Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-07-08
The Senare.

WARRINGTON, July 1.-THE senate resumed
consideration Of the river and harbor bill, the
question being upon the Hennepin canal
project reported by the senate committee.
Senator Logan urged the iuestimable value
OF the improvement aud quoted the opinion
OF the canal engineer that the cost of the work
had been estimated with comparative accuracy
and would not exceed "a, OO0, 900. He cited as
precedents for the undertaking the Louisville
and Sault Ste. Marie canals.
Senator Vest said government aid was ex.
tended to the improvements just named be.
cause their purpose was to obviate impedi.
ments in the great navigable streams OF
the country for the benefit of ma
tlonal commerce. He denied that this
could be claimed for the Hennepiu
canal; that the latter being the property of
the state and not national undertaking, the
United States had no right t assume iursis.
dictlon over 1t. He argued among other con-
sloeratlons that the canal would impair the
investment OF millions of capital BY interior.
ing with the water power Of the Rock river,
ana aad read a remonstrancs against such
Interference from cities and towns in the
iiocaiity to be affected. he apprehended that
the damages from this cause would be CHARGE.
able 70 the government, and further argued
that the era Of canal building had passed and
tnst means OF communication had been super.
seeded by railroads.
Senator Logan replied to Senator Vest. He
said that the senator and those who acted
with him, assumed that government aid for
internal improvements was constitutional
when the purpose was to Gear a water chan.
mel in the South by removing bars or rocks,
and unconstitutional when a barrier 70 be re.
moved was in the Northwest. II it was 8
junction OF the government to build leyees
and clear out bayous, it was equally legiti.
mate for 1t to aid in the connection of the
Illinois and Mississippi rivers. He was will
ing to admit that railroads had superseded
canals as a means Of rapid transit, but he con
tended that it was an imperative duty as vel
as good policy for the government to foster
canals.
Senator Logan replied to other points made
by Senator Vest and engaged in q discussion
with that senator, in which Senator Hoar also
participated, upon an abstract question of con
stitutiOnal power.
Senator Hawley doubted the practicabilit,
OF the scheme. He suggested that the bro
cess OF boats going west 307 feet and lower
ing them ninety feet, as contemplated, would
subject the canal traffic to expense and delay
which would render successful competition
with fast freizhts by rail exceedingly
problematlcal. he incidentally reviewed
canal management in New York, Pennsvlyanif
and Ohio, to show the difficulties in the wa,
of making it profitable.
Senator Sherman regarded the matter as mo-
pertinent TO the bill, and on that it should bt
considered as separate measure. He referred
to the change in the project from a ship canal
as originally contemplated. the lowest estimat
ed cost Of which was SIS, 900, 600, to a CONNER
cial canal on which no sufficiently detailed in
formation had been given. He expressed hil
appreciation OF the value of the Improvement
and his inclination to favor any feasible plar
for a ship canal.
Senator Morgan urging the unconstitu ton
atty OF the canal scheme said its purpose wa:
to discriminate against one part in favor O.
another by directing traffic from New Or
leans to Chicago and breaking bulk at the
latter point.
Senator Hawley warned that the senate tina
item $leO. Coz, reportedby the committee would
be but drop in the bucket in the cost Of th,
canal.
Senator Dawes said he would vote for il
with full appreciation of the magnitude ant
grandeur of the great national work to which
the government would thereby commit itself
His vote for the bill, which would be the frs
ne had given for the river and harbor bill To-
some years, would be influenced by this con
sideratiOn.
Senator's Allison and Window favored tn.
canal projsct. Butler opposed it.
Without action on the subject the hous,
went into executive session and adjourned un
til tomorrow.