Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-07-20

siderable opposition to the river and
barbor bill. This is MOI to be wondered
at The House Commerce Committee
reported a bill which was certainly sufi-
GENTLY liberal to satisfy the demands Of
the most extravagant, it making the
largest appropriation. for river and
harbor improvements ever known.
Yet 10 this committee bill the
House itself added largely. Then when
the bill went to the Senate, the Commerce
Committee of that bOdy-evidently afraid
that the House would get up reputa-
ton for liberality in giving away the
peoples money which would overshadow
the Senate-added at least two million
dollars more, and after all this the Senate
tself still further increased the appropria-
ton. until now the bill provides for ex-
pending upon the various streams ana
harbors of the country, about $50, OCO'-
900.
If the giving away of so much OF the
money in the Treasury would accomplish
anv real good, there could be raised no
sensible objection thereto, for wnen a
river or a harbor. which is essential,
or even an aid, to the promotion of COM
MERGE. is improved, it is of manifest
advantage to the entire country, and the
people, directly or indirectly, receive
good interest on their money. But
when every little stream which is not
and cannot possibly be made factor in
advancing American commerce, puts in
a claim for Improvement" and that
claim is recognized, then river and har-
Dor appropriations become a farce, and
the people are right in raising objections
to being taxed to meet such burden OF
unnecessary and wasteful expense.
The truth of the whole matter is that
the demand for the so-called improve
ment of the rivers of the country is
made. in a large mai ority of cases, solely
as an excuse for robbing the Treasury.
The rule of conduct of modern
VI. C.'s-especially of the Republican
persuasiOn-seems to be to get all
the money possible from the public crib
for the purpose of advancing the per
sonal interests of themselves and favor
ties. No more convenient means of
doiug this has ever presented itself than
through the pretext that any mud streams
which may happen to run through the
territory of the district represented by
any Congressman need improvement.
This furnishes an opportunity for grab
at the Treasury, which makes a Repre-
sentative "solid" with his constituents,
and this is why the river and harbor ap-
preparations have grown larger year by
year, until at length the people are be-
ginning to rebel against what is clearly
an unjust and exorbitant demand upon
them.
The great trouble now is that on &C.
count of the inorainate reckless9ess of
Congress in voting huge appropriations
for the various creeks and rivers of the
country, which are worthless except as
an excuse for a raid on the Treasury,
popular dissatisfaction may grow so
great that Mr. Arthur will feel con-
strained to veto the entire measure. This
would be disastrous in the extreme, be
cause in that case such streams as the
Mississippi and such rivers and harbors
as our own, the improvement of which
are absolutely essential to the prosperity
of the country, would suffer. For this
reason we are glad to notice that the
House is making an effort to lOp off all
superfiuous items from the bill. The
unusual appropriation this year, due to
the acknowledged necessity for the i'm
provement of the Mississippi, was taken
advantage of by reckless politicians to load
the bill down with all sorts of items for
their personal advantage, and in this way
the amount to be appropriated was raised
from about Sc, 600, 900 to SIS, 600, 900 (the
usual appropriation to SIC, 900, 900, and to
this 81, 900, 900 more was arbitrarily add
ed. Congress has thus made a reputation
for itself for extravaganza which, though
in keeping with Republican prestige, has
made the people FESTIVE. all appropria-
tions for dubious and uncertain improve
ments should be stricken out of the bill,
therefore, so that all danger of the inter
position of the Executive veto may be
avoided.