New-York tribune., 1882-04-22
MISSISSIPPI IMPROVEMENT.
SENATOR HARRISON ON THE LEVEE PLAN
STRONG SPEECH ~ OPPOSITION TO THE schtME
TO IMPROVE PRIVATE PROPERTY UNDER THE
PRETENCE OF ADVANCING COMMERCE.

A STRONG SPEECH IN OPPOSITION TO THE SCHEME
TO IMPROVE PRIVATE PROPERTY UNDER THE
PRErENCE OF ADVANCING COMMERCE.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIDUNE.l
WASHINGTON, April Ex-senator Harrison OF
Indiana, is rapidly ginning a position in
the front rank of Senatorial debaters. lie
made speech to-day on the Mississippi River
Improvement bill so strong and convincing that,
iflogic and facts have influence III shaping results
the purposes of those who would make the measure
project to increase tenfod the price of Mississippi
valley plantations with merely incidental improve
ment to the river channel for commercial purposes
must dlsaStrOusly fail.
The Senator first paid his respects to Senator
Jonas of Louisiana, who had commented Extensively
on Senator Harrison's first speech the question
He said he was glad to know that there was only a
single Senator on the Democratic side among all
those who Immediately represented the afflicted sec
tion who found himself willing to interpret his re-
marks as having been made in a spirit OF sectional
ism or partisanship. He was not disposed to with
hold anything or infct anything upon any State by
reason of It's participation in the war. He had
undertaken simply TO refute the idea that
something should be done for State which had
been in rebellion because of the condition OF suffer
ing and poverty which the rebellion cntailed. The
question of building eyces for the purpose of pro-
tecting overiOwcd lands was n very wide one. If
they were to be built upon the lower Mississippi
they must also be built upoa the upper river, for
there a very wide and very rich section of the
country up there to be protected from annual de-
vastating ovcrilows. If this was to be
done for the people of the Missis-
sippi it must be done for those
upon the Red River and all its tributaries and all
other rivers where settlers similarly situated
Referring to the speech made by Senator Garland
day before yesterday, he said that gentleman had
used against him the report he mad made recon-
mending an appropriation Of 100000 TO feed the
people upon the lower Mississippi, and had asked
how he justified that appropriation and yet upon
constitutional grounds opposed an appropriation OF
SO 600 900 for the building of levees TO reclaim
their lands.
lind" said he " that must say to that Sem
ator that / don't know how ! can justify that
appropriation upon constitutional grounds. |
don't think any Senator stopped TO consider that
question Mt all did venture to suggesj in the re-
port which made upon that subject that the ex
tent 10 which governmental relief should 90 should
be to meet the first urgency of this great aiction,
and then the subject should be turned over to that
charity and public bcnefcencc which have never
failed any section of this country in its distress,
and which have been strong enough to
cross tho seas to other peoples in
their trouble / don't suppose any one
stopped to consider the constitutonality of the
question at all, but it is hardly fair to turn that
against and to bring our consistency into ques-
ton when Wa do stop to inquire into the expcdi-
ency and cOnstitutonality of apprOpriatiug fifteen
millions because under the influence of that SYM
pathy which every man feels we acted humancly."
He said the speech of the Senator from Arkansas
frankly and clearly brought out the issue between
those who desire to vote money for the i'm
movement of the navigation of the
river and believed such appropriation to be con-
sriutional and those who ask that some part of the
money be expended for the reclamation of the lands
now overhowed He had resisted all the time the
disposition to slide in the levec matter under
lie thought he knew that in the original bill as it
was framed were skilfully introduced words in
tended to pave the way for work upon the levees.
He liked much better the proposition boldly
affirmed by the Senator from Arkansas, TO reclaim
the lands for the sake of the lands alone
Referring to the report of the engineers so often and
so positively quoted recommending the levce
system he showed that this report was not recon-
mcndation, but simply compliance with the
orders of Congress. The law creating the Comnils-
sion required them to make such report, aud they
had made it, He had heard that it was frequent
occurrence that reports were called for upon pro-
ected improvements, and when received they were
the ground that they not reports but recon-
mendations
He quoted from appendix to the report of the
Commission passage which said in terms that the
Commissioners themselves while reporting as they
were required to do upon the levce system. not
convinced that it was the best plan to be adopted
and that additional time would be required TO de-
eide upon its advantages as compared with the
other suggested plans. Referring 10 the speech OF
senator George, made yesterday, he said
that that gentleman in reply to an inquiry
had said that although the reclamation of these
lands would add hundreds o millions to their yalne
vet this wealth not actual and available but
was potential wealth. Potential wealth. sald blI
Harrison is available wealth. Any enterprise that
can show capacity to produce seven hundred and
ffty millions, represented by the senator from
Mississippi, can command The capital OF TINS coun-
try to do the work that Is necessary to make pOten-
tial wealth actual. In conclusion he said he be-
licved it the duty of Congress To say
now that il would not vote to tax the people of the
whole country for the improvement of the private
property of a section, and II the people OF that see
ton were once convinced that Congress would not
aid them in that way, they would avail themselves
of prospective means and do the work Themselves
Senator Vest followed. taking the ground that 1t
was the duty of the Government TO see to IT that ts
own property was 40 restrained that II Sliohd NOT
damage the property of Others. lin reply TO he
question from Senator Harrison whether
he thought il the duty Of the Government to guar;
antce all land owners against overflow, lac answered
eyasvely by saving that It was The du.y Oi the
State to do that which was necessary ana coud not
be done by the citizen, and il WAS the duty OF the
Government to do that which the State could not
do.
Senator Morgan closed the debate asserting that
the State had built the present evces and the GOY-
eminent had no right or authority to take posses
sion of them He strongly opposed the proposal TO
tax the whole people for the private benefit OF tho
pockets of a few, and asked how many supporters
of such a measure would be found. ii ii were pro-
posed to raise the money by IA direct tax.
Il is expected that the bill will be disposed OF on
Monday or Tuesday, and that it viii be followed by
fl. chinese bill