New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-16
THE RIVER AND HARBOR BILL.
my TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l

WASHINGTON, June 15.-The House devoted
six hours to-day general debate on the River and
Harbor bill. Chairman Page OF the Commerce Commit
tee up the first half hour in explaining that the
bill is not so bad it might be- Every member OF the
House. he said had invited to appear before the
committee and argue the case fer his district
and about three-fourths OF them had ae-
cepted the inyta;ion-thc others presumably
being members not personally interested in the diy-
sion of the Pork" expression current whenever the
River and Harbor bill is discussed Mr. Page said that
not gle member had complained that the committee
had dealt too literally with his district In the light OF
this statement Mr. Page wa, pretty safe in demanding
immediately aferward that the bill shall pass without
any amendment hatever.
Mr. Horr Of Michigan, who Is also member OF the
Commerce Committee spoke nearly Two hours IN de-
fence OF the bill and listened 10 with close aten-
ton. This speech a very adrot one, bearing
evidence of careful preparation, and he had very
sympathetc audience Referring to the advice and 5uS
cesons received by the committee from members OF
tile House, MI Horr remarked that not one OF these
missionary had aed to preface his argument
with the statement We have an oyeriiowinS treasury
fact which Mr.. Horr admitted hal not been ost slSnt
Of by the committee in the preparation OF the bill Mr.
Horr said the general impression that this ot is you
arrangement Il entirely
foIee ana ne asserted that not single Item
had been inserted for the sake OF Catching
votes" such question was never mootel
cxpaiued that the committee might have brought in
worse bill "If we had appropriated all You asked
for said he looking his fellow members sluarey in the
face this bill would call for al least forty millions in
stead OF seventeen" order 20 show somethngo OF the
general distribution Of the appropriations Mr. Horr sald
that FOR the improvement or the rivers and haroors OF
the Atlantic Coast S3,783,000 recommended; Tor
the streams in the Mississippi Valley and their triOua-
ros a. 7O 600 for the harDOrs and rivers Of the Gulf
Coast excepting the Mississippi River Sl43@ooo; for
tbe great lakes and their rivers, S2l5l,DOO and Tor
the harbors and rivers OF the Pacific Coast S1025OO
Mr. Uorr said he had dev oted great deal of thought
and study to the Mississippi River problem, and he en-
tered into a long discussion Of the hydrosatlcs of That
great artery commerce, ending in the conclusion tha
fine gp I'm the lCyces must be closed iii order 10 Improve
its navigation. ,. a.. ,rt t,.
8 S Cox made n vigorous speech against the BILL but
his audience was unsympathetc one. In VAN ne
tre1 10 fan the fame of JecrsOnian Democracy N te
bosoms OF his party associates Iney showed no signs
Of thnsiasm even hen he quoted passages from
the letter which he wrote to the Jefferson OuO OF New
ark n j. Even the Southern representatives aypeaieI
10 have lost sight OF the dangers or JaLatlOh III
their contemplation OF fat appropriations IOr tue rivers
and creeks OF their respective districts MT COAs eA
cellent speech fell perfectly 1at -
Mr. BfOwne. OF Indiana, also made good speech
against the bill declaring that he could not vote for
| measure which, while IL appropriated sixteen mIll9ns
for improvements which needed also proposed 10
squanucr mlulOp anu, h"tl "n'iS 49,
| il ia not needed and VIII do no good
| Messrs McIane aud Reagan and Townsend defended
the bill and General Henderson. OF Illinois, SPOKE III IA
vor of an appropriation build Hennepm Canal Inc
friends Of the bill expect that it wl pass the house oe
fore lie hour OF adjournment next Saturday.