Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-03-16
CONGRESSIONAL,
SENATE,

w WASHINGTON, AIafcn I4.-Ine Cnap
lain, in the morning invocation,
prayed, "Look, o Lord, in tender
compassion upon our feliow-citizens
who are suffering from the ravages
of the flood. Give them food and
raiment, and everything that is con-
venient for their relief
A memorial was presented from
the Wisconsin legislature, in favor of
the improvement of the Mississippi
River and its tributaries, in connec-
ton with the great lakes.
Senator Merrill reported back the
House bill to repeal the discriminat,
ing duties on tea and coffee, and the
products of the possessions of the
Netherlands, with an amendment, in
the nature of substitute, making
the measure a general one.
A favorable report was made from
the Judiciary Committee, by Senator
Garland, on House bill to establish
District United States Courts in the
Northern and Southern Districts of
Georgia.
Senator Harrison, from the militas
ry committee, in response to the in
struction to inquire as to the pro-
priety of increasing the appropria-
ton under the resolut on of Febru-
airy 23rd, for the relief of the suffer
ers by the Mississippi overflow,
reported that the committee was
unable to state, with even approxi>
mate exactness, the number OF such
persons, the difficulties of communi-
cation IN the foodedregions prevent
ing the State agents, for the distri>
button OF supplies, and the Army
officers sent by the Secretary of
War, from enumerating the
sufferers. Many of these re-
port that the States are crowded
upon the levees and higher points
OF ground surrounded by the
flood, where they must be sought
out and supplied by the relief boats.
The Secretary OF War is of the
opinion that $4,000 people have been
driven from their homes by the
water, and are in need of temporary
relief, namely: 1000 in Illinois !;
5000 in Tennessee; $4,000 in Mis-,
sissippi; $4,000 in Arkansas; 1900
in Missouri; 500 in Kentucky, and
5000 in Louisiana.
Captain Lee, one of the officers
sent INTO Mississippi, states that the
number of persons needing aid there
has been greatly underestimated. 1t is
also believed that the number of the
! destitute in Louisiana will be largely
increased, as the food is only now
reaching that State. Prior reports
at the War Department Indicated
that the rations distributed and on
hand would suffice to feed those en-
titled to relief until after April 1st.
Later information showed this calcu
lation to be incorrect. Captain Lee
suggests that 100000 rations, in
addition to the 10000 already sent,
would be needed in Mississippi alone.
About 100000 rations were availa-
BILE at the date of the last order for
distribution, March 18th. Since then
100000 rations have been issued.
1t seems probable that some measure
of relief must be extended to the
sufferers for at least so days to
come. The committee add that they
are not prepared to recommend the
continuance of relief until the des-
titute are again able to maintain
themselves, prefering to leave this
to the voluntary action of the peo>
pie. But as the work of relief has
not been sufficiently organized, be-
cause of the belief that the pubic
appropriation would meet the case
these, they are of opinion that there
is still pressing demand for food
supplies that cannot be met by pri'
vate effort. They accordingly re-