The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-04-27
XLVIIth CONGRESS.
(FIRsT SESSION.
SENATE

SENATE
The bill providing for the execution of tha
plan of improvement Of the Mississippi River
suggested by the Mississippi River Commission,
was discussed. The bill provides that the work
is to be carried on by the Secretary of War
upon the plans of the Mississippi River Com
mission. and appropriates $4,000, ,0Oe for the
Mississippi and $1,000, 600 for the Missouri
River. 1t prohibits the use of any portion of
the money In the construction or repair Of
levees.
An amendment proposed by Mr.. Garland in
creases the appropriation to $I5. 600, 900 ($13,-
GOO, 600 to the Mississippi and 90, 000, 900 to the
Missouri River) to be expended in the construc.
ton. completion, repairing and preservation of
such works as, in the judgment of the Com
mission. viii best locate and deepen river cham
nels and protect banks, improve and give safety
and ease to navigation, prevent destructive
floods, facilitate trade and postal service. The
bill went over without action. ~ brs-
Mr.. Harrison CRep.), of Indiana, addressed
the Senate on the Mississippi River Improve
ment bill. He opposed government aid for
levees. He made q broad distinction between
improving the river and building levees. One
related solely to the navigation Of the stream,
and the other was protection for private
property. He showed that tax Of less than
one per cent. on the value Of the lands bene-
| flied by the levees which were most valuable in
the South would build the needed levees. He
| brought out the fact that Louisiana alone
! laid tax for levees, that this was very light,
| and by provision in the Constitution it was
| to be given up the moment the General Gov
| ernment extended any aid. He was very
| we're on the action Of the State government,
| and said it might well be doubted whether
| the citizens supposed State governments existed
| there for any other purpose than to act as dis
bursting officers OF government funds.
| The Chair submitted message from the Pres
| ident, transmitting a recommendation of the
| Mississippi River Commission for an appropri-
alton of 81 010, 600 for closing existing gaps in
| the levees, in addition to . like sum already
| estimated for. The President urges an early
| and favorable consideration and recommends
| tion and calls special attention to the impor-
| tance Of the subject. The agricultural appro-
| priation bill, appropriating total sum of
| $414 780 ($19, 100 less than the aggregate as
passed by the House) was passed. 81
The Mississippi River improvement bill was
discussed. The Senate insisted upon its amend
ment to the Postofice appropriation bill for a
ratable distribution of special mail facilities on
trunk lines, and Messrs. Plumb, Allison, and
Beck were reappointed conferees. @
SSenate bill was passed for the sale Of certain
property at Harrodsburg, Kentucky, belonging
| to the Soldiers Home. Senate bill was passed,
| with amendments, for the sale of the present
reservation of the Omaha Indians in Nebraska.
! The bill for the sale of the Kickapoo Indian
|
| porarily laid aside the regular order (the Mis-
sissipi River improvement bilD and Mr.. McDll
addressed the Senate upon the regulation OF
| Interstate Commerce. Messages were re-
ceived from the President relative to . conven-
| ton to define the boundary line between the
United States and Mexico The House bill ap-
| propriating $465, 900 to supply the deficiency
| for printing the current year was passed. The
| Mississippi River improvement bill coming up,
Mr.. George advocated that its passage as pro-
~JoI1 49,
tion to $15, 100000, and applying the money,
| in the discretion of the River Commission, to
rebuilding the levees. The bill went over with
| out action.
Mr.. Crapo, under instructions from the Com
mittee on Banking and Currency, moved to
supend the rules and adopt the resolutions
making the bill to enable national banking as
sociations to extend their corporate existence
the special order for the 25th of April. After
| debate the motion WAS defeated-yeas, 148,
nays, 89-not the necessary two-thrds. ia
Mr.. Page, of California, under instructions
| of the Committee on Education and Labor,
i moved to suspend the rules and put upon its
| passage the anti Chinese bill with the ten year
period suspension of immigration.
Mr.. Willis, Oem.) Of Kentucky, said he
would vote fort his bill. He wanted such steps to
of Chinese immigration, but he did not believe
/ the bill presented here would accomplish that
result. Still he would vote for it, and let the
responsibility for its failure rest wherever it
would. [Derisive laughter on the Republican
side.1 "He laughs BEST concluded Mr.. Willis,
"who laughs last" [Applause on the Demo-
cratic side.1 Mr.. Page then, instead of con-
suming his fifteen minutes in speech, demand
ed vote on the bill, and Mr.. Rice of Massa-
| chusetts, endeavored to obtain the floor, and
the greatest confusion prevailed. Mr.. Page
finally made short speech and was followed
by Kasson, Of Iowa, who denounced the whole
| measure as race persecution. After another
| scene of confusion incident upon another at
tempt of the opponents of the measure to be
heard, the rules were suspended and the bill
passed-yeas, 201; nays, 81. For an hour and
| u half the House was the scene Of the widest
| turmoil and confusion. -E4
/ The reports of the Auditing Committee
respecting the expenses occasiored by Presi-
| dent Garield's illness and funeral were pre-
sented and referred to Committee of the
| Whole. The consideration of the Utah con-
tested election case was resumed, and Cannon
| was heard in advocacy of his claim. The re-
| solution declaring Cannon entitled to his seat
WAS defeated by vote of IS yeas, 123 nays.
The majority resolution declaring that neither
! Cannon nor Campbell was entitled to the seat
was adopted without division.
The Senate bill appropiating 100000 for a
| public building at Frankfort, KY, was passed.
| The House went into Committee on the Tariff
| Commission Bill. Messrs. Turner (Kentucky),
| Townsend Qlls.) and Mckenzie (Kentucky)
opposed the bill, the last named in speech
| enjoyed alike by Republicans aad Democrats.
The Committee rose, and King, of Louisiana,
introduced bill appropriating Sc, 600, 900 for
| the Improvement and construction of the Mis-
sissippi levees. Referred. Under the call of
Committees ffty-eight reports were presented.
| The Naval Committee reported favorably a bill
for the sale of the Charleston Navy-yard.
The land will now bring $4,000, 900,
aud the Treasury be saved annually
$150,o0O now expended to keep the yard
in repair, besides 1920, 600 year interest upon
the value Of the property, q sum sufficient to
purchase steel ship of war every four years /;
and in addition Boston will gain by the sale
/ $1,000, 600 of taxable property. The Commit
tee on Agriculture made an adverse report upon
| the bill to authorize the Commissioner Of Agri-
culture to distribute seeds to destitute farmers
and planters of the flooded sections. The
Committee on Pensions, Bounty and Bach-pay
| made q report upon the bill granting pensions
for injuries received or disabilities Incurred in
the Life Saving Railroad Mail and Internal
| Revenue Service.