Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-16

XLVIITH CONGRESS.
Gariand's Bill for the Maintenance Of
an Efficient Leyee System Consid-
cred in the Senate.
Mr.. Money Reprimanded by Speaker
Keifer, Who is in Turn Repri-
manded by the House.

WASHINGTON, March I5.-Senate.-Sena-
tor Brown, from the Railroad Committee, re-
| ported, with amendments, the bill granting
| right OF way for a railroad and telegraph
| line through the lands of the Choctaw and
| Chickasaw Indians to the St. Louis and San
Francisco Railway Company. Restored to
| its former place on the calendar.
Senator Edmunds obtained indefinite
leave Of absence on account of illness in his
! family.
| Senator Malone introduced concurrent
| resolution, which was read the first time, as
| follows: That in the event OF any reduction
| in the tax on tobacco M anu featured in the
| United States a rebate equal to such reduc-
| ton shall be granted on all stamped or tax
| paid tobacco manufactured in the United
States after the adoption Of this resolution,
and between such date and the time when
any law making such reduction shall go into
| effect then remaining in the hands of
| licensed dealers or others than manutactu-
| rers.
The bill passed appropriating $4,000 to-
ward the monumental column TO commemo-
rate the battle OF Monmouth.
Senator Garland then spoke on The impor-
lance of the maintenance OF an efficient
levee system on the Mississippi river, the bill
on the subject recently introduced by him
being up temporarily. The bill directs that
the Mississippi river commission cause TO be
constructed or repaired and kept in order
such levees along the banks OF the Missis-
sippi as they shall deem to be Of the greatest
importance TO the preservation OF the river
channel and the prevention OF devastation
from breaks and overfiows, and to facilitate
commerce, trade and postal service, under
the rules OF the war department. An APP
preparation of S15,O00,000 is made for this
purpose. Any expenditure or liability be-
yond this cum is prohibited, and no money
is to be paid for levee work until the same is
approved by the secretary OF war. Senator
CARL nd's belief was that the loss inflicted
by the present overflow largely outstripped
the total of the appropriation now asked for,
and would amount TO at least S30,000,O0O.
Senator Jonas La. said the rough calcu-
lation he had made showed that the lands in
Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana now
under water or in daily danger Of being
submerged, produced in 1880 total of $780,
063 bales of cotton, the value OF which at the
ordinary market rate, S45 bale, was $685.
1872, S35. The area in Louisiana which will
be submerged if the levees give way pro-
duced in 1881 crops amounting in value to
over 81, 100000 in sugar, over S0OO0,OOO IN
molasses, and over 100000 in rice. The
overflow now threatened the total destruc-
ton of these values. Inc possibility OF
raising a cotton crop on the Inundated lands
would depend upon whether the sufferers
them credit after the loss of all their personal
property and the devastation OF their plan
tations. As to the sugar crop, the water
would cause its total destruction throughout
the inundated region, as the effect Of water
upon seed is such as to destroy not only the
growing crop, but the possibility Of the crop
for the next two or three years, until it can
be thoroughly replanted.
Senator Garland explained that the only
levees contemplated by the bill were those
Of the Mississippi river. If the general gov
eminent will take care Of the leyees on that
great national highway, the States will pro-
vide for those upon the Mississippi's tribu-
taries
Senator Vest asked to say few words
before the bill was disposed OF, because, he
added, he regarded reference of the bill as
a final disposition of it, and that it would
never come back. He thought the time had
come to determine whether the great Missis-
sippi river is TO be terror and curse to
the country rather than a highway for its
commerce. He asserted that it would be an
economical expenditure for the government
to spend to-day $3.50, 0O0, 900 upon Mississippi
river improvements.
Senator Garland said if the committee in
charge of the bill did not give it early con-
sideration he would resort to some parlia-
mentary jackscrews to get it back. The bill
was sent to the Committee on the Mississippi
River and Tributaries.
The consideration of the postofice sppro-
priation bill was then resumed, the pending
amendment to make provision relating to
sub contracts applicable only to contracts
hereafter was agreed to; yeas 30, nays u.
The increase in the item for compensation
of postofice clerks of $150,000 prevailed.
The next amendment reported by the
Senate was in the item on subletting con-
tracts, and it declares the carrier employed
by the contractor or sub-eontractor who shall
file his agreement and evidence that he has
done the work shall have lien on the money
of his employer for his pay, and if the con-
tractor or sub-contractor shall fail TO pay the
carrier within two months of the end of the
quarter the department shall pay the debt
and charge it to the contractor. When
person or firm, holding several contracts, fails
to perform the service, or any one OF them,
paw for the others shall be withheld until,
the service has been restored and all penal
ties satisfied. The amendment gave rise to
protracted discussion upon the possible diff
culties arising under it in the pOstofiice
department.
Senators Dawes and Hawley became in
volved in a personal controversy upon what
the latter construed to be unwarrsnted criti--
cism on the part OF Senator Dawes in attrib-
uting his efforts TO show the unreasonable
ness Of the amendment in practical operation
TO special anxiety for the interests of mail
contractors.
After further remarks, modification OF
the amendment by the transposition OF sew
eral words was made, and as modified was
adopted.
Without further progress the bill was laid
over as unfinished business for to morrow,
and the tariff commission bill again taken
up as the regui8r order.
Senator Aliisen submitted the report OF
the committee on appropriations, with the
testimony taken in what is known "a the
treasury cont rngent fund investigation. The
report and testimony was tabled Temporal
rily and ordered printed.
The Senate went into executive session aud
adjourned