Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-06-21
MbeeIias 8esistsS
IMPROVEMENT OF TIE MoNexaA.

HELA.
Over a month ago THE REGISTER
took occasion to pretty sharply caH the
attention Of Congress and the especial
attention of the West Virginia members
TO the omission In the River and Harbor
bill ofany appropriation to continue the
Improvement Of the Monongahela rive-.
We Showed the greatimpOrtanee Of con-
finuiny the work now so near compile
ton, and urged renewed effort to In
duce the Government to do It's duty in
the premises. On Monday morning
THE REGISTER had the pleasure Of
printing from our faithful and intelli-
gent Washington correspondent, an ae-
count ofthe triumph Of Judge HoGE in
this matter, and in an editorial ysster-
day The REGISTER gave him due
credit for the well directed efforts which
crowned him with success. Finding
before Us to-day, in the Congressional
Globe, the official report of the action
ofthe Committee of the Whole House,
we print it herewith:
Mr.. Hoge-I offer the amendment
which send to the desk.
The Clerk read as follows:
Insert after line 922 as follows: I'm
proving MOnOngahela river, West VIr-
ginia. Continuing Improvement, So
Geo.
Mr.. Hoge-Mr. Chairman, shall say
,,Nkhs.,rr in, 81 M the VQlnA nf hIl
improvement, because for six years it
has been Endorsed by the Committee on
Commerce, and as often made the sub
jeet of an appropriation by Congress. 1
think, sir, / am justified in assuming
that this omission is the result Of acct
dent or mistake, because an obligation
rests upon the governments contract
which cannot be disregarded.
Let me ask attention to the report OF
the Engineer Department with regard
TO the former action Of Congress in max
ing an appropriation to this work. 1t
quotes thiS condition or proviso:
"But this sum shall not be expended
until the MonOngahela Navigation
Company shall have undertaken in
good faith the building of lock and dam
No. Z, at Jacobs Creek, and until said
company shall, in manner satisfactory
to the Secretary of War, give assurance
Of the ability and purpose to complete
the same"
1t then proceeds to say:
''Correspondenee was at once opened
with the Monongahela Navigation
Company, and resulted in procuring
from them such assurances and proofs
of their intention and ability to build
~ NJ OF Iannhfa Track
as were satisfactory TO the Secretary
of War. Notice Of this fact was receiv-
ed on the 4th of May"
Mr.. HOge-NOw, sir, submit
Mr. McIane-I am authorized by the
chairman of the Committee on Com
mCrce Mr.. Pagel to state that this item
was omitted from the bill by inadyert-
ence. Under the law the Government
is under an obligation to construct this
dam, provided another dam is con-
Structed, which is being now construct
ed under an agreement with the Gov
eminent.
The amendment was agreed to.
1t is proper in this connection TO state
that the present committee in Congress
which have charge of the appropriations
for improvements OF rivers, &c, started
out with the avowed purpose of cutting
off all aid to the smaller rivers, and
they appear to have been particularly
opposed to doing much for West Vir-
ginia for the reason that for the last six
years West Virginia is claimed by Con-
greSsmen from other States to have had
much more than her just share ofmoney
for these purposes. But Judge HoGE
is a prudent man, and by his good tenn
peFssd treatment aftaa SHPP5nN West NSSiirr--
ginia, and the very genteel social rela-
tons which he was able to establish
with the members of the committee, he
has succeeded in getting all that was de-
sired in the case of the MOnongahela
improvement.