New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-23
ROCHESTER,, N. Y, Oct. 10, 1882.


dressed to Mr. George Bliss
ROCHESTER,. ". Y, Oct. 10, 1882.
The Hon. GEORGE BLISS.
DEAR SIR: notice that the New-York papers
give you IA authority for the statement that have
no record on the River anu Harbor bill. l take the
liberty, therefore, rs you to have interested
yourself In the matter. to point to you just what
my record s
Tho River and Harbor bin was reported 10 the House
py tno committee on Commerce. the 9th OF June.
IL passed the House. the first instance on the 18th
Of June, yeas l20, nays ~. was present at that
time aud did not vote because was paired with the
Hon Lewis Beach, who was absent. I should have
voted against 1.-the bill If Mr. Beach had been present
The pair was announced and Is in The Record. You
Will hnd the vote and the announcement OF the pair
on page 1OG5 Of Vol - OF Tho Congressional Record
The bill went to the Senate and was amended. The
amendments. most of them. disagreed to by tho
House. ana the bill went into the hands Of Conference
COMMITTEE. The bill came mp for final passage IN tho
House on the report of the Conference Committee the
21th OF July and the motion agree the report
conference Committee was lost by vote Of yeas %
nays 81, on that day You will find my vote recorded in
the negative on page 6.IS4 OF the Record This
vote killed the River and Harbor BILL it not been
reconadered on the next day. July 90, motion was
made to reconsider that vote and that motion car
red yeas H. nays T. Ny Is recorded In the neg
alive The question then came up on agreeing 70 the
report OF the Committee OF Conference and that was car
red by vote Of yeas 10 nays 81. Ny vote was re-
corded IN the negative. This the final action OF the
House onhe River ana IlarbOr bill prior to the veto.
ION VIII Ind the two aforementioned votes on pages
too ana O52G of the same RecOrd Thus yOu viii
am three times recorded yen aud nay votes against
the bill.
On the 9th Of July in my letter TO the Committee on
commerce answering communication from That COM
mlttee said: You have constructed the Wlckedest
RIVER and Ilarbor bin ever presented to The House Of
krprescbiauyes.' That letter Is record On that
dn{ called upon the President. in company with my
colleague the Hon Cyrus d. Prescott, and urged him
70 veto the River and HarbOr bill stated 70 the Prcsi
Gent That lay district provided for IN the bill but
that my constituents would prefer to lose the apprOpra
ton rather than have the bill become law ON the
3Oth OF Jny, left for Rochester 20 I'LL important
professional engagement OF long standing. While at
Rochester and on the 81 OF August, the veto message
came in heard OF IL too late 10 take that evening
train Tor Washington. The Dbl wG5 rushed through the
House over the Presidents veto next Jay. | had pre-
pared for such contingency by pairing with the Hon.
William Aldrich, OF Illinois, WHO was present IN the
House so that my vote not lost. Nj AdIich
would have voted yea and nay the passage OF the
bill over the veto. In conclusion. let say that /
have had the honor for River ami Harb0r
bn Congress- but have voted against every such bill III
the two Congresses Of which have been member. |
want TO commend TO yOu the advice or that diStlp-
gished statesman and philosopher Colonel Dayy Crock
ett which j. ~ | remember u: Never gen6Uuce the
record OF your friends unless YOU knoE what you are
talking about. Respectfully and Cordially yours,
JOHN Vas YOORHIs. >