Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-16


The Terrible RaVages of the
FlOOds-StrOng Pleas for Govern
ment aid for LeVees-AmerIcan
"SusPeets' Ia IreIand-InternaI
Revenue ReductIOns-JOhn Sher-
man WhIGewashed. - BIaGchfOrd
Accepts Various Topics of In
terest.
WASHINGTON, March 15-The condition
Of Representative Black is still of a charac
ter that causes the greatest fears among his
friends. He simply lives from day to day.
Tonight he is resting somewhat easier, but
all hopes of his final recovery are aban-
doned.
The paralysis of the left side has ex-
tended to the right side, and the latter is
also paralyzsd. In short, the patient is a
paralytic all over. II he should recover from
his present illness he would remain an in
valid during his whole life.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, on motion of Mr.. Jonas, a
resolution was adopted calling for informa-
tion about the proposed bridge of the New
Orleans and Northwestern Railway Company
across Lake Ponchartrain from Point Aux
Herbes, La, and whether it interferes with
navigation. etc.
Mr.. Hampton reported, from the Military
Committee, bill to empower the Secretary
of War to sudit the claim of the State Of
South Carolina for rent alleged to be due
for occupation Of the Citadel Academy in
Charleston. Placed on the calender.
Mr.. Hoar, from the Committee on Claims,
reported adversely the bill for the relief of
the Mechanics and Traders Bank of New
Orleans. Indefinitely postponed.
Mr.. Malone introduced a concurrent
resolution, which was read first time, as
follows: "That in the event of any reduc-
tton in the tax on tobacco manufactured in
the United States, it is hereby declared that
a rebate equal to such reduction shall be
granted on all stamped or tax-paid tobacco
manufactured in the United States after the
adoption of this resolution, and between
such date and time when any law making
such reduction shall go into effect, then re-
naming in the hands of licensed dealers or
other than manufacturer"
A bill was introduced by Mr. Brown ap-
propriating So 600 for the improvement Of
the hsrbOr of Brunswick, Ga.
At 1;30 the tariff commission bill, the un-
finished business, came up and was infor-
mally laid aside to allow Mr.. Garland to
speak upon the importance of the mainten-
snce of an efficient levee system on the
Mississippi, the bill on the subject recently
introduced by him being taken up tempo
rarily.
Mr. Garland argued from decisions to
make clear the constitutional power OF Con-
gress over the question, and quoted from
Re ports OF the Mississippi River Commission
TO show the value of the levee system to the
interests of inland commerce, navigation
and the postal service, over which
the jurisdiction of Congress extends. Aside
from inherent advantages of a uniform
system established by the General Govern
ment, the States bordering on the river
were unable separately to provide for the
levees The belief was that the loss in
1jcted by the present overflow largely out
stripped the Total Of the appropriation now
asked for, and would amount to at least
thirty million dollars. 1t was possible
that a crop of cotton might be
made on the devastated lands,
II the food soon retired, but the sweeping
away of stock, seed and farming imple
ments would greatly retsrd resumption of
farm labor. The total of sums voted by
the government for the relief of sufferers
with the direct ana approximate losses
from flood would, he thought, exceed the
whole amount fixed by the bill. He con
cluded by expressing his appreciation of
the generosity of Congress in voting sup
plies to the sufferers.
Mr.. Jonas. of Louisiana, said the people
Of the overfowed sections had for years
been endeavOring to protect themselves
from the frequent recurrence Of such de-
vastating floods as the one OF this year.
National and State aid had at different times
been solicited without tangible result. The
Mississippi river commission had recon-
81 for
the levee improvements. Upon the extent
of the present inundation, Mr.. Jonas said
that nearly all Of the alluvial lands from the
mouth of the Ohio to the mouth of the
Mississippi were now under water or threat
ened with overflow. These include large
portions of the States of Arkansas, Missis-
sippi and Louisiana, and part of Tennessee,
Missouri and Illinois. Levees have been
swept away like cobwebs, the growing crops
DESTROYED and replanting rendered impossi-
BILE. The rough calculations he had made
showed that the lands in Mississippi, Ar
kansas and Louisiana now under water, or
in daily danger of being submerged, pro-
duced in 1880 a total of $50 063 bales of cot
ton, the value Of which, at the ordinary
market rate of S45 per bale, was $33, 752, S35
The area in Louisiana which will be sub
merged, If the levees give way, produced in
1881 crops amounting in value to over $22,-
OOO, 900 10 sugar, over s., ,000, 900 In molasses,
and over s., ,000, 900 in rice. The overflow
now threatened the total destruction OF these
values. The possibility of raising a cotton
crop on the inundated lands would depend
upon whether the sufferers found bankers
and merchants willing to give them credit
after the loss of all their personal property
and the devastation of their plantations.
As to the sugar crop, the water would cause
its total destruction throughout the inun-
dated region, as the effect of the water on
the seed is such as to destroy not only the
growing crop, but the possibility OF a crop
for the next two or three years, until 1t can
be thoroughly replanted. The question now
is whether the enormous losses are to be
allowed to continue year after year.
Mr.. Jonas contended that the cost of such
a levee system as would protect the whole
alluvial country had been exaggerated, aud
read an estimate of an engineer. fixing the
cost for the Mississippi river at $1l 500, 900.
He thought that Congress could safely as
sume that $l5, zoo, 900 would be a liberal es-
innate for perfect system.
In reply to the remarks from Mr.. TEL
Ter, Mr.. Garland explained that the only
levees contemplated by the bill were those
of the Mississippi river, and that his argu-
ment had been predicated upon the hypothe-
sis that, if the General Government will take
care of the levees on that great national
highway, the States will provide for those
upon its tributaries.
SMr Vest asked to say few words before
the bill was disposed of. He thought the
time had come to determine whether that
great river is to be made terror and curse
to this country rather than highway for its
commerce. After reading from reports to
show the enormous value OF the cereals
produced In the region subject to destruc-
ton bY OVeTfOws, he asserted that 1t would
be an economical expenditure for the gov
eminent to spend to-day $25,OOO, 600 upon
the Mississippi river Improvements. The
passage OF the pending measure, he believed,
was dictated by every consideration Of hu-
manity and justice.
After long speech, In which he earnestly
pressed the claims of the lower Mississippi
valley to the consideration of Congress, Mr.
Garland said that II the committee in charge
of the bill did not give it early considera-
ton, he would resort to some parliamentary
iackscrews to get it back. On his motion
the bill was sent to the Committee on Mis-
sissippi River and its Tributaries.
The consideration of the post office appro-
priation bill was resumed. The peuding
amendment to make the Holman provision,
relating to sub-contracts, applicable only to
contracts hereafter made, was agreed to
yeas 80; nays II
An increase in the item for the compensa-
tion of post Office clerks of $l5O, 900 pre-
vailed.
The next amendment reported by the
Senate was an Item on the sub
letting of contracts, and declares that
a carrier employed by a contractor or sub
contractor who shall file his agreement and
evidence that he has done the work shall
have lien on the money of his employer
for his pay, aud II the contractor or sub
contractor shall fail to paw the carrier within