The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-02-24
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.

In the senate: The relief of the
overlooked district of the Mississippi
was discussed.
George added that the overfows in
that section of Mississippi generally
continued from four to six weeks, and
pending the subsistence of the water
there is total suspension of labor.
He had confined his remarks to the
restitution in Mississippi contiguous to
the districts on the western banks of
the river. In Arkansas they We're also
suffering.
Garland spoke of the widespread
destruction in Arkansas by the over
flow as absolutely appalling and I'M
precedented. 1t had swept away the
homes, the groceries, the stock of the
farmers. He urged prompt action in
extending relief Though he was not
prepared to say what form the measure
for relief should take.
Hampton said that part of the val
ley under water was most productive
one and the finest cotton growing coun-
try in Mississippi. At that point the
water extended from the Yazoo Hills
on one side and Arkansas Bluffs on
the other, and if the river was as high
as the dispatches represented, there
would hardly be any within a strip of
one hundred and fifty miles in width
above the overflow. The destruction,
not only of stock, but of incoming
crops, would be SO great in his opinion
that he had no hesitation in saying that
the dispatch from the governor of Mis-
sissippi gave but a faint idea of the
restitution and starvation that would
follow.
Allison, of Iowa, in view of the desi-
rableness ofprompt action, moved ref
erence of the report to the military COM
mittee, who could consult with the Sec
rotary of war upon the provision for is
suing and transporting of rations to the
points at which they are most needed.
If the sufferers had to be relieved by the
United States government, the relief
could be extended through the secreta-
ry of war, and he thought it would be
found that this relief was demanded,
not only as to the Mississippi valley,
but to those of several of its tributaries.
The suggestion of Allison being ac-
ceptable, it was agreed to, and refer
ence to the militarycommittee ordered.
The Grant retiring bill was passed
by vote of II to IS. The democrats
who voted with the republicans in ia
vor of the bill we're: Brown, of Cali
fornla; Davis, of ILL.,; Jones, of Flori-
da, and Ransom.
Logan reported back from the mill
tary committee the joint resolution in
troduced early in the day by George,
to provide relief on account of the
overfows of the Mississippi, with an
amendment in the nature of substi-
tute. The joint resolution was at once
taken up and the substitute adopted,
and the same passed without debate.
1t appropriates $Ioo,ooo to be paid by
the secretary of war in the purchase
and distribution of subsistence stores
for the relief of destitute persons in the
district overlooked by the Mississippi
and its tributaries, and authorizes the
secretary to cooperate with the au-
thorltles of the several states, of which
the districts are part, in making the
distributions of the same as reported
in the measure; provided this relief is
for the laboring classes. But upon
suggestion of Hoar and Sherman
change was made, as stated, when the
senate went into executive session and
adjourned.
In the house the postoffice appro-
priation bill was discussed in the COM
mittee of the whole.
The 100000 relief fund resolution
for the Mississippi sufferers was passed
Mrs. Myra Clarke CARES is to have
land scrip in lieu of $1,000 acres of
land decided in her favor in Louisiana.
The house committee agreed to re-
commend $4,000, 900 to start a new
navy with. 49,.
Senator Ben Hill is lying very i'll at Phila-
deiphla as the result of another surgical OPP