Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-25

for deepening he channeland improving nav
igation upon the plans OF the Mississippi
River Commission. He hoped the pending
amendments would be withdrawn, and
though the expenditure proposed by the bill
sufficient to meet the present emergency, as
all appropriations to bring the river under
control must necessarily be experimental.
After discussing the merits Of the different
plans of improvement, he referred TO the
changed conditions, by reason OF
which the people of the Mississippi
valley, who, before the war, maintained
q good system of levees, were not unable to
protect their property from overflow. He
mentioned in this connection the absence
Of that thoroughly trained and organized
labor system prevailing in the valley In for
mer years, the subsequent lessening OF the
area under cultivation, and the fact that
the people had not now the money to keep
up the levees.
Mr.. Bayard spoke of the difficulties In the
way Of intelligent legislation In expendi-
lures for the improvement of navigation.
These being in the nature of experiments,
he would follow in the line OF recommen-
datiOns made by the Mississippi River Com
mission, as he believed that board to be one
of experts, and responsible for the recon-
mendations contained in their reports to
Congress. They had expressed the belief
that the sum named in the bill was needed
for the benefit OF navigation of the river,
and he hoped it would be voted aud would
be judiciously expended. He would not
vote to exceed that sum at the present
session.
Mr.. Pendleton maintained the constitu-
tionsl power of Congress to do all things
enumerated IN it's instructions to the COM
mission, which were to permanently locate
aud deepen the river channel, to protect
the river banks and prevent destructive
floods, so as to improve and give safety to
navigation, aud to faciltste commerce
aud the postal service. He did not be-
lieve Congress had power to reclaim the
lands of private citizens, or to repair inju-
ries arising from natural causes, over which
1t had no control. He would be gratifed IL,
as a result of the exercise of power 10 aid
of the navigation of the river, the sufferers
| by the late overflow were restored to their
former prosperity.
Mr.. Call enunciated similar views, and
Mr.. COnger stated as the result of some in
vestigation of the official records that the
! total Of the appropria ions for the benefit
of the Mississippi and its tributaries largely
exceeded that which had been given by the
friends Of the bill, his own estimate max
| ing II larger by nearly six millions. The
| bill then went over without action.
| Pending an executive session, Mr..
Morgan, of Alabama, introduced
|
Of closer commercial relationship be-
tween the United States and South Ameri,
can countries. 1t proposes the holding of a
convention In Washington during the pres
ent year, with view to the construction of
a through line Of railroad along the eastern
slope of the great mountain chain from
Central America to Chilli, and the establish
ment of other facilities of communication.
After an executive session, the Senate
| adjourned.
THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
The entire time OF the executive session
OF the Senate to-day-forty five minutes
was devoted to the further consideration of
the nomination of J N Cooper to be Col
lector of Internal Revenue for the Sixth
district OF North Carolina. Owing to the
fact that the Republican Senators permitted
the passage Of Mr.. Vance's resolution on
Friday last calling for an investiga-
tiOn of the affairs of the Collector of
that district, the North Carolina Senators
to-day did not offer persistent opposition to
CoOper's confirmation. When the nomina-
! tion was previously considered, the msjori-
| ty voted in favor Of rejection, but motion
| to reconsider was admitted. To-day after
| debate the motion to reconsider the vote
| by which Cooper was rejected was adopted,
| and the previous action laid on the table
A vote was then taken upon the motion that
| the nomination be confirmed. This motion
was adopted by vote of twenty two yeas
| against eighteen nays, the Republicans
voting in the affirmative and the Democrats
| in the negative, with the exception of the
| North Carolina Senators and several others,
who refrained from voting.
NOMINATIONS.
The President o-dsy nominated John w.
Arnold to be Postmaster at Columbus, Ga,
and Geo W. Arrow to be Postmaster at
Gainesville, Fla.