Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-03-16
NATIONAL LAW MAKERS
MISSISSIPPI LETEE SYSTEM IN THE
SENATE.

SENATE.
Bill Introduced ApprOpriatins $4,000,
600 for the work-Facts and Figure
Presented by Senators Garland, Jone
and Vest In Support of the Necessity an
Economy of Such an Expsndlture-Bn
Appropriating $3.50, 900 for Supplies 70
Flood Sufferers Passes the House-An Elk
citing Controversy Between tho speaAe
and Representative Money.
| The Senate.
| WASHINGTON, March 15.-Senator Brow
from the railroad committee reported will
amendments bill granting the right of wa,
for railroad and telegraph line through tn
| lands of the Choctaw and Chicasaw Indians t,
the st. Louis and San Francisco railroad. Re
stored to it's former place on the calendar.
| Senator Edmunds obtained an indefnit,
| leave of absence on account OF Illness In hi
family.
Senator Malone introduced q concurrent res
olution which was read for the first time al
| follows: That in the event Of any reduction
| in the tax Oh tobacco manufactured in thu
United States, rebate equal to such reduction
shall be granted on all stamps, or tax paid tt
tobacco manufactured in the United States
after the adoption of this resolution and be
tween such date and the time when any Law
then remaining in the hands of licensed
dealers or others than manufacturer
The bill passed appropriating $4,000 to.
wards monumental column to commemorate
the battle of Monmouth.
Senator Garland then spoke on the impor.
lance of the maintenance OF an efficient levee
system on the Mississippi river, the bill on the
subject recently introduced by him being up
temporarily. The bill directs the Mississippi
river commission to cause to be constructed
or repaired and kept in order such levees along
the banks of the Mississippi river as they shall
deem to be of the greatest Importance to the
preservation of the river channel, and for the
prevention of devastation from breaks and
overHows, and to facilitate the commerce,
trade and post service, under rules of the war
department. An appropriation of SIS, DOC, 900
is made for this purpose. Any expenditure or
liability beyond this sum is prohibited, and no
same is approved by the senate.
Senator Garland'S belief was the loss by the
present overflow largely outstripped the total
Of the appropriation now asked for, and would
amount to at least $50, 100000.
Senator Jones, Louisina, said rough cal.
culation he had made showed the country in
Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana, now I'M
der water, or In danger of being submerged,
produced in 1880, total of 750,O62 bales of
cotton, the value of which, at
the ordinary market rate of SIS per
bale, was $33 ,752, 1856. The area in Louisiana
which would be submerged if the levees give
way, produced in 1881 crops amounting in
value to over 500 900 900 in sugar, over ST..
O0O,0 600 in molasses, and over $4,000, 900 in
rice The overflow now threatens the destruc-
ton of these fields. The possibility of raising
a cotton crop on the inundated fields would
depend on whether the sufferers found bankers
the loss of all their personal property and the
devastation of their plantations. AS to
the sugar crop, the water would cause
it's total destruction throughout the mum
dated region as the effect of water on the
the seed is such as to destroy not only the
growing crop, but the possibility of crop
for the next two or three years until the land
car be thoroughly replanted.
Senator Garland explained that the only
leyees contemplated by the bill were those of
the Mississippi river. If the general govern
ment will take care of the leyeesson that great
national highway the states will provide for
those on the Mississippi tributaries.
Senator Vest asked to say a few words before
the bill was disposed of, because he added, he
regarded the reference of the bill as final dis
position of it and that it would never come
back to the senate. He thought the time had
come to determine whether the great Missis-
slppi river is to be made terror and curse to
this country, rather than a highway for its
commerce. He asserted it would be an eco
nomical expenditure for the government to
spend to-day $25000O,090 upon Mississippi
river improvements.
Senator Garland said if the committee in
charge of the bill did not give 1t early consid-
Grafton he wonld resort to some
parliamentary "jack,screws" to get It back.
The bill was sent to the committee on Mississ.
ippi river and tributaries.
Consideration of the postofice appropria-
ton bill was resumed, and the pending
amendment to make the provision relating to
sub contracts applicable only to contracts
hereafter made, was agreed to. Yeas 80,
nays IL.
The increase in the item for compensation
of postoffice clerks, Of $4,000, prevailed.
The next amendment reported by the senate
was an item on sub-letting contracts, and
or sub-contractor, who shall file his
agreement and evidence he has done
the work, shall have a lien on
the money of his employer for hrs
pay, and if the contractor or sub-contractor
shall fail to pay the carrier within two months
after the end OF the quarter, the department
shall pay the debt and charge it to the con-
tractor. When person or firm, holding sew
eral contracts, fails to perform the service, or
any one of them, the pay for the others shall
be withheld until the service has been re-
stored and all penalties satisfied.
The amendment gave rise to prOtracted dis
cussion upon the possible difficulties arising
under II in the postoff1ce department.
Senator Dawes and Hawley become involved
in personal controversy upon what the
latter construed to be an unwarranted
criticism on the part of Dawes in attributing
his efforts to show the unreasonableness OF
the amendment in practical operation to spec
ial anxiety for the interests of mail contrac-
tors. After further remarks modification of
the amendment was made by the transposl-
ton of several words and as modified adopted.
Without further progress the bill was laid
over as unfinished business for tomorrow
and the tariff commission bill was again taken
up as the regular order.
Senator Allison submitted the report of the
committee on appropriations, with the testi'
mony taken in what is known as the treasury
contingent fund investigation. The report
and testimony were tabled temporarily and or
dered printed.
The senate went into executive session and
adjourned.
House Of Representatives..
WASHINGTON, March 15.-Mr. Hawk, chair
man of the committee on war claims, reported