National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-05-29
Dibble and the Mississippi River I'm.
provcments.

Dibble and the Mississippi River I'm.
provcments.
On the 18th Of April the President gave
impetus to the efforts in Congress for the
Improvement of the Mississippi River
and the protection of its valley by spe.
cial message, the earnestness and direc-
ness of which left no room for doubt of
his purpose to exercise all the influence
he legitimately could upon that moment
nus question.
The Senate responded by the passage
of n bill, upon which was engrafted Il
proviso to the effect that none of the
money appropriated should be expended
in the repairing of levees. and this pro-
viso was in a measure neutralized by Il
counter proviso to the effect that such an
expenditure mightneverlheless be made.
IF necessary to the improvement Of the
channel.
The Senate bill is now on the Speakers
table of the House Of Representatives,,
awaiting the resumption of the public
business by that disturbed body. When
il shall come up for consideration il is to
be- hoped that ii will be shorn of this
meaningless, or double. meaning proviso.
From the formation of the Constitution
there have been many similar instances
where, by species of skilful rhetorical
legerdemain, great objects have been de-
Ieated or paralyzed by di!ution. equivo'
ration. and indirection.
The Mississippi River receives the
water fall Of twenty-eight States and
Territories, and has for its tributaries
forty-two navigable rivers. which furnish
water transportation to twenty-five States
and Territories. Its waters have been
kept under some restraint between its
banks by nearly two. thousand miles of
levees, constructed by the people of
the region menaced by them at an
Expense of forty millions of dollars.
OF these taco thousand miles of levees, ex-
tending from Cairo, H., to the Gulf of
Mexico, only about one hundred miles
needs rebuilding at an expense of about
three millions of dollars. An appropria-
tion for this purpose is sought.
Aid is not asked for the purpose OF
giving value TO lands now overhowed
There is no claim that the reclamation ol
private lands is any part of the duty oi
The Federal Government. Nor is il
claimed that Congress has any power
20 appropriate money TO thus bene
fit private interests. The arguments
against repairing the levees have beer
based upon q misunderstanding. AS
well might an invading army march
unresisted through our territory on the
ground that the public Treasury could not
be drawn upon to protect private prop
erty from its ravages as for the destruc.
tive power Of the Mississippi River to 60
unchecked by national intervention, be.
cause TO stay its work Of general ruin
would incidentally protect some acres OF
farm land from overflow.
The Mississippi River Commission was
created three years ago, by act of Congress
ito take into consideration and mature
such plan or plans and estimates as will
correct permanently, locate and deeper
Ihe channel, and protect the banks of tn,
Mississippi River, improve and give safatt'
and ease to the navigation thercof n,
vent destructive foods, p,omote an,
facilitate commerce, tr9dg, and the posta
service" These Objects embrace protec
tion from destructive foods as well as Tn
improvement 81 navigation. If manu-
factuTes labor interests may be los
tered-py revenue system, If
sufe-saving service may be supporte,
on our coasts, and quarantine regulation
be maintained for the protection o
health by direct appropriations by Con
Eress, what room is left for argumen
against protecting from danger by inur
dation the two millions Of our peopl
who dwell within the forty EIGHT thor
sand miles now subjected TO devas
Eating floods In the lower Missii
Eippi Shall they not share Ia "th
common defense" and "the generl
welfare" to promote and provide f
which the Union was established and hl
been preserved2 Shall their lives b
forfeit 10 As hostile river which the
have not Gle righ to control? Shall IN
mighty waters pass through breaks in III
leyees in Arkansas and drown the peopl
of Louisiana who cannot stir in thei
own defense? Is our boasted Nalio
with big N lacking in authority to pre-
sect life, health, cities, towns, railroad