The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-04-20
NEWS OF THE HOUR.
Forty-seyenth Congress.


Forty-Seventh Congress.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE bill reccI tly
reported by Mr.. Kellogg, from the com
merce committee, for deepening canals and
improving the navigation of the Missis
sippi and Missouri rivers, came up as the
regular order. The bill provides that the
work is to be carried on by the secretary OF
war upon the plans Of the Mississippi river
commission, and appropriates S5,OOO, 600 Tor
the Mississippi and 100000 for the Mis-
souri, river 1t prohibits the use of any por-
ton of the money in the construction or re-
pair of levees
The amendment to the bill intended to
be proposed by Mr.. Jonas, of Louisiana,
applies so much of the appropriation
as the secretary of war deems
necessary, upon the advice of the Mississippi
river commission, in the immediate repair
or construction of such levees as will result
in deepening the channel, but not for the
purpose of preventing injury to lands by
overflow.
An amendment proposed by Mr.. Garland
to increase the amount TO Sl5,0OO,UO, $l3-
| 0OO, 900 to Mississippi and S2,000,0OO to the
| Missouri river, TO be expended IN construc-
ton and completing of repairs and the
preservation Of such work as in the Judg-
ment of the commission will best locate and
| deepen CuallclS anu plOIcCb tic paiihSi 'oi
the improvement, safety and ease OF navi-
cation, to prevent destructive floods, iacill-
tate trade and postal service.
Mr.. Kellogg in his opening debate SAID
that while the bill was unanemously report
ed some members believed it better TO i'm
pose no restrictions upon the Mississippi
river commission and would be at liberty
to agree on an amendment constituting
members Of that body the sole judges as to
whether any part of the appropriation
should.be used in building levees. Upon the
magnitude Of the recent.overilow, he said II
covered highly cultivated. AREA inhabited
by planters and farmers, nearly ,UOo miles
in length and from 30 to SO miles in
width. He said that the states in the val
ley had expended millions in fruitless pre-
yentitive means, that corporations had been
alike unsuccessful aud that now all were
compelled to look to the general govern
ment for some effective plan for protection
He understood the commission to have
adopted the concentration rather than the
outlet theory, the one upon which the
channel of the south pass was deepened by
aid of the ettes, and he believed this plan
would ultimately dispense with the neces-
sity of any system of levees. This plan
would close gaps in the banks and .coni1Ee
the stream i'll narrower limits and increase
the current in such manner as to wash
out and deepen the channel. AS to the
Justice of the demand tor congressional aid,
he said this was generally recognized. The
Mississippi river was the property OF the
United States, having been acquired by
purchase and its free navigation having
been provided for in the treaty with
France. He quoted from Garheld's letter
) of acceptance and presidential recommen-
dations as to the profound importance OF
the improvement of the great national high
way and remarked that the proposed ap,
preparation was only about half the amount
f,f "a
sissippi for increased rates OF insurance
The appropriation was predicate
solely on the estimates anu
report of the commission, which were sup
ported by the careful estimate of respon
sible corps of engineers. 1t was less. by
Sl230 than the estimate Of commission
Alter specifying many of the expenditures
such as railroad, river and harbor, to show
the authority and justification for improv'
ing the great inland seas commerce, the
trade of which exceeds our entire foreign
commerce, Mr.. Kellogg proceeded TO dis
cuss the system OF improvement considered
by the commission, one apparently regard
ed as Ihe most feasible, as il contemplate.
securing out OF the channel through shat
lows and bars, where the width of the river
is excessive, with view to establishing
uniform velocity.
Mr.. Cameron, of Wisconsin, favored thu
bill but doubted the propriety OF confin
| ing tle entire s'pp
to improvements below New Madrid, as WA
contemplated by the plans OF the commls
, sion.
Mr.. Mcmillan complained that the com
mission had given too much attention u
the lower portion of the river, to the preju
dice of the survey, above st. Louis.
Mr.. Conger made u like criticism.
Mr.. Kellogg argued to show the urgency
of improvements below the mouth OF The
Ohio, and that these, like the jetty system
will be of general utility to the commerce
of all the states. He suggested compar
ison of the amount Of expenditure now
proposed for the benefit of the nationa
highway with the probable aggregate o
from seven to nine millions to be voted io
river and harbor improvements which
are comparatively of local or trivial I'M
portance.
air. Vest, in elaboration of Mr.. Kellogg'''
argument, quoted from the official records
to show that up to 1873 the states repre-
sented by Messrs. Cameron and Conger
Wisconsin and Michigan, received for rlyeri
and harbors exclusive of lighthouses anC
other public works, s3,i31 900, while the
total of appropriations for the MISSISSIPPI
valley, including amounts for the Mlssis
sippi river improvement, was 81 ,4Sl ,46l.
Mr.. Jonas, of Louisiana. and Mr.. Cockrel
briefly defended the work Of the Missis
sippi river commission.
Pending a motion for an executive ses
sion, the measure went over without actor
until tomorrow.
After an executive session the senate ad
iourned.
A bill was introduced by Frost, Of Mis-
souri,, TO repay TO Great Britain the bal
ance of the Geneva award.
The elections committee reported in fayoi
of contestant in the case Of the second
FLORIDA district.
Cross. of Massachusetts,, under instruc.
) tions from the committee on banking and
currency, moved to suspend the rules and
adopt a resolution, making the bill 10 en-
able the national banking associations to
, extend their corporate existence the special
order for the 25th of April.
After a long debate a vote was taken and
the motion deleated-yeas, las; nays, ~
, not the necessary two+hirds In the aiiirma'
tive.
Fisher. Of Pennsylvania, under in
structions from the committee on coinage
weights and measurcs, moved TO suspend
the rules and pass the bih authorizing The
receipt of United States gold coin IN ca
, change for gold bars. Ageed to.
Rice, OF Massachusetts, under INSTRUCTIONS
from the committee on foreign Affairs
moved to suspend the rules and pass senate
bill for reliet Of the heirs Of lvners, oificeri
and crew of the brig General Armstrong.
Agreed to-lsS 20 d.
: Harris, Of Massachusetts,. under in
structions FIRM the COMMITTEES on ia.
val afsirs moved 10 suspend tht
rules and adopt the resolution pr0yid
ing for night sessions until further notice
and Monday and "Wednesday for the con
sid.ration Of bills authorizing the cOnstruc
ton Of vessels Of war for the United states
and pro.i ling an armament construction
fund for the navy. This starred livel,
discussion.
!, A journed.
Thssra-e con runsd George Maury, d
I .uuessef. 70 be L niied States minister