-17

Gratis PREVENTING INvEsTiGATIoN-IHE FoND
ING BILL DKBATED FURTHER.
The River and Harbor bill was before inc
House all day and large part OF the nlph''
The Senate Select Committee on the civil ser,
vice reported back the bill approVeu
nv tho United States Civil service
Commission. The usual Democratic metnoos
to prevent the taking of testimony 'aVorap'o
to o Republican contestant are ABOUT 10 "
adopted. il seems, in J. Floyd Kings ols'r'c'
in Louisiana, The Senate debated the runo'
ing bill without definite result
TROUT STREAMS AND FROG PONDS.
STRUGGLE OF THE MAJORITY OF TIE HOUSE TO
PASS THE RIVER AND HARBoR BlLL-Mh' oFDE-
GRAFPs GALLANT FIGHT
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
WAsuINsroN. Feb. 16.-"T There must be some
n,oc, between the Atlantic Ocean and dew drop
where the line should be drawn, and below when
appropriations for improvements should not DC
made iu the River and Harbor bill" exclaimed Mr'
Jypderraf of Iowa, as he offered an amendment to
etbat measure in the House of Representatives, To-
day Mr. Updegraff's amendment provided tnat no
money appropriated by the bill shall be expended
In the Improvement" of any stream whlch ooes
not come within the definition OF navgaoility la'u
down in the laws of the United States. Mr. Upce-
ostion embodied in his amendment, but IL rece'eu
only 67 votes against 91 in the negative
This yot, ought probably to be regarded as a test
of the relative strength of those members WHO de-
sire 10 restrict the of the public money 10 I'M
movements which will be OF public utility ana Oh
those members who are willing to shut their eyes
and vote for any log rolling scheme which may DC
manufactured by the Committee on Commerce
MANY members Of the latter class profess 10 oo do
much opposed as anybody else to the appropriations
for frog ponds and rvuiets, but they are always
ready to 80 vote as to sustain the Commerce ooiii
mittee in ITS assumption of infaiblty 1t would
not he bad plan for the constituents of some men,
hers of the House to call their representatives to
account for voting against so wise ana needlui pro
vision for the protection of the Treasury as was that
offered by Mr. Updegratf and rejected by the House
sO-day.
When the item to appropriate 81 100000 for the
Improvement of the Lower Mississippi River, IN
accordance with the plans of the MISSISSIPPI River
Commission" was reached, an animated discussion
took place upon points of order. and also upon an
amendment offered by Mr.. Robinson, Of MaSsachu-
,etts which was finally adopted. The plan OF the
Commission includes the meDdina of broken levees.
and that Mr. RObinsou's amendment Is designed TO
nrevent Mr. Einsten, of New-YOrk, offered an
amendment providing that no part OF tine money
appropriated shall be expended for improvements OF
local character in State which has repudlated
norton of its Indebtedness refused TO pay tue
Interest due upon its bonds. Mr. Reagan argued
against the admission of this amendment on the
ground that it was not germane, because repudla-
tou was a matter entirely within the control of
State, and the General Government had nothing to
do with it. Mr.. Carlisle. who was In the
chair. promptly oyerruled this point of order
md Sir. EinsteIn made an excellent
FIVE minutes' speech in favor of his amendment. lie
declared it was unjust to vote the money collected
from the taxpayers of the country at large to make
publc improvements for the benefit OF states whlch
had cheated their creditors and robbed widows ana
orphans of the money which bsongea TO 's nssd Ve Mr
E,nstein TO name auy State which had repudiated
it, debts. The amendment was OF cSnrSG r3eHtc" of
mSsiiifbRIS'*'Cs lnSsiiibIe Committee on Commerce and
oeso,Sr toeE oceasSn 70 rebuke Mr. Updega of Iowa.
MIR Van Vourhis OF New-York, and others. who. ne
said continued to pile M op1n ,S opno T'
sition was offered TO the bill to-day ana az me
amendments proposed were plainly deSeneu 10 %
therefore to be ll-tmed aud iDatured, to say the
least. r,od ,ba oo,+ost oooinst the
hill Win sreat skill and energy and 1t BECAME appa-
rent toward the close Of the afternoon that the op-
position gaining strength lne ,e mess
nra to a vote tonight If possible, and at nall past
Eve o'clock moved recess for two @ hours %nlcn sa
motion was carried. The legislative day OF lues-
an has not vet ended and the friends of the bill do
not mean that it shall terminate until the Dill ID I'M
ished. - NJ, 1,aooe
xbo has stub5ornly fought the vcions features or
the River and Harbor bill from the beginning an
noupced that having accomplished his purpose Oh
calling the attention of the country to the utter
lack OF lust principle manifesed III the preparation
Of fbe hill he would discontinue his opposition MI
lndsmaff has made gallant f2nt and Is entitled TO
The thanks of the entire country. In offering an
important amendment soon after Mr. UpdegTIan an-
pOnnccd his purpose. Mr. Robeson, or Ne"-JetseV,
pa,d an elooueut tribute to that gentleman 1Or tne
great public service which lie has performed. :,
MIR Robeson's amendment was 10 restrict cxpeEu-
tnTes Of money under bill to streams which. when
the improvements are completed, shall possess SUN
cent depth and to xsn of
of at least twenty TONS This amendment was de-
fcated by an overwhelming majority. i'll
At II O'clock the Indications are tnat the bl!i VIII
mass the Committee of the Whole tonight without
apy material amendmeit , .,:,.
amendment was aGoptedh ha Rod veS
and the report of plan for the permanent improve
ncnt of that river the expenses 70 DC met py une5-
pended appropriations. At 1o:4O O'Clock Mr. Up
SeSrsff cye M active opposition to the BILL saying
that he had done his duty In calling attentiou 70 ne
character Of many Of the streams sn
esit amount OF money for the operating and repair
of the Des MOnes Rapids Canal the SAINT NARY
Falls Canal and the Louisville and Portiann Caua
and Authorizing the Secretary Of War TO draw hlt
warrant on the Treasury for the necessary SUMS
An amendment adopted for tne aScer nn
whether or not the Gulf of Mexico has been hileo
MP to O distance of five miles. from deposits from I1e
Miss issppi River since tue construction Ok the Eaus
tetties. a., .Co,
shorty after midnight. Mr.. CongeI
offered an amendment to appropriate
fsw thousand dollars for rivers in ms
district. The rejection of this amendment angereo
Congtr, and he soon afterward made the polnt tnal
20 Quorum was present. AT this hour cali Of e t6S
House is IN progress. Many members are IN bad
bumor. and the prospects Of securing quorum are
e0t very good.