Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-04-22
WASHINGTON.
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE,

Blair, from the committee on educae
ton and labor, reported back the
bill to aid in the establishment and
temporary support OF common
schoo.s. The committee make no
recommendation as to superabund-
ance of expenditure and other de>
tails of the bill; but their report
states that a majority of the CONS
mittee favor recommending an ap>
preparation from the treasury to aid
in the support of common schools,
the same to be distributed to the
several States and Territories for a
limited period of time, and upon the
basis of illiteracy. Placed on the
calendar.
The discussion of the regular
order of the Mississippi improvement
bill was resumed and Senator Me-
Pherson advocated an increase of the
appropriation to sl5,O00,000.
Senator Harrison replied to the
arguments in the discussion in be-
half of the use of part of the proe
posed appropriation for the reclaim>
ing of lands by means of
levees. He regarded the guess
ton put by Senator Garland
whether an appropriation for this
purpose was not as defensible on
constitutional ground as was the vo-
ting of relief for the sufferers by the
late overflow as, hardly fair one.
In the latter case the urgency was
such that numbers voted without
stopping to consider the subject in
question, but in neither instance, in
the opinion of the Speaker, was there
any constitutional warrant for the
expenditures on the said claims, aud
that levees should be maintained by
the government because the river
commission had recommended their
construction. It was not supported
| by facts as to the extent of authority
vested in that body. It was simply
to survey the stream aud report up
on the cost of q levee system, and
| that the members were not
agreed upon the system as
information they had required con-
cerning it did not warrant the con-
clusiou upon it's value. He denied
being actuated by any personal or
sectional consideration in his posi-
ton, and proceeded further to refute
the claims upon which all appropria>
tons for land valuations Was based.
NJ, Uoat ,,oa1pto;pad +bot - xx,oe 4bo
constitutional duty of the govern
ment to project the riparion owners
on the Mississippi from the effects of
overfows, on the ground that the
government Icing owners of the
stream was obligated to see that it's
| property did not injure the property
| Of others.
Senator Harrison asked whether
upon this principle the government
would not be compelled to levee the
Ohio and other navigable streams
liable to overflow
Senator Vest replied that the work
belonged to the States individually,
when they had resources for its per
Torrance, but that when by reason
of the immensity of the area the de-
wasted States could not do the
work, the constitutional require
ment upon Congress to pro-
vide for the general welfare
whether that welfare consists in the
preservation of one or more streams
became applicable. He asserted
it to be the duty of the Government
not only upon constitutional grounds
but upon every consideration oil
st .tesmanship and patriotism no
only to levee the Mississippi but tx
to keep the levees in repair for the
benefit of the commerce of the nation
Senator Morgan favored restric'
ton of the bill applying none.
solely in deepening the channel 0
the river and against its use for th'
protection of private property.
Senator Kellogg made an inefectua
effort to secure Senator Merrimon'
consent to an agreement for vote Oh
bill on Monday. Senator Pendetol
obiecting she bill was laid over OF
orders as unfinished business. Pend
, ing the consideration of bill to ex
tend patents, a personal controversy
brief but animated, occurred betwee.
Presideno pro. TEN. Davis and Sena
tor Hoar. The latter arose to re
, spond to an enquiry addressed Sena
tor Platt, who was occupying tn
floor, when the Chair Davis inter
rupted him with ''the Senator fro1
Massachusetts is not in order"
Senator Hoar quickly retorted, 6
!, do not think it is the junction of th
: Chair to interpose such an objectio
if the Senator who has the foo
= does not see fit to do it"
The Chair asserted that it was hi
funtion to maintain order and tha
in his efforts to administer the rule
he was treating all members alike.
\ Senator Platt expressed his willing
y ness to yield to Senator Hoar, br
!. the Chair ruled that the former hav
ing taken his seat had forfeited h
> right to the floor and that Senate
Hoar could not proceed except b
unanimous consent.
After a few words as to the powt
il to call the Senator to ords
Senator Hoar moved to amend til
o bill by striking out the last wore
J and being entitled to speak, on me
d ton, said that if in his impatience,
had made any disrespe ctful utterant
to the Chair, he regretted it.
The usual decorium of the Senat
was restored, and the discussion pr
r. ceeded.
= The pending resolution of Senat'
: Vance, for the appointment by Il
- President of a committee of thr
Fl Senators, to investigate the charg
II and complainst the revenue officla